Date confirmed for the Full Building Survey - Thur 6 March 2025

 This is to confirm that, finally, we achieved agreement and payment (via Novoville) to commission a Full Building Survey from DM Hall.  This will take place on Thursday 6 March 2025.  

Thanks, all.   

Majority Now Signed Up to Novoville!

I am pleased to report that we now have 12 of our 14 properties engaged with the Novoville App, representing a clear majority.  Physical letters have now been sent to the remaining two, so hopefully they will soon join us. 

As an initial stage, we have requested quotes for a Full Building Survey from these 3 companies (in addition to the one I got last year from DM Hall).  

• EALA impacts
• David Narro Associates
• We are GLM   

Please feel free to look them up yourselves.  The actual proposals will be available to view via the app. 

In the meantime, DJ Alexander (who manage 2F2 and 1F2), arranged for someone to come today and check the roof. (Mark Lynch of Lynch Roofing).  After braving a vicious assault by the nesting seagulls, he has confirmed that the gutters are blocked, again, and has recommended, again, that they should be cleaned out at least every 6 months.  This is nothing new, and I do think a regular maintenance arrangement should be considered.  

Anyway, I believe you should each have got a notification via the app alerting you to this first proposal, so do please go and have a look.  Once we have all the quotes in, we can maybe arrange a meeting to discuss, and/or each owner will be able to vote and we go from there. 

Thanks,

Catriona

Penthouse Paddling Pool

 It's June again, and that means heavy summer storms that seem to bypass our rhones and just come straight in to my flat....

It's one thing when it comes in the top, but when it comes into the 2nd floor too, you know you have to do something!! 

So just sent this email out this evening: 

Dear neighbours and representatives, 

It is now over 10 years since we collectively commissioned a full building survey by DM Hall that helped us to identify, scope, procure and complete some significant maintenance work on our shared property here at 46 Brunswick Street.  (Details still available at https://brunswickstreetblog.blogspot.com/) 

Like most of us, the building has aged in that time.  Action is required again, not least because several different properties in the block have recently (and not so recently) been impacted by substantial water ingress.  But those are the bits we know about, and it is likely there are some additional impacts (such as potential damp etc) that we don't necessarily know all about.  We need to know, holistically, what we are dealing with so that we can plan, budget and act accordingly in the short, medium and long term.  This is a shared responsibility. 

Those who were involved previously will no doubt recall the hard work involved, and be keen to make things as easy as possible going forwards.   One of the keys to this is undoubtedly communication.  (For those that are not aware, we do already have a 'stair' WhatsApp group that you are welcome to join: 

https://chat.whatsapp.com/JcLQ2JmoLif0SnijIE7l66 )   

It is not perfect, but I do believe that the Novoville App* can help us. Therefore, you are now invited to join us in a 'virtual' tenement created in the 'Novoville App'.   You can find more information about that here:   https://sharedrepairs.novoville.com/   

I have already gone ahead and set up a 'Virtual Tenement' called '46 Brunswick Street Block', with our 14 'properties' in it.  I have added names etc where I know them, but it is now ready for you as individuals to go in and link to your property as either owner, agent, tenant etc.  In some cases I have already sent a link, in others I am yet to do so, so do look out for it.  (You may be able to go in anyway, using these links)  

 If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me directly, although bear in mind that I am only learning as we go with it too! (*Please note that while it is currently an 'app' for mobile phones only, you do not have to be a smartphone user to be involved).  

Many thanks,

Catriona

I am sorry to report that I recently experienced significant issues with water flooding into my home, at 3F2, again. (Tue 25 May 2021). 

I managed to get someone to come out at short notice and check it.  He confirmed that due to the rhones being blocked, with debris and weeds (see photos in this Google Photo Album)  the water was unable to get round the bay window to the down pipe on the far side of 3F1, and so it just backed up and into mine.  This amount of growth and vegetation has obviously taken quite some time to accumulate, with the seagulls not helping.  This reinforces the impact of a lack of any routine maintenance schedule to help keep them cleared. 

The advice was that it should be cleared at least twice a year - next time in the autumn, say November time, once the trees have shed their leaves.  (On the up side, he did say that the roof was still in great order!).  It is 10 years since we undertook a full building survey which highlighted work likely to be required in the short, medium and long term.  A decade on and we are now at that 'long term' point, so it may well be prudent to review some of the points identified at that time, in order to catch any of them before they become urgent.

Given the volume of water and the urgency of this particular situation, I agreed to their quote to come back and clear it on Wednesday 3 June 2021, which he did.  

I  now seek your support please for 

a)  payment of £30 per property 

(which is less that a 1/14th share of the £473.28 paid in full by me on 10th June 2021).  

and 

b) a proposal that we establish a proper maintenance routine with a local firm to prevent this from happening again.     

At the very least, we might consider using our existing BSORA (Brunswick Street Residents and Owners Association) bank account to gather regular payments so that we can continue to protect our properties.  The company used on this occasion was Weatherseal Roofing, sourced via Home Force ) but I suggest that we gather competitive quotes from a range of companies and choose one to agree a running contract with for the building.

If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please don't hesitate to contact me.  

Thanks for your support, 

Catriona 

STOP PRESS: Ceiling Collapse due to Water Ingress

Very sorry to report that the kitchen ceiling of 1F2 collapsed this evening under the weight of water coming into the property. 

All this, for the sake of not getting the rhones cleared regularly?? 

Urgent - Recent Water Ingress - June /July 2016

Dear all, 

Further to my email to all owners earlier today, I am sorry to say that a number of owners have reported quite significant amounts of water entering their properties in recent weeks - and this time not just the top floors!   (If you have also been affected, please get in touch). 

So far we are aware of water entering and causing damage to 3F1, 3F2, 2F1, and damp in 48A, but I suspect 2F2 might have noticed something too, if only from the flooding occurring above it seeping through.

DM Hall and Breck's have been notified and Peter McKeowan from Breck's came to inspect this morning (Monday 4th July). 

He has reported as below: 

Following inspection we can confirm there are a number of defects which are attributed to the storms over the winter period such as the ridging and slates. The section of ridge is dangerous and should be replaced as a matter of urgency.

The recent heavy ingress is as a result of seagulls which are nesting on the property. This has resulted in the rhones backing up coming over the elevation wallhead detail. Nest should be removed and rhone joints repaired as required.

See email below for costs previously submitted in March for consideration.

These have been revised this as follows:

·         Access roof via access hatch

·         Establish rope anchor points

·         All works to be completed by Level 1 rope technician and supervised by level 3

·         Remove defective section of zinc ridge

·         Replace ridge roll as required

·         Refit/renew if required section of affected zinc ridge

·         Replace all missing slates to front and rear slated slopes

·         Clear out all rhones front and rear and remove debris from site (See below photos taken today)

·         Rod connections to downpipes to ensure running clear

·         Remove nest from roof and dispose material off site

·         Repair damaged joints to cast iron OG rhone (5nr)

  

This work is estimated to be around £1950 (presumably ex VAT), so is likely to come to around £165 - £200 per property including VAT.    

I am relieved to say that as of half an hour ago, we do now have a majority of owners in agreement to proceed with this work.  (Many thanks for quick responses today) 

Breck's have therefore been instructed and will be here on Wednesday 6th July, this week to carry out this essential maintenance and repair work. 

We will contact you as soon as possible with regards more specific payment arrangements. 

Many thanks, 

Catriona

Significant vegetation growing at the top of the downpipe to the right hand side when viewing the building taken Monday 4 July 2016. 

This will be blocking the ability for the rhones to drain properly, leading to it backing up and flooding into the building - Taken Monday 4 July 2016.

Flooded third floor Monday 4 July 2016

Rain pouring in above third floor window Mon 4 July 2016

First floor ceiling collapse Monday 4 July 2016 (1)

First floor ceiling collapse Monday 4 July 2016 (2)

First floor ceiling collapse Monday 4 July 2016 (3)

   

Meeting Notes from 11 October 2015

Hello all,


Please find the minutes from our most recent meetings held on Sunday 11 October 2015, as well as those from the AGM on 1 March 2015.


Watch this space for news of the next meeting and for information on decisions to be made.