About us
About Us
Our History
The complex known as North End House was acquired from the Liquidator of Metropolitan Holdings in 1977 by the majority of the then lessees, who mainly contributed the share capital to establish North End House Limited, which is the freeholder of the property. North End House Limited owns the freehold of all 163 flats that form the complex, as well as that of North End Parade. Of these flats, North End House Limited owns thirteen, of which some are let on assured shorthold tenancies, and one is used for administration (Estate Office). The company also owns the car parking facilities and basement storage units, both of which are let to residents on a quarterly basis. We have, therefore, a rather interesting situation where lessees own shares in North End House Limited, which is their landlord in respect of the lease of their flat that they have purchased. This circular arrangement means that lessees own the shares in the company, which owns the freehold and is charged with managing the complex. This, in turn, means that lessees have, through their shareholding, a direct say in the management of North End House.
Up until 1987, North End House was managed by a firm of out-sourced managing agents. It was felt that this arrangement was unsatisfactory as problems were resolved neither swiftly nor efficiently, and service charges were constantly rising with no apparent benefit to residents. The board of North End House Limited then decided to introduce an in-house management structure with an estate manager operating from an office on site. This has resulted in the complex being managed far more efficiently, with considerable savings in costs that have been reflected in reduced service charges.
The board of North End House Limited, as with any limited company, is elected by the shareholders of whom the majority are resident in North End House. All the present directors are residents. There is an Annual General Meeting of the company where an open forum is held for company policy to be debated and discussed. However, we would make it clear that the board considers its objective to maximise profits and provide a well-run complex for residents to enjoy whilst keeping service charges to a minimum.
Shareholders are kept informed of proposed landlord’s improvements for the following year and those currently in hand are in connection with redecoration of the external common parts and passenger lifts replacements in all the blocks. Other improvements under review include intercom system upgrades, enhancement of general lighting of the estate and gardens, landscaping, rebuilding the porters’ lodge, barrier, and fencing, and upgrading the entrances to each block.
It is the board’s policy that all lessees in North End House should own 2,500 shares in North End House Limited and this is only right as lessees benefit from the landlord’s improvements. Purchasers of flats are encouraged either to acquire 2,500 shares from the vendors or, should none be available as in a few cases, to make an application to the board.
The Memorandum and Articles of Association of the company have been redrafted so that only holders of 2,500 shares in the company may benefit from the offer to extend their leases to a term of 999 years. If the lease that you have purchased is for a period of less than 999 years, and you hold 2,500 shares in North End House Limited, you may care to extend it to 999 years. The estate manager will supply details to you upon request.
There is a Residents’ Association that is recognised for the purpose of the Housing Acts, and all residents are encouraged to join. It provides an opportunity for residents to air their views to the committee, who discuss them with the directors and the estate manager. Applications for membership should be made to the secretary of the association c/o the Estate Office. The committee members are elected annually at the Association’s Annual General Meeting, who then publish bulletins that are circulated to members in order to keep them aware of the results of discussions with the board.
The board of North End House is working hard to bring constant improvement to the management of the complex, all of which, ultimately, affects the quality of our lives here. If you wish to know more about company policy in this regard, do let us know. We pursue a policy of open management and want residents to understand the efforts being made behind the scenes for their benefit. Similarly, the Residents’ Association is also working hard to act as an important channel of communication through which residents’ views and concerns may be expressed to the board, which, in turn, helps the board formulate company policy. If any residents have any questions, please do talk to the manager or the superintendent in the first instance. We will do everything possible to make you welcome in North End House and look forward to meeting you before too long. If you have any queries, please send them in writing to northendhouse@btconnect.com
Personnel
Management
Porters’ Lodge
North End House has a lodge at the entrance to the estate that is manned by our porters. Services include security patrols of the estate, regulating resident parking, managing contractors, handling keys and mail, assisting residents, and dealing with all emergencies. The estate staff carry out fire alarm testing of the blocks on a weekly basis. Other services include:
- Securing All Building Openings to Protect against Vandalism and the Elements
- Reporting Incidents to Police, Fire, and Ambulance Services, as well as Assisting in the Claims Process
- Collecting Evidence, Taking Photos of Damage, and Retaining Invoices and Estimates for Emergency Repairs
- Restoring Sprinkler and Alarm Protection as Soon as Possible
- Calling Lift Engineers, Service Engineers, and Other Contract Providers
- Mitigating the Likely Risk of Further Damage to Life and Property within the Building
All of our porters are trained in first aid and health and safety in the workplace.
Handyman
The handyman undertakes routine maintenance tasks on the estate and can be booked in for minor repairs in leaseholder flats via forms kept at the lodge. Please contact the porters’ lodge for the booking forms.
Caretakers
The estate has one full-time and one part-time caretaker who collect the rubbish from Monday to Saturday between 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Residents are to ensure that black rubbish bags and recycling bags are firmly tied and put on the landing behind the kitchen door in the morning before 9:00 a.m. There is only one collection every day and leaving the bags on time ensures that the bags do not impede safe access to the fire exit in the event of a fire.
Cleaners
North End House has a team of 2 cleaners who undertake the cleaning of the internal and external areas of the estate on weekdays.
IT Support
The estate has an on-site qualified IT professional who is happy to help with your IT needs. Please email Tamas.
Residents’ Association
A Residents’ Association has existed at North End House since the 1980s. Its purpose is to offer you a channel of communication to air your views and put any concerns or suggestions you might have for the improvement or smoother running of the estate to us on the committee. These are then discussed with the board of directors and the estate manager at regular meetings which, in turn, help them to formulate company policy. Some of the topics that we have passed on from residents to the board are; their wishes concerning the garden, the cleanliness of the buildings and grounds, issues around the lift replacement programme, general security concerns, including better lighting, communication with the porters, recycling matters, and the condition of the porters’ lodge. We have an excellent relationship with the board and are impressed with the scope of improvements scheduled for the next few years, coupled with their proven ability to keep the service charge as low as possible. To join the Residents’ Association, please send a one-off fee of £5 to the Hon. Treasurer, Mr Denis Segal, in flat 50. You will then receive an invitation to our Annual General Meeting and any bulletins we issue during the year.