Opinion Flat Living whAt the exPeRts think


Bob Smytherman


introduces theFPRAand explainshow theorganisationworks on behalf of leaseholders


Iamthe current Chairmanand a voluntary committeemember of the Federation of Private Residents Associations. The FPRA is the only national body representing long leaseholders andourmembers include residents associations, residentmanagement companies, right tomanage companies and othersimilar groups.Established in 1971 as a voluntary, non- political, non-profitmaking organisation,thisyearthe FPRA celebratesits 40thanniversary. Weoperate as an organisation that aims to shareknowledge andhelp ourfellowleaseholders andwe rarely comeacross anyproblem that is completely new.Amongour experiencedcommittee,someone has usually dealt with an issue before andhas sought asolution to it.


Myinvolvementwiththe FPRA


beganwhen I purchased a flat on a long leaseinavery attractive block in Sussex that waspoorlyrun by a managing agent. There was little or nomaintenanceand within afewmonthsIhad received an additionalbillofover£2000 on top of thenormalservice charge to replacethe flatroofs installed hurriedly by shoddy workman after the1987 hurricane.Like


nIf you haven’t already done so,formaResidents Association.Wehave a well respected booklet availablethatexplains exactly howto go about it.


nCommunicatewellwith all leaseholders aswell as all residents – the success


28


many leaseholders fromwhom we nowreceive queries, I could not understandwhymysolicitor had notmademeaware of this whenIwas buyingmyflat.Our residents association directors then decided that we could do abetterjob than ourmanaging agent and we decided to self- manage.Aswefeltweneeded someadvice and support to help us with our newresponsibilities, we joined the FPRA and within a fewyears I agreed to volunteer for the organisation in order to give somethingbackinreturnfor the help andsupport Ihad received. Throughmyinvolvement with


theFPRAandmyownexperience of living in ablock of flats,Ihave gleaned a greater understanding not only of the legal and legislatory aspects of leaseholdlifebut also of the way inwhich residents can work together to deal with allthe myriad of issues that result from living in closeproximity to other people.


Don’t thInk the challenges ever end, they just change. There is always somethingnew to tackle whether you are seeking to take overmanagement,workwith your existing propertymanagers,


MAKINGYOUR BLOCK A BETTER PLACE TO BE


of dealing with almost everythingyou do in your block relies on good and repeatedcommunication.


nIt is essential to have an active committee andmake certain that you continue to get new peopleinvolved as flats


change hands so that you alwayshavefreshideas andfreshpeoplerather than relying on just one or two.Myown committee succeeds by having six directorssharing our


directors sharingour responsibilitiesovera glass or two of wine everymonth.


nJointheFPRAfor ongoingsupport -


membership includes access to a free easy-to- usewebsite for your block to enable youtostore all your documents in one place with secure access forresidents of yourown block.


e website


to a free easy-to- r your block


documents in one e with secure access


Autumn2011 2011 Flat Living


Government proposals to ban wheel clamping


are proving a sore point formanyleaseholders


Ihavegleaned agreater understanding... oftheway residentscan worktogether


purchasethe freehold or have other objectives. Over the next fewissues of Flat


Living,Iwillbelooking at themany newissues facing leaseholders as the Coalition Government introduces a variety of newlaws that will impact allofuslivinginblocksofflats. These include the Green Deal as government tries to insulate the housing stock; proposals to banwheel-clamping which ismajor issue for blocks with limited parking spaces; and the roll outofnew firesafetyguidancefor blocks of flats (see news, p7)after pressure fromorganisationslike ourselves.●


BoBSmytherman Chairman, TheFederationofPrivate Residents Associations Ltd


emailbob@fpra.org.uk advice service,which is free tomembers


Go towww.fpra.org.uk to find outmore about theFPraandits legal


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