Post Meeting Notes from 23 June 2013

Please find here the notes from our most recent meeting held on 23 June 2013.

Our next meeting is yet to be confirmed, but is likely to be held on either 28 July 2013 or 11 August 2013. 

Next Meeting 5pm Sunday 23 June 2013

This is to confirm that our next BSORA meeting shall take place at 5pm on Sunday 23rd June 2013. 

To enable us to confirm our venue, which (subject to availability) will again be No 11 Brunswick Hotel, please confirm your attendance or apologies to bsora@hotmail.co.uk by 15th June 2013.

The Draft Meeting Notes from the last meeting on 12 May 2013 can be found here.

The following documents have also been prepared with a view to helping general appreciation and understanding about what we are working towards with this project. 

• Project Overview Presentation as at 9 June 2013
• Tender Document in excel as at 9 June 2013

We look forward to you joining us.

Kind regards

BSORA Committee

Estimated Project Apportionments - Revised

Dear neighbours,

In the course of conversations with our neighbouring association on Montgomery Street, it has become apparent that the initial estimated distribution of costs was disproportionate to the work being undertaken.

With the BSORA committee's agreement, these figures have now been reviewed and revised to more fairly reflect the respective proportions of scaffolding costs in relation to the work.

This means that the cost of the scaffolding attributable to each building has now been calculated in proportion to that building's share of the total work. (Previously, it had been based upon the proportion of each building's share of the chimney work alone).

This adjustment now gives the total estimated share for each building to be:

41-45 Montgomery Street block:                                               £8,327.97 (approx 12.7%)

46-48 Brunswick Street (&47 Mtgmy St )(i.e. BSORA block): £53,013.80 (approx 80.5%)

50-52 Brunswick Street block                                                    £4,468.75 (approx 6.8%)

 

Total estimated project cost remains       £65,810.52

Please see the sheet here for more detail:

• Revised Brunswick Street Apportionments at Building Level as at April 16 2013

and here for an edited letter which includes the revised figures and indicative timescale.

The consequence of this revision will obviously require some adjustments on a similar basis to the property level estimates, which will follow in due course.
 
If you have any questions about this in the meantime, please don't hesitate to contact us. 
Kind regards,
BSORA Committee

Meeting Notes and Next Meeting Sunday 12 May 2012

It is heartening to report that the response to our recent communication proposing this work has been positive, and we do have a growing majority of owners committed to protecting their homes by undertaking these necessary repairs.

There is still a little more work to do in confirming similar majorities with our neighbouring buildings before we can determine a final schedule for the work and payments.

The committee will aim to keep everyone informed of this progress, as and when more information becomes available.

Meanwhile, the (Draft) Meeting Notes from 7 April 2013 have now been posted. You can view them here.

Our next meeting is currently planned to be 5pm on Sunday 12 May 2013 - please RSVP your intention to attend (either yes or no) to bsora@hotmail.co.uk before 5 May 2013 so that we can confirm with the hotel.

We look forward to you joining us.

BSORA Committee

Some Recent Relevant Articles

Worth a read, not least for all the comments that follow, is this article from Scotland on Sunday this week: Home buyers warned of top-floor flat repair threat

and as if we needed any further motivation to organise and act for ourselves, then there's always this to remind us: Statutory Repairs scandal: Reports to be released!

Edinburgh Council's New "Shared Repairs Service" Launched

It's been a while coming, but finally the council have announced the launch from 2nd April 2013 of their new Shared Repairs Service to replace the old Property Conservation Service.

On the whole there is not really that much new in it, although it does reinforce that the advice is generally (as mentioned at the ESPC events) to do exactly what we have been doing, i.e. to work together in the common aim of protecting and maintaining our shared building.

You can read more about it at the links below, and then we could perhaps have a brief chat about reactions to it at our next meeting on Sunday:

News Blurb: http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/news/article/1185/new_property_repair_advice_service_to_begin

More details: http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/info/1028/improvements_and_repairs/1959/advice_and_help_for_shared_repairs

Thanks,

Catriona

ESPC Free Landlord Events 26/7 March 2013

 

I appreciate this is now quite short notice but as many of us BSORA members are either existing or potential Landlords, I thought these ESPC events next week, on 26/7 March 2013, could be of interest in making sure we are up to speed on all our current obligations:


Make the most of your investment whether you are a landlord, or are thinking about becoming one.

Come along to ESPC's tailored events for expert advice and information, to make sure your investment works for you.

ESPC are holding two events with a number of excellent speakers covering topics for those in the Scottish rental market.

Full details here: http://www.espc.com/news-events/events/landlord-event

In the meantime, many thanks for the positive responses received so far with regards to our common repairs proposal.  If you have any outstanding queries before you send us your reply by 2nd April, please contact bsora@hotmail.co.uk and we'll do our best to respond.

Thanks,

Catriona
for
BSORA