Also in this post: An update on electricity refunds and a note on the challenges for Chelsea Bridge Wharf residents in 2024. In October 2023, this blog reported the letter from Rendall and… Continue reading
The contract with Urang to prepare the Right to Manage application for Chelsea Bridge Wharf , and to take over as managing agent if the application is successful, was not approved by the… Continue reading
Anti-leasehold grassroots campaign group, Commonhold Now, releases vital policy report on 1st November 2023 with easily deliverable law changes to liberate England’s millions of flat leaseholders and to hand them rightful control of… Continue reading
In February 2023, CBWRA was given 6 months’ notice by the main CBW freeholder (Berkeley Homes) that they would be derecognised. Despite that notice period, CBWA have not been able to satisfy Berkeley… Continue reading
Those who were supposed to be ensuring a fair electoral process actively undermined it by initiating Garton-Jones’ biased email to 400 + leaseholders, while voting was live.
Many thanks to those who supported the motions I put forward for this meeting which focussed on freedom of speech on the CBW app, trying to ensure fair elections for the future and also trying to ensure that Right to Manage actually delivers increased power to residents not just to a handful of people on an unelected/unfairly elected committee. The meeting also included a vote on ‘ratification’ (i.e. not an election) of the committee and a new constitution. Two of the five motions I proposed were passed.
These motions (in plain language) were that:
That no residents CBW app account can be closed in an arbitrary manner without any due process (as was the case with the closure of my account in May 2022). The closure or threat of closure of CBW app accounts has carted a ‘chilling effect’ on the CBW app which means that residents are afraid to say what they think or to be critical of the CBWRA committee in any way.
That there will be quarterly meetings with the new managing agent (Urang) assuming that RTM foes ahead and they are appointed – the meetings will e hybrid (face to face with the option to attend online) and ALL residents will be welcome not just leaseholders.
CBWRA announced the results of the ‘fountains consultation’ on 5th September, They state
”A total of 253 leaseholders completed the survey. Of these:
130 voted in favour of submersible pumps
18 voted to turn the fountains back on without changing the pumps
105 voted to leave the fountains out of operation until such a time as they could be replaced.”
very bizarrely CBWRA decided not to give percentages for the results so I am happy to help them out
130 (51.4%) voted in favour of submersible pumps
18 (7.1%) voted to turn the fountains back on without changing the pumps
105 (41.5%) voted to leave the fountains out of operation until such a time as they could be replaced.”
It has been reported to the author of this blog that a property in Howard building has been used as an Airbnb for at least two years and possibly longer. The property is listed here:
https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/6683135
The property, which goes for upwards of £450 a night, was apparently purchased in 2015 for £1,025,000 and is currently valued at up to £1,022,000 (according to themovemarket.com).).
By Scott Johnson, Associates Times Feb. 2023https://associatestimes.com/outrage-erupts-as-randall-and-rittner-service-charges-double-at-the-tower/amp/ London: Residents of The Tower, a luxury apartment building in London managed by Rendall and Rittner, are up in arms as the property management company announced… Continue reading
Sadly this is what we can expect going forward from the existing Chairs and committee – they have been explicit that they do not wish to consult with residents because there is ‘low engagement’. This is an astonishingly ignorant and self serving ‘take’ because they are causing ‘low engagement’ by failing to consult with residents, hold meetings with them etc. Personally I find it terrifying that if Right to Manage succeeds, this tiny group of unelected / unfairly elected people will have full control over millions of pounds of service charge money and will continue to make decisions which deeply effect our lives, without consulting residents. Nor will it be possible to vote them out given that the election for Chair are self evidently unfair and the committee are not elected at all.
