Re: Estate Management
I'd appreciate any advice any longer-term estate residents might have re the below ...
I live in a 200+ unit development in Mullingar - predominantly 3/4 bed detached and semi-ds, and 20 apartments. The apartments are laid out as five blocks of 4, basically 2 semi-ds per block each divided in 2, with each apartment having it's own access. Other than walls and floors/ceilings, the only common area is the carpark outside, which is separated from the rest of estate by a low (3-4 ft) wall. The apartments are in a prominent location at the entrance to the estate. There is no management company for the apartment complex.
The estate was taken in charge ~18 months ago. The council say they'll maintain roads and paths but grass-cutting, boundary walls, cycleways are the responsibility of the residents' association. They will offer some grants towards the work, but it's up to the RA to pay for it. As a committee member of the RA, I've been involved in trying to collect funds from the residents of the estate to that end. However, as at least 25% of the properties are rented, we're having difficulty collecting funds.
Right now, we have a problem with a separating wall between the apartment complex and a public green area. The council are telling the RA that it's not their responsibility. We disagree. We don't have the expertise to fix it ourselves, the funds to pay someone to do it, or frankly the inclination considering we've never received a contribution from any of the apartment owners. Unfortunately, it is a high-visibility issue.
We're looking to meet with the council to see if we can sort something out, but I'm getting extremely frustrated with their attitude. IANAL, but I'm sorely tempted to get all legal on their ass. As I see it:
- the lack of a management company for the apartments is an issue for the council and the apartment owners - the council should have sorted it out before taking the estate in charge.
- those areas of the estate which are not privately owned, are by definition common areas.
- maintenance of common areas falls on the council.
- trying to offload the reponsibility to the RA is just stealth outsourcing.
Thanks for hanging in there if you got this far
Comments? Advice?