Page 1 of 5 Leasehold Forum Wednesday 20 th September 2017

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1 Page 1 of 5 Leasehold Forum Wednesday 20 th September 2017 Venue Merry Hill Office Present: Martin Cartwright (MC) Lyndon Whitehouse (LW) Anne Whitehouse (AW) Billy McCormack (BM) Karen Phillips (KP) Ann Guest (AG) Gladys Grimstead (GC) Beryl Weaver (BW) Betty Jones (BJ) Susan Mayou (SM) Corrie Dryden (CD) Wolverhampton Homes and Board Members Helen Bellingham (HB) Darren Baggs (DB) Nikki Downing (ND) Joy Maclaren (JM) Linda Middleton (LM) 1. Apologies Darren Reade and Adam Hoque. 2/3. Minutes of last meeting and matters arising The minutes were agreed and seconded as being an accurate record. MC Noted that the majority of the scaffolding has gone now for Merridale Court HB Heath Town a high cost of works approx. 45,000 can be in negative equity. City council went to cabinet and it was agreed that if the work exceed 30% of market valuation they could Pay over 10 years Buy back for full market value using money to fund a new purchase Sell to the council at a lesser amount and remain as secure tenant. Meeting that was held 2 out of 11 turned up, so this was then followed up with 1 to 1 meetings and 5 have now been completed in total. Plans are shown and the options are discussed. Depending on when works are carried out will decided when we need a firm decision. If buy back must be done before the start of works. LW who does the valuation. HB Lee Shaw can also get own and will then negotiate with the council. AG Are they all 1 & 2 bedroom. HB There are some 3 AG When is the deadline HB Could be as early as March 18 it depends where they are on the programme.

2 Page 2 of 5 LW The valuation is as it is today? HB As it is now. Works may only add 4,000-7,000 to the value. Another letter will be sent to these that are not engaging. AG If they do not respond how much time have got? HB 6 months stage 3 consultation with costs, this may prompt them to get in touch. Charge on property is the other option, it will be a 3-4-page letter detailing information on the works. Where leaseholder is not the occupier and the property is a buy back the landlord is responsible to rehouse not the city council. DB New homeless act coming in next year this may affect re housing due to the notice given. HB The 30% rule above will apply to any estate across the city. LW Who arbitrates if the prices are different HB District valuer. If there is a 5% discount between valuation this is to be expected as this is done on opinion. On open market, it is what someone will pay, but right to buy etc. are different. It is opinion based and 5% either side is normal. District Valuer is free as this a government service but this is not quick. BM Will the name change DB Nothing has been seen to suggest a name change. AG Needs to be managed properly once the money has been spent. DB SPIN officer will engage (supporting people in need) People in area elderly, go out and visit make sure that they have support approx. 1 in 4 need additional support. In light of Grenfell doing High Rise assessment 2. Bus Tour HB Leaflet handed out showing photos and over view on the tour, those that attended enjoyed. GC expressed an interest in doing visits if something could be arranged in the future. 3. New Board Members SR Final 12 months and during the next 12 months will bring along different board members to the forum introduced Linda and Joy. JM Been on the board now for 1 year. Really enjoying it. Health and safety champion, worked with ACOV is in strategic involvement, also the review panel. Did elections but did not win but is happy with result.

3 Page 3 of 5 LM On the board for 12 months enjoying it. Is new to housing so is learning on her feet. Forum meetings are of interest to her especially if she becomes a leaseholder in the future. LW Great board members are here he was on the review panel. Board needs to understand Leaseholder issues. He raised the point 12 months ago, that all phrases are around tenants and leaseholders do not get mentioned., it should be tenant and leasehold. HB We are in better position now than ever and the working group does help. DB all conversations about polices at SMT Leaseholders are very much involved. SR Made the point that when garage charges were looked at Leaseholders said they were the same as tenants but would take this to board and to Lesley. MC It all comes down to respect and sometimes it feels like we are the forgotten people. LW Needs to put down and it needs to be articulated to feel included. DB Made a note and will take this back. 4. Grounds Maintenance Contract DB In 2008 Tenant and Leasehold consultation event with the view of what they want going forward and the specification was agreed. In 2009 the speciation was tweaked and extended 4 years. Focus Group tenants and leasehold to make sure that the next 10 years would be delivered. Existing contract end in Cut and drop in most areas, cut and collect is not affordable. There is the option to remove cut and collect from some sites e.g. former sheltered Sites. It will be a 10- year contract with a 5-year break clause. Name day mowing, Tree management, Knot weed treatment and void gardens would be included in the contract. Hard surfaces and car parks not included at moment HB Only those that pay for grounds maintenance will have had a letter. DB 13 th November tender returns. Target date 8 th December has delegated authority to award. Contract should start February/March AG Continental not as good as they used to be they have gone off the boil and it does vary across the city some areas are better than others. CD Are garage sites included DB On a by-monthly basis. CD Had an issue and cleared this up herself. Has seen someone once in 2 years. Last summer came out and showed no respect. BM Will they employee the same people?

4 Page 4 of 5 DB Will look to tupe over if the work is not there, surprised by comments, made as this is not general feedback. MC Some is more recent. DB It is difficult to recover now as coming to end of the grass cutting season but losing the contract could not be further from their aspirations. HB Matthew Pickerill will do presentation, when contract has been awarded. 5. Fire Safety There are 36 Traditional High Rise (normally above 6 storeys) Blocks in the City. In these tower blocks we currently have 56 leaseholders. 37 leaseholder reside in the flat and 19 sub-let their properties. Since the Grenfell Tower we have FD30 Fire Doors We have re visited all the Fire Risk Assessments for the High-Rise blocks, We discovered that there were potentially 5 doors which may not have been FD30 complainant a joint visit was made by a Leasehold Management Officer and one of our fire experts. 1 door was noted as being a 2-notional fit fire door and will be dealt with under our notional fit fire door policy and 4 were found to be non-compliant. Of these 4 of the leaseholders have engaged with is and 3 have ordered a door, frame and associated items whilst the remaining one has until tomorrow to decide if they are going to fit their own door or one of ours. Leaseholder Audits We have started to carry out leaseholder audits to high rise leasehold flats. The audits are being jointly carried out by a Leasehold Management Officer and a Concierge Supervisor. Whilst in the property the officers Are showing the leaseholder or the sub-tenant the fire safety video Updating contact details Checking fire alarms Checking for any fire safety breaches e.g. hoarding Leaseholder are asked to sign a form to say they have understood the visit- we leave them a copy of the form and retain a copy for ourselves. So far 33 flats have been visited 3 flats are currently empty these flats are sublet by the actual leaseholder 20 are currently outstanding

5 Page 5 of 5 We will continue to try to engage with those leaseholders who are outstanding, however, ultimately if we cannot gain access we will have to take a decision to whether to take them through the courts for an access order. Leaseholder audits will be an on-going piece of work and every time there is a new leaseholder or sub-tenants in a high rise flat we will carry out a leasehold audit. The high-rise flats have been a priority piece of work for the Leasehold Management Officer they are continuing to work with those leaseholders in low rise flats who do have a FD30 fire door and we are starting to get very firm with those leaseholders who will not engage and we have currently got 23 cases with the City of Wolverhampton Council awaiting injunction. 6. Leaseholders Facebook Page HB Do we want to keep the Facebook page SR Need to promote it and keep updated HB Agreed that the Facebook page should be kept but that this should be relaunched and would have an update on the next forum. 7. Ideas for future guest speakers Jan Lycett new director for business support will be joining us for the December Forum Ravi- to give an update with Rent With Confidence. Matthew Pickerill Grounds maintenance contract update Simon Bamfield April time for update. 8. Chief Executive and Board Update Latest financial statement in a good position management fee freeze for 3 years. Board members all confirmed. City council will be opening Christmas eve WH are looking into replicating this and staff having an additional day annual leave. Consultation will take place. Lesley will be retiring early next year, Final interviews 9 th November, Lesley will work with start dates and stay on until March if needed. Next Meeting 13 th December 2017.

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