Whenmajor worksare required, RAs can really provetheir worth


on site each day. An RA canmakesuggestions andrecommendations fordecorationofthe communal areas, propose contractorswhen work is required and give updates on day-to- dayissues to both thepropertymanagement companyand theon-site housemanager.This makesthe RA thecentral pointofcontact for the development. An RA is also extremely helpful forother residentstokeepneighbours updatedand to help newresidents acclimatise to theirhomes. At Tatton Court in Stockport,Cheshire, anRA


has been providing invaluable help to residents andmanagerssince 1990.Themonthly meetings involve the housemanager and area manager fromPeverel Retirement and residents serveset termsinthe official positionsonthe RAcommittee.AsPeverel Retirement area managerSue Earnshawcomments,“theRA is invaluable formeas itmakes representative decisions prudently and quickly. Thismakes all ourlivesmuch easier.Our relationship is one of teamwork – it’s not a ‘themand us’ scenario – with both parties ultimatelywanting everyone to feel happy and secure.” Keeping residentsinthe loop is essential


forany RA andisapriorityfor theresidents of Tatton Court. As RA Secretary RuthMorgan states,“we’re very open with people, with the minutesofallmeetings freely availableto read,which everyone appreciates.”


What else canRasdo? Whenmajor works are required, RA’s can real- ly provetheir worth.Whilethe development’s annual budget will be agreed on at theAGM,


Flat Living Issue 15


when adevelopmentisfacingasignificant additional charge formajor repairs ormain- tenancework, an RA canhelpkeepresidents informed of costs. It can also liaise with their propertymanagertoagree on acontractorand help arrangetimings andarrangementsfor accessetc. In anew development, an RA canhelpbuild


a sense of community and liaise with the developeraswellasthe propertymanager. FranzPearson has been instrumental in buildingawelcoming neighbourhood at HoresamClose in Bath sincehelping set up thenew site’s RA inMaylastyear. “One of the


In a newdevelopment anRAcanhelpbuild a senseof community


keycommitments of ourRAconstitution”,he explains,“ismaking thesiteapleasantplace to live. Encouragingresidents to becomemore involved in ourcommunity is everybit as importantasresolving day-to-day issueslike rubbishcollections.” Franz’s RA has also helped residents


with issues such as product recalls on fitted whitegoods, an issuewhichcan affectnew developments andliaises regularlywith thetowncouncil,makingsurethatcouncil services arerunning effectively forthe new site.The residentswillalsobeenjoyinga


garden partyattheir communal gardensthis summer –courtesyoftheir hard workingRA. An RA canalsoadapt itsroleovertime. At


St Boniface Park,another propertymanaged byOMPropertyManagement,the RA was originally set up in 1996 to help bring a better senseofcommunity to theestate.More recently however, RA chair AnitaBennetand her committee have been involved in anything fromagreeing budgetstooverseeingrepairs to theboundarywallafter alorry backed into it.Asthe RA has becomean integralpartof the site’s community, it is also integral to the propertymanager’swork. Anitasays, “we areextremely happywithwhatour property manager has achieved. Having her in such close contact reassures residents that their best interests are in hand.”


InteRested? Getting involved in anRAcanhelp you have a realimpact on the running of everyday services whichaffect you and develop a sense of com- munity with your neighbours.AnRAwillalso help residentsinliaisingwiththeir property manager and local authority, helping ensure that servicecharges arespent moreeffectively and providing an overviewon your block’s an- nual budget. Aswell as this, you could also save money and create amore attractive sitewhich will have animpact on thevalue of your home. Once the adminis done, theremight even be timeto organise a garden party.●


MarkHoylandisMDofPeverel Group’sPropertyServicesDivision


61


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68