Residents who were evicted from an ‘unsafe’ apartment block in Oldham by the fire service two-and-a-half years ago have been offered a glimmer of hope of returning. This is after they have paid out thousands of pounds in management charges while remaining 'homeless'.
The owners and tenants in The Victory Apartments in the town centre were forced out of their homes on November 2 2020 as a result of a prohibition notice imposed by Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS). However, a meeting was said to be taking place today between a management company and GMFRS over the installation of a new fire alarm, which could mean the residents of the 31 flats could return soon.
The prohibition notice followed a series of incidents in which fire engines attended the block as a result of a faulty fire alarm repeatedly going off. It reached the stage where it was happening so frequently residents had begun ignoring the alarm.
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Invoices issued to the excluded residents on behalf of The Victory’s freehold owner Drake Hall Ltd and seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) show they have each been charged as much as £3,898.49 per six months while they've been absent from the building.
The residents, some of whom are owners of their apartments and others who were tenants of private landlords, were dispersed into emergency council accommodation and others went to stay with family members.
A company called Residential Property Management Group (RMG), based in Northwich, Cheshire, has been administering the block since November 2021.
A spokesperson for RMG said that it was meeting with representatives of GMFRS today ‘to review the proposed fire alarm which if implemented should enable residents to return to the building’.
They went on: “We need GMFS input as we want to be assured any further money spent will result in the prohibition notice being lifted.
“We totally sympathise with the situation the apartment owners are currently in. The development was managed by the residents’ right-to-manage company (RTM) and during this period the building was issued a prohibition notice by the fire service and all residents had to vacate the premises until all fire safety work was completed.
“The RTM then failed to meet some of the statutory demands of the company and it was subsequently dissolved before they could complete the works.
“RMG was contacted by the building owner to take over the management in November 2021. We have met with all the owners, explained what work was required to enable the building to be reopened and are currently working through this project.
“Our priority has always been to enable the residents to return to a safe building and following the final element with the installation of an alarm system we hope this will be achieved soon.”
Medical doctor Fozia Malik, 47, paid £60,000 for her apartment shortly before the prohibition order was issued.
“I’ve paid thousands of pounds in management fees, like all the other residents, but none of us are living there. It’s crazy.
“We have kept being told the work to make the building safe would be completed soon, but we’re never given a date when we can move back in. We have a Whatsapp group for the residents and we are all at the end of our tether.”
She said the problem was seriously affecting her mental health.
Another resident, Dr Raja Amjid, said he paid £9,000 in the last year in management fees.
“It’s extremely frustrating,” he said. “We feel the work could’ve been done by now. There seems to have been some dragging of feet.”
A spokesperson for Drake Hall Ltd said: "Drake Hall became the lessor about 15 years ago and initially managed the property.
"However, in 2014 the residents/owners formed a right-to-manage company and took over the management of the building.
"Over the last decade property management has become increasingly complex and evidently the residents became overwhelmed with these requirements.
"During this period matters have been compounded by the appointment and resignation of multiple property managers. Ultimately, the RTM collapsed, and we as professional freeholders stepped back in at the end of 2021.
"Upon discovering the failure of the RTM at the end of 2021 it became apparent we faced an emergency brought about by the inaction of the RTM and we took the decision to appoint RMG who have extensive experience in resolving the issues faced.
"Upon entry to the building it was noted people were occupying the building in contravention of the fire brigade's prohibition notice. It is our understanding that the fire brigade have had concerns with the building whilst under the control of the RTM, from a much earlier date than November 2020.
"Since stepping back in we have worked at our cost with the various parties in order to get the building up to standard and back in use.
"We have used our scale and commercial relationship to ensure the building continued to be insured whilst the under the prohibition notice at the request of the RTM’s appointed property managers, although it should be noted that unbeknown to us the RTM effectively nullified this cover by allowing occupation of the building whilst under the prohibition notice.
"For clarity, the invoices you have seen relate to service charge estimates for the upcoming period and payment of these costs are the solution as oppose the problem. If the owners are unwilling to provide funds the property cannot be brought up to standard, insured and ultimately occupied."
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