Problems with neighbours/communal drive maintenance
Discussion
I seam to have got into yet another argument with a neighbour over communal areas around our block of apartments and was after your views on if I'm being unreasonable.
To cut a long story short I have a garage, outside of which the ground levels have been eroded over time due to a lack of maintenance which mean that I cannot get my car in and out without building a make shift temporary timber ramp, Not a huge problem as the E30's in there and I don't use it that often but a bit of a pain. The driveway outside is part of a large communal drive and up until now I've avoid asking for it to be sorted out as it will incur costs to everyone.
Fast forward to this weekend and whilst away on holiday the secretary of the management company (we manage the block ourselves) sent around a quote to have some work done on the drive, before I even had a chance to comment (slightly annoying as I'm supposed to be the chairman of the bloody company) it would appear she's instructed it to be done and asked us all to tidy up the drive.
The real bloody annoying thing is that all the pot holes and uneven ground in front of the other garages is being sorted but the f
king great drop in front of mine hasn't been accounted for despite me raising it in the AGM every year. I've told her this isn't at all acceptable and she now trying to wriggle out of getting a new quote and loosing face. Ok the area in front of mine is going to be reasonably expensive but is much more of a problem than what she's proposing to get fixed.
Latest is that she's saying we are all responsible for our own garages which is slight irrelevant as the garage is fine, its the drive which is the problem.
So any suggestions on a way forward to make sure I get the whole drive sorted, she's a stubborn old cow (she also tells visitors not to parking in the visitor parking as it's under her window!) and at the moment I'm really struggling to see how I'm actually going to get this resolved without ending up paying out to sort out everywhere except for outside my own bloody garage.
To cut a long story short I have a garage, outside of which the ground levels have been eroded over time due to a lack of maintenance which mean that I cannot get my car in and out without building a make shift temporary timber ramp, Not a huge problem as the E30's in there and I don't use it that often but a bit of a pain. The driveway outside is part of a large communal drive and up until now I've avoid asking for it to be sorted out as it will incur costs to everyone.
Fast forward to this weekend and whilst away on holiday the secretary of the management company (we manage the block ourselves) sent around a quote to have some work done on the drive, before I even had a chance to comment (slightly annoying as I'm supposed to be the chairman of the bloody company) it would appear she's instructed it to be done and asked us all to tidy up the drive.
The real bloody annoying thing is that all the pot holes and uneven ground in front of the other garages is being sorted but the f
king great drop in front of mine hasn't been accounted for despite me raising it in the AGM every year. I've told her this isn't at all acceptable and she now trying to wriggle out of getting a new quote and loosing face. Ok the area in front of mine is going to be reasonably expensive but is much more of a problem than what she's proposing to get fixed. Latest is that she's saying we are all responsible for our own garages which is slight irrelevant as the garage is fine, its the drive which is the problem.
So any suggestions on a way forward to make sure I get the whole drive sorted, she's a stubborn old cow (she also tells visitors not to parking in the visitor parking as it's under her window!) and at the moment I'm really struggling to see how I'm actually going to get this resolved without ending up paying out to sort out everywhere except for outside my own bloody garage.
Edited by andye30m3 on Tuesday 11th May 16:47
Just tell her it's alright, You bumped into some nice irish fellow at the pub who said he had a bit of spare tarmac left from a previous job. Mention he's promised to do the bit outside your garage for free aslong as 'him and the boys' can have a word with the neighbours and try to wrestle together an agreement to do the rest of the drive for a price.
Also mention they suspect the job may over-run so have suggested they bring their temporary accomodation with them.
..and their Dags. Don't forget to mention the Dags.
Also mention they suspect the job may over-run so have suggested they bring their temporary accomodation with them.
..and their Dags. Don't forget to mention the Dags.
Cheers for the replies,
Definitely not fit, 70ish short fat and has no life what so ever, just waiting to die and refusing to do it quietly.
The block was originally a old farm house built in 1890, since then it's been the officers accommodation through the war, a hotel and then converted to flats. the external areas around my garage were never going to last for ever, think farm track construction.
I've drafted an e-mail as a response to her continual refusal to be reasonable, it petty harsh as she's done quite a lot of other unreasonable stuff and was going to copy it into the other 3 flat owners. In speaking to one of my neighbors tonight they told her to sod off this morning.
Definitely not fit, 70ish short fat and has no life what so ever, just waiting to die and refusing to do it quietly.
The block was originally a old farm house built in 1890, since then it's been the officers accommodation through the war, a hotel and then converted to flats. the external areas around my garage were never going to last for ever, think farm track construction.
I've drafted an e-mail as a response to her continual refusal to be reasonable, it petty harsh as she's done quite a lot of other unreasonable stuff and was going to copy it into the other 3 flat owners. In speaking to one of my neighbors tonight they told her to sod off this morning.
hornetrider said:
Surely as chairman you have a say?
I'm not 100% sure, I'd rather check with the other flat owners who are all quite reasonable and make sure they happy before I over ride her. If anyone else could take her post as the 2nd director I'd send the e-mail I've written which I think would force her to quit, I see her as very dishonest and in control of the company funds, which I'm not happy about.
Completely agree, I didn't want to do it but no one else would.
I'll just have to tell her to get it done, if not I can write company cheques so i'll pay someone else to do it,
I rather do this with the other flat owners backing as I don't want to be seen to be paying for stuff to benefit myself without. At the end of the day I have to live around these people.
I'll just have to tell her to get it done, if not I can write company cheques so i'll pay someone else to do it,
I rather do this with the other flat owners backing as I don't want to be seen to be paying for stuff to benefit myself without. At the end of the day I have to live around these people.
Everyone has agreed to fix the drive. The bit of the drive infront of your garage is....part of the drive.
You need a quote for all the work and then see what they say. If it costs £10k extra just for the bit infront of your garage there will be trouble but see what the extra is first.
If this is impossible then don't pay for the work. Get someone in to do the bit infront of your drive and pay for it yourself. It's then your decision if you want to pay for this or to live with the wooden block solution.
She is the unreasonable one so if you explain the situation to your neighbours they will understand. If they don't then fk them, you will have to be a man and live with it.
You need a quote for all the work and then see what they say. If it costs £10k extra just for the bit infront of your garage there will be trouble but see what the extra is first.
If this is impossible then don't pay for the work. Get someone in to do the bit infront of your drive and pay for it yourself. It's then your decision if you want to pay for this or to live with the wooden block solution.
She is the unreasonable one so if you explain the situation to your neighbours they will understand. If they don't then f
k them, you will have to be a man and live with it.In speaking to one of the neighbors she has also now been using company funds to fund works outside of the management companies responsibility to benefit herself, nothing very much I'd expect £50 but she knows full well this is wrong.
I'm speaking to the other neighbors to see if they are prepared to take over the secretaryship.
Can I as chairman call for her to resign based on the above misuse of company funds?
I'm speaking to the other neighbors to see if they are prepared to take over the secretaryship.
Can I as chairman call for her to resign based on the above misuse of company funds?
You need to call an extraordinary general meeting and get all these things sorted in an open way, rather than everyone running round talking behind people's backs.
Do you know the contractor she has instructed? You should stand them down temporarily. I take it she got three quotes before instructing them? (Else, another nail in her coffin)
Do you know the contractor she has instructed? You should stand them down temporarily. I take it she got three quotes before instructing them? (Else, another nail in her coffin)
If I was in your position I would do a couple things.
As Chairman, you should be the one making the decisions, not the 70 year old clueless busybody.
I would find out the company she has 'instructed' to do the work and get them to include your part of the driveway into the quote. Unless the whole area needs to be dug out, relevelled and tarmac'd over, it shouldnt be a massive extra cost. Then just instruct them to do the work.
If that isnt practical then just ring around a couple of places and see if they can complete all of the work (including your bit) for less than the original quote that this secretary has had. I am sure these guys are crying out for work and you can perform a decent competetive Tender.
The fact that she is calling the shots and also spending the management funds for personal use means she has to be fired - afterall, this is what would happen in any other circumstance. She seems to be acting like she is the landlady and I am not sure why you are afraid of her. She is not the Chairman, you are. So, get buy in from your neighbours as I am sure they find her equally as irritating?
Last option is to just pay for it using the funds (legitimate IMO) or pay out of your own pocket.
One small point to end. She probably doesnt understand the issues of having a cherished e30 m3 that has been restored. She probably doesnt understands the implications of grounding the car, or that it is infact worth £15k plus. Afterall, most of my mates, truth be told are not interested in cars really, laugh at me for seeking out the best parking spaces etc. Some people just do not understand.
As Chairman, you should be the one making the decisions, not the 70 year old clueless busybody.
I would find out the company she has 'instructed' to do the work and get them to include your part of the driveway into the quote. Unless the whole area needs to be dug out, relevelled and tarmac'd over, it shouldnt be a massive extra cost. Then just instruct them to do the work.
If that isnt practical then just ring around a couple of places and see if they can complete all of the work (including your bit) for less than the original quote that this secretary has had. I am sure these guys are crying out for work and you can perform a decent competetive Tender.
The fact that she is calling the shots and also spending the management funds for personal use means she has to be fired - afterall, this is what would happen in any other circumstance. She seems to be acting like she is the landlady and I am not sure why you are afraid of her. She is not the Chairman, you are. So, get buy in from your neighbours as I am sure they find her equally as irritating?
Last option is to just pay for it using the funds (legitimate IMO) or pay out of your own pocket.
One small point to end. She probably doesnt understand the issues of having a cherished e30 m3 that has been restored. She probably doesnt understands the implications of grounding the car, or that it is infact worth £15k plus. Afterall, most of my mates, truth be told are not interested in cars really, laugh at me for seeking out the best parking spaces etc. Some people just do not understand.
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