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From: Graffiti Editions Limited studio@graffiti.biz Subject: Mitre House update -
Date: 8 January 2011 20:05
To: Samya Riad riadsf@gmail.com
Hi Samya - hope the holiday goes well and family well and warm - cold here but all seems OK re leak etc - so no worry - had a call from Michele which this long email referes to - love for now, Paul x (hope you like the Turkey.....don't take offence, the Vee is for Vegetarian....!
Thanks for the call, Michele - (if you fully read this whole long email you will appreciate that I have done everything I could possibly do as explained in our telephone conversation - AND, Julie Freeman has more holidays, days off work, automated email replies than any human being I've ever come across) - yes, we all agree to the council house look of Mitre House, but a discussed, the problem is the comings and goings plus constant refurbishments of the various sub-let flats and recently, the sale of Alison's flat which was totally refurbished over 6 months with usual resulting damage to lift, floor and common parts - it is this frequent , unavoidable, damage to common parts by incoming, outgoing and refurbishing tenants that brings we live in tenants to the conclusion that it is a waste of money to tart up the whole place, make it beautiful and then with the first incoming, outgoing sub-let tenant, the common parts are scarred yet again. Let alone another flat being refurbished (with indeed, me proposing to do mine this year). As discussed, it's not the fault of the actual tenant/owner etc - but the removers, builders etc who couldn't give a damn for damage caused - and having the agents (Julie Freeman) attempt to police the place by writing to offending owners simply does not work - as again discussed, if you received a letter from saying your most recent outgoing and incoming tenant has caused damage to common parts and it requires £1500 to put right, you'd object etc -
So, as previously outlined to you - we are not willing to proceed with anything at Mitre House other than the minimum decorations required under the terms of the leases - namely a coat of paint everywhere and we'll go for one colour only as that's easier and cheaper to fix when the next dame occurs - so, no lift refurbishment, no floor cleaning etc - and yes, we would all love to live in a lovely decorated, clean, smart place but that's not possible unless we all live here to police the place together.
Flats 1, 3, 5, and 6 are all sub-let (although Flat 3 may have live-in owners as they have recently purchased off Alison and have refurbished - so not sure as sub-letters or live-in owners)
I attach a previous email outlning all the various costs for doing works etc (including Michele's) and it can be noted that the floor cleaning came to £12,250 plus £8000 for grouting (unbelievable costs) and the lift £16, 915, which does add credence to the decision to NOT proceed with purely cosmetic decorations as opposed to those we have to. And remember Vat now @ 20% so all will cost more and then add on Agent's fees loading etc etc - the original £47, 406 overall cost (3 years ago almost) would now be well over £60,000 all in which is ludicrous.
Julie Freeman has been advised by both Dr Riad and myself that only the minimal should be proceeded with. Segar has never replied to my emails so not sure if he also contacted Julie. If not, please do so, Segar and let me know any worries, queries or objections.
As regards the latest recent demand for Service Charges etc plus the budget for 2011 - I have the following comments - firstly, in the budget is a provision for £15000 Reserve Fund - in the last set of accounts furnished by Julie Freeman @ KFH for year ending Dec 2009 there was £44,185 in reserves - that's plenty to cover the proposed internals (well overdue as indeed they were last done over a decade ago and in fact should be done around ever 7 years I think) - BUT the internals are the least of our worries - it's the EXTERNALS that cost the earth - last done 8 years ago at a cost of £80,000 approx - and indeed due again pretty soon as they, too, are meant to be done every 7 years and they are considered very important the owner/freeholder etc to maintain their miserable property - and we have very, very little input into what and does not need doing - they simply get everything done including scaffolding costing £25,000...!
So, the reserves do still need topping up....
Regarding the last set of accounts (December 2009) I did, as usual, queried a few items most notably the electricity costs for the common parts and lift along with some ludicrous charges for various items (copy attached at end of this email) - I am still await answers on most especially the electrics (due to non payment of bills, they get a £50 penalty which we pay etc etc) Happens a lot. Other queried costs such as £256 to replace a broken window pane on one door, £1380 for a drain pipe etc - all in email.
That's it - copying to Dr Riad in Egypt till late January and Segar as usual - and I will email Julie Freeman with comments as regards old queries to accounts remaining unanswered, the minimal decorations ONLY, which I hope you, too, will do, Michele post our discussion and my reasons outlined above, and a couple of comments re: the latest budget for 2011 - most notably the electricity £1200 which is very high (but until my previous queries are answered re: electricity amounts, I cannot be sure).
Love and luck for 2011 - again thanks for call Michele, love, Paul (not to Segar, though!)