Latest News

This page modified January 16, 2012

• Tony Sell is to retire as caretaker - January 2012
• Management of the Development
• Rendall and Rittner have moved
• Roof Works
• Internal Redecorations
• Mailboxes and Intercom System
• Window Leaks
• Garage Security
• Repainting of the Development
• Garden Update and New Trees
• Car Parking Permits
  
• Rats
• Paved Terraces & Weight Problems
• Plumbing
• Do’s & Dont's

Tony Sell to retire

Sadly Tony Sell has decided to retire as caretaker of the development at the end of January, after over 10 years service. We are very grateful for his contribution and hard work in maintaining the development over the years. We wish him all the very best for the future. Rendall & Rittner are in the process of recruiting Tony's replacement.

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Management of the Development

David Whittle is now assisting Matt Kirk with certain aspects of the management of the estate (site visits, monitoring of Tony Sell, cleaning etc.) but Matt remains the Property Manager.  Matt confirmed that the motivation behind the change was to ensure his time is used most efficiently.

Rendall and Rittner have moved offices

Rendall & Rittner have moved offices from Gun Wharf. Their new address is Portsoken House, 155-157 Minories, London, EC3N 1LJ. All direct dial numbers have remained the same.

Matt Kirk, is currently working from the Manchester office: Lowry House, 17 Marble Street, Manchester, M2 3AW and there are new main telephone numbers: Telephone: 0161 638 9301 Facsimile: 0161 638 9302

Roof Works

You will have noticed the scaffold towers to Queen of Denmark Court and Prince’s Court. These are to enable replacement of the drainage gulleys behind the parapet walls (and other associated works) to prevent further water ingress to properties in these blocks. We are pleased to report that this work is nearly complete, that the scaffold will be removed shortly, and that no related security issues have been reported.

Internal Redecorations

We are in the process of writing the specification for the redecoration of the internal communal areas and, once approved by the Board’ will invite contractors to tender for the work. We expect work on the redecorations to commence towards the end of this year/beginning of 2012.

This work will improve the appearance and presentation of the property and we hope residents and leaseholders will be pleased with the results.

Mailboxes and Intercom System

All of the new entry door panels to the apartments with new letterboxes and entry system have now been installed. Problems with Interphone and their communications with the letterbox manufacturers delayed the project for well over a year. The new letterboxes are far more robust than the originals (the new ones are made by the same company who did KFT) and more capacious. The video camera, lights, loudspeaker and microphone are in a tidy arrangement to the right above the letterboxes; the apartment call buttons to the left. The entry system is via keyfob rather than key pad for extra security and the proximity reader is the very white square to the right of the entryphone components. Many of the communal doors have been repainted after the weatherboard sills were replaced because they were rotten. An example of this can be seen in the photo of the door to 50-54 Queen of Denmark Court, on the left.

Window Leaks

Over the years many residents have experienced leaks with their aluminium window frames, particularly at King FrederiK IX Tower and for many years the Board has been trying to determine, exactly, the cause. Leaks appeared during particular weather conditions (rain and wind from a particular direction and strength). We had considered many times that the cause was the vent caps, or lack of them, on some windows and we had put in place a program of replacing missing caps during the window cleaning.

The window manufacturers have now produced a new design of cap and these have been fitted to a flat in Princes Court, where the windows leak after driving rain. The results, so far, look good (although we haven't had any torrential rain since they were fitted until 19th September) and we hope to install the new caps to all aluminium windows across the development.

Garage Security

As part of the apartment entrance letterbox and entryphone replacement (see above) the key pads used to enter the garages will be replaced with a key fob system. The interior lighting of the garages has been improved and the sensors at QDC and PC have been improved so that the lights do not go out if you stand still for a short period of time. The lights should now stay on to give you plenty of time to exit the garages. These improvements should enhance the garage security and the Board is looking into installing interior CCTV.

Repainting of the development

The development has now been repainted. Some parts which were missed out of the specification will be done in 2011, e.g. the large garage doors to the underground car parks.

Garden Update

The recent website discussion on the gardens shows how much people value them.

A Garden committee has been set up to look at the options for Princes Court and Queen of Denmark Court and get expert opinions.

Currently we are in the process of planting new trees in the pavement areas along Finland Street in front of Royal Court, Queen of Denmark Court and King Frederik IX Tower. This has been totally paid for by two owners in King Frederik IX Tower, and we would like to thank them for their generosity.

In Queen of Denmark Court the ‘herb garden’ has been reorganised to include the original design of grassing the outermost segments, and the introduction of some new plants. The original grassed area which was not in good condition has been reseeded with wild grasses and flowers. It will only be cut four times during the summer season (2009) so that the grass and flowers can grow. Therefore that area will appear more as a wild meadow.

In Prince’s Court we have levelled off the humped area and re-turfed that section. The remainder of the grassed area will be treated with lawn feed and reseeded in the barer patches.  The large planters look good now that they have been stocked.

Car Parking Permits

You are reminded that residents are issued with two parking permits, one with a box in which you should write (clearly) the registration number of your car and the other for visitors. Cars not displaying valid parking permits or displaying forged/copied permits will receive a fixed penaly notice. Should you lose your permit the cost for replacement is £25. The replacement permits will be marked differently and any cars parked displaying the original permits will receive a fixed penaly notice. Please contact Rendall and Rittner if you lose your permit.

Current parking permits must be displayed so that the issue number is clearly visible.

Paved Terraces & Weight Problems

It has been drawn to our attention that many residents are now starting to use large planters and putting heavy objects on the paved areas of terraces and balconies. We must draw to your attention that the slabs are deemed to be a lightweight structure only. Beneath the paving slabs is a metal support system raised on wooden blocks which sit straight onto the felt membrane that gives weather protection to our roofs and terraces. With excessive weight the metal support system and wooden supports move, causing stress and strain on the felt and, in some instances, leaks occur.

We must advise that no large pots, or an excessive number of planters or heavy weighted objects should be used. If it is found that a weight problem has caused a roof or terrace to deteriorate and leak or crack, then the lessee in question will be deemed responsible for any repair costs.

Plumbing

There does seem to be further problems arising with leaks from overflow pipes on the development. Please ensure that any leaks are dealt with promptly as any damage or staining to the brick or stonework may be recovered by an additional service charge.

Rats

All developments on the river suffer from visits from river rats. Reports that rats have been discovered at Greenland Passage have been received, and that they are living in, and going through, rubbish in bin stores.

We have installed temporary wheelie bins at Prince's Court and increased the number of refuse collections to 2 a week for Prince's and Queen of Denmark Courts.

We would request that all waste is properly wrapped and that nothing should be stored in your bin store that might provide a quiet and warm nesting spot for vermin.

Do’s & Dont's

The displaying or erection of Estate Agents' boards or any other notices is prohibited in the lease.

Don’t break the rules - again, as we all live in very close proximity to each other, we must be mindful that noise travels, and that there should be no noise coming from any properties that causes disturbance or annoyance to others. Please be a good neighbour.

Do contact Southwark Council’s Noise Control Team if you are disturbed. They can be contacted on 020 7525 5777.

Do report any suspicious happenings around our Estate, security breaches in the car park etc. to the Police immediately on 999.

Do report any obvious faults or defects within the development: doors not closing, lights not operating, to the Managing Agents by email mattk@rendallandrittner.co.uk

Do let the Managing Agents know if you are moving out of a building, and the details of the person who is replacing you. We need to have up-to-date contact information for residents, in case of emergency, and/or in case of need for urgent repairs and access to the buildings.  Please cooperate fully with this requirement – your own health and safety may be at stake, in addition to your neighbours.