BobSmytherman 26 AlanWalker PatrickWard Letters


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AlanWalker Wonderingwhat’sgoingoninyour block?Whynot get involvedin runningit better


IseverythIngIn your block, or on your estate, running exactly as youwould likeitto? Buildingwell- maintained, hall portersmartly turned out, bills reasonable? If so a) congratulations and b) please do turn to thenextarticle -thoughintruth, whether things are grand or grimat themoment, someof the following questionsmay strike a chord. Perhapsyouwonderwhat the


service charge is spent on – andwhy. Doyoufeelthatthe common parts could do with a refresh?Howabout thegardens –could they be better maintained?Andthe roof –getting older, andpossibly needingtobe repaired or replaced soon.Surely somemoney is beingput asidefor a rainy day? It has been said that thefuture


is notsomethingweenter, it’s somethingwecreate. If youfind yourself asking questions about what’s being done andwhat’s coming next then youarewell-placedto thinkabout gettinginvolvedin helpingshape thedevelopmentof your estate. Is it complicated?Well,yes and


no. I cameacross quite a lot of new trade and technical vocabularywhen Ifirst joined anRMCBoard–how many peopleoutside theindustryare familiar with thedetails of aSection 20Notice or theimplicationsofthe cascade ofHousingActsfrom the latter part of the 20thcentury? That said,ateamofprofessionals


andadvisersstand readytosupport you, and help guide you throughthe legalframework of running an estate – and for those ready for the challenge of self-management, organisations such asARMAandLEASE provide more and more informationto help flatowners(forexample,download mypodcast forLEASE on becoming anRMCDirector - http://www. lease-advice.org/publications/ documents/?doctype=4). What does it take?Thisisa


very good questiontoput to the managing agentortothe current RMCDirectors.Essentially you’ll contribute alittleofyourfreetime, andthink aboutthe developmentof your estateasawhole–noplace here forpursuingpet projects without


Flat Living Issue 16


Forthose readyfor the challenge of self- management, organisations suchasARMA andLease providemore andmore information to help flat owners


heeding the context or consequences –and developing asense of realism whilepreservingyouroptimismand enthusiasmis veryimportant. If you’re aflatownerwho sub-lets


andare stillinterested in getting involved – no problem.Your interest in theconditionand developmentofthe estateisthe qualificationthatcounts. Anotherquestionwhich quiteoften


comes up is ‘will I get paid?’ Well –for themost part,no. Getting


involved in anRMCis principally a voluntaryexercise, though onewhich is richly rewardinginextending your skills and helping youmeet your neighbours. Buttothemostimportantquestion


of all, ‘can Imake a difference?’, the answer is a resounding ‘yes’. It is essentialtorememberthat


gettinginvolvedinthe running of anRMC,whetherasaninterested participantormoreformallyas adirectorofaBoard, is notabout taking power–it’sabout taking responsibility.


Arethings grand or grim in your block? Achallengingrole then?Yes,


certainly.Itishumannature to concentrateonthe fewthingsthat arewrongwhile not acknowledging themanythingsthatare right; peopletakedifferingpointsofview –sometimes loudly andrepeatedly; and the pace of change on an estate or blockcan seemslow.But if you areevenvaguely thinking‘I could do that’ – or indeed askingyourself ‘could Idothat?’–thenmyadviceisto have a go. Attend thenextgeneralmeeting


of your blockorestate, andstayback at theend to express an interest. Arrange to chattothemanaging agent, andmention that you’re wondering about getting involved. And if you’re still reading this article, putitdownand resolvetoget stuckin. Don’t just say ‘something should be done’. Instead, be theonewhohelps get it done.●


AlanWalker is anRMCdirector


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