Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue services charge a single rate for providing a rescue/lift entrapment service for both residential (tower blocks only) and commercial buildings at £208.67 plus vat.
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You’ve probably received a letter from Stevenage Homes telling you that Virgin Media will soon be switching off the analogue TV reception in Stevenage. I was sent two. To ensure that everyone can still get TV, Stevenage Homes are arranging to install an integrated reception system (IRS) in the blocks. I think this is...
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According Housing for You delivered yesterday, there will be a Leasehold Forum in Daneshill House on 14 April 2010 at 18:30. Stevenage Homes have cancelled some recent forums due to lack of interest. The Stevenage Homes web site maintains this one will still happen. I’m not surprised; I bet there will be a lot...
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I have asked Stevenage Homes to comment on the rumour that Hertfordshire fire brigade charge residence of Stevenage tower blocks for emergency visits. Apparently they classify these residential blocks as commercial properties.
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September 2009 I queried the amount in the Towers service charge to for fire alarm call outs. According to an email I received from Laura Christie on 2 October: "We have been inundated with queries regarding the actuals. We will come back to you as soon as possible."
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Notification for the new management fees arrived today. Actually it arrived yesterday, but I avoided opening it until today as I was in a good mood. I wanted to stay that way.
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I was at the Stevenage Homes Leaseholders’ Forum last week. November forums are usually well attended. It is just after the service charge bill goes out. It is usually full of pissed off leaseholders wanting to know why the bills are so much more than the estimates.
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Stevenage Homes have added a lot of money to our "repair" bill to cover responses to the fire alarm system. They normally just issue a bill detailing the actual costs. But they are obliged in law to provide a break down if requested.
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Good news on this, I received an email from Anne Hensley agreeing to refund just over half the extra costs that have been levied.
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The procurement department did pay £2500 for the door. But no one seems able to justify the extra cost. As they only appear to be paying £500 for fire doors elsewhere.
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I received another letter from Stevenage Homes this morning. From Tenancy Advisor Danielle Whittaker, warns, "It has been brought to my attention that there is an ever increasing amount of dog mess accumulating in the grounds of the above block."
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I have been getting no where fast with this, no one else in the block appears to care too much about these large repair bills. Perhaps they have given up trying to do something about it.
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I met Councillor Brian Underwood at a seasonal get together with the board of Stevenage Homes just before Christmas. If any one knows what is happening with the Stevenage Town Centre Regeneration scheme, you would expect it to be him.
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Each year Stevenage Homes estimates the repair costs on our block and adds this amount to the service charge. Then come October they provide the actual cost of repairs carried, which normally far exceeds the estimate. This year is no exception.
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I went to a leaseholders’ meeting on Thursday. Stevenage Homes at last had some information on what was going on with the demolition of The Towers. Previously they have had no more idea than anyone else. I was given a sheet with the following points on it:
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