(From LAH)
This document sets out some of the regulations associated with the terms and covenants, contained within leases at Bow Quarter, together with other information supplemental to that contained on the website www.thebowquarter.co.uk
Whilst it is not exhaustive it aims to highlight those regulations that are there for common sense and common good. Equally residents should be aware of their legal responsibilities as some regulations can carry the sanction of legal action if not complied with.
October 2013
YOUR APARTMENT
SECURITY OF INDIVIDUAL APARTMENTS
Please ensure that all of your windows and doors are fully secure before leaving your apartment unoccupied for however brief a period. If you are planning a holiday, inform the Estate Office before leaving. Please also ensure all water taps and other appliances, particularly washing machines, are turned off. Negligence could invalidate insurance claims and result in negligent residents meeting the cost of damage. Residents may find that it may invalidate any claim made against your third party insurance.
KEYS TO APARTMENTS
The landlord strongly recommends that individual residents assign a spare set of keys to the Security Lodge. They are kept in securely locked cabinets. This will allow the Estate’s staff to take action in the event of emergencies, such as fire or flood. It also means there is a spare set of keys if you lose yours or leave them inside the apartment. Although they are tagged by security all keys should be clearly marked by the resident. If Management are required to gain emergency access in accordance with lease conditions using a locksmith, costs will be attributable to individuals if spare keys are not available.
WORK IN APARTMENTS
Residents must ensure that any workman who will be coming in to carry out renovations, repairs, etc. that will entail hot works or working in communal areas have signed in at the Security Lodge and attended the Estate Office as detailed in the Contractors Rules. By inviting workmen onto the site a resident becomes responsible for their actions.
SHORT TERM GUESTS
If you are expecting a guest (this refers only to genuine, short term guests) while you are away notify the Estate Office giving details of who the guest is and how long they are staying. Little Apple Holdings Ltd is eager to protect the character of the estate and believe it is in the interests of all residents that the population of the estate is stable and not excessively transitory. Because of this, the landlord will not permit leaseholders to sublet their property for periods of less than three months; all lettings will be subject to published terms and conditions. Please refer to the Fact Sheet, “Subletting”.
WINDOWS AND BALCONIES
No item of any description should be dropped, shaken or thrown from windows or balconies. This is unacceptable and hazardous to other residents, and to the general public below. Residents - or the guardians of juveniles - will be held responsible for any damage caused in this manner. It is not permitted to hang or expose any bedding, washing, carpets etc. from windows or balconies.
Residents with balconies should ensure they are kept clear of rubbish and litter which can be blown around and cause damage. Residents must also ensure, where applicable, that the rainwater gullies are kept clear and functioning. Failure to do this causes serious damage from damp in flats below.
It is not permitted to have window boxes or flowerpots on the window sills. These can be blown off in strong winds possibly causing serious injury or worse. Do not sit on balconies or on window ledges – it is extremely dangerous and totally irresponsible.
MAINTENANCE
Residents are responsible for all maintenance within their apartments except where repairs are required to a communal service. Enquiries concerning what is and what is not your responsibility should be referred to the Estate Office. All residents are advised that inadequate ventilation in any property will quickly cause a condensation problem. Advice can be sought from Estate Office if required.
ALTERATIONS TO PROPERTY
Any residents wishing to carry out alterations to their property, i.e. altering the apartment’s layout and/or the removal of internal walls, must obtain the landlord’s consent in advance. This also applies to the laying of wood block floors or any floor type other than carpets. Matters such as these should be referred in the first instance to Estate Office.
KEYS
MAIN GATE SECURITY KEYS
All residents should possess a key fob to operate the main pedestrian gate. Damaged or faulty fobs are replaced free of charge, additional fobs are available at a cost of £25.00. Fobs are available from either the Security Lodge or Estate Office.
CAR PARK PROXIMITY READERS
Residents who own or rent parking bays may require a proximity reader for access into the underground and overground car parking areas. Damaged or faulty proximity readers are replaced free of charge, additional proximity readers are available at a cost of £25.00. These are available from either the Security Lodge or Estate Office.
NOISE
The Bow Quarter has more than one thousand residents. The consequences of noise transmission and nuisance between neighbouring apartments are therefore obvious and in cases where continued disturbance arises, considerable friction between residents can occur.
Please observe the following suggestions and regulations:
(a) Radios, televisions and other audio apparatus if played at high volume can cause disturbance to other residents, as can very loud conversations.
(b) Noise from apartment maintenance, re-modelling and re-decorating is clearly unavoidable but please do ask your workmen to consider other residents and to keep noise to a minimum. However, such work - including maintenance and home improvement work etc. that you do yourself - is permitted only within the hours of 0830 and 1730 Monday to Fridays. No such work is permitted at weekends or bank holidays except in cases of an acknowledged emergency.
(c) Considerable noise and disturbance is also caused by tenants/residents moving into and out of apartments. Consequently only in exceptional circumstances and by permission from the Estate Office will removals be permitted outside the hours of 0830 and 1730 Mondays to Fridays.
(d) The noise from social events should be kept to a minimum and should not be allowed to spill out into the common area corridors or the Estate’s grounds. In the interest of good neighbour relations please advise your neighbours about large social events and, for the sake of security, advise the Security Lodge. You should avoid inviting more guests than can be safely accommodated in the confines of your apartment.
(e) Noise from the common areas corridors is particularly noticeable to other residents. These are common areas, which should be respected as such. Again, please bear in mind that under the terms of your lease, the corridors are to be used only for access to and from apartments - and only on foot.
(f) Most apartments are carpeted throughout which helps to alleviate any problem of noise transmission, however, those residents with uncarpeted floors should remember that under the terms of their lease they will be asked to re-carpet their apartment if noise through the floor becomes a serious cause of complaint.
For further information and guidance on all issues relating to noise please refer to the Fact Sheets, “Noise Complaints” and “Wooden Floor Noise Avoidance”.
CONDITIONS OF TENURE
All residents are encouraged to become familiar with the terms of their leases which are explicit and legally binding.
An apartment is to be occupied by one family or household only. Overcrowding contravenes public health bylaws and the terms of your lease and can result in the local authority and landlord taking action. In addition an apartment may not be subjected to any form of commercial activity.
SUB-LETTING
Little Apple Holdings Ltd is eager to protect the character of the estate and believe it is in the interests of all residents that the population of the estate is stable and not excessively transitory. Because of this, the landlord will not permit leaseholders to sublet their property for periods of less than three months; all lettings will be subject to published terms and conditions.
If you wish to sub-let your flat you must request permission from Little Apple Holdings Ltd via the Estate Office.
Full details of the subletting process are available from the Estate Office and the Fact Sheet, “Subletting”.
OTHER NOTES AND REGULATIONS
ENTRANCE HALLS, CORRIDORS AND LIFTS
Entrance halls, corridors and lifts are for access to apartments only and should be kept unobstructed at all times.
The entrance hall/foyer areas are not for social or residential occupation and the consumption of food and drink is strictly forbidden.
Children must not run about or play in the entrance halls and corridors and must not use the lifts unless accompanied by an adult.
Contractors who need to use common areas whilst working in an apartment must ensure their materials do not obstruct the corridors. Your contractor must clear up any mess at the end of each working day and remove it from site. It must not be dumped in the bin stores. Failure to comply with this simple request may result in the individual resident being charged to clear up the mess.
It is illegal to smoke in any internal communal area. Additionally, eating and drinking is not permitted in these areas.
Bicycles should only be stored in the racks provided or in the underground car park. Bicycles should not be left in other communal areas. Any bicycles found in these areas will be removed, whether they are tagged or not. There are designated areas where bicycles may be left. Bike stores are located under the arch adjacent to the Park Buildings mail boxes, to the side of the Arlington bin store, and there a few to the left side of the fountain as you are approaching the Arlington arch.
The lifts are delicate machinery, and if not treated as such, break down and cause considerable inconvenience, as well as unwarranted service charge expenditure. Please follow the simple guidelines.
- Do not hold a lift on your floor for extended periods as this will damage the mechanism and inconvenience others.
- Only press “up” if going up and “down” if going down. Pressing both does not speed up the lift’s arrival.
PETS
There are no regulations against keeping pets but the number of pets per apartment must be kept within reasonable limits. Please ensure that cats and dogs do not foul the Estate’s grounds. If they do, ensure you clear up any mess. Dogs must be kept on leads at all times.
GROUNDS
Enjoy a picnic in the grounds - but please don't use portable barbecues as they burn the grass. And so that everyone can enjoy the grounds at their best, please do pick up your litter (especially your cigarette ends) and make sure you clean up after your pet.
Please note that ball games are not allowed anywhere on the estate.
If you own a bicycle, ensure that it is not ridden around the Estate.
Children should be supervised at all times whilst on the grounds.
PARKING
It's a perennial London problem - but for many of you in The Bow Quarter it is sorted, provided you purchased one of the overground or underground parking bays with your flat. Parking bays are exclusively for the use of residents and in the rare event one comes up for sale it can only be purchased by an existing flat owner.
Additional parking spaces are sometimes available for rental on a short term (maximum 1 week) or long term basis as detailed in the Fact Sheet, “Car Parking Tariff”.
Requests for short term parking can be made at either the Security Lodge or Estate Office.
There are occasions where residents or contractors/visitors park incorrectly. Such action can have a knock on effect and causes unfair inconvenience to those who have paid for use of a space. In addition there are instances where cars are parked blocking fire escapes or exit/entrance gates.
All vehicles should display a valid parking permit and failure to do so may result in the issue of a Parking Charge Notice (PCN).
Parking permits for those leaseholders who own spaces in the overground or underground car parks are available from the Estate Office.
We have appointed Met Parking Services Ltd to enforce the parking regulations across the estate.
Appropriate warning signs are clearly displayed around the estate and detail the penalties involved.
Offenders will be issued with a Parking Charge Notice.
The current fine is £100 which will reduce to £60 if paid within 14 days of issue.
If you find an unauthorised vehicle parked in your space please report it to security immediately prior to parking elsewhere. Security will do all they can to assist you and take any appropriate action.
We will however only accept instructions from the actual “OWNER” of the space to issue a PCN for a vehicle parked in their space as we will be unaware of any private arrangements they may have made.
If you are renting the space from the “owner” you will need to contact them in order that they can authorise the issue of a PCN.
Please refer to the Fact Sheet, “Car Parking Enforcement” for further details.
BICYCLES
If you own a bicycle, please inform the Estate Office or Security Lodge who will issue you with a tag to secure to the underside of the saddle, this helps us to recognise and remove any bikes that are untagged and have possibly been abandoned by previous residents, and leave untouched any bicycles, which are tagged.
Bicycles should only be stored in the racks provided or in the underground car park. Bicycles should not be left in other communal areas e.g. chained to railings, lampposts or fire escape stairs, etc. Any bicycles found in these areas will be removed, whether they are tagged or not.
There are designated areas where bicycles may be left. Bike stores are located under the arch adjacent to the Park Buildings mail boxes, to the side of the Arlington bin store, and there a few to the left side of the fountain as you are approaching the Arlington arch.
There is limited space available and therefore any untagged bicycles will be removed and disposed of if unclaimed.
LAUNDRY ROOMS
There are communal washing machines and dryers in the laundry rooms situated on the 1st - 5th floor of Manhattan building.
Please following the operating guides displayed as failure to do so can damage the machines.
Tokens for these machines are available for purchase from the shop as below:
- Washing £3.00
- Drying 30p
Please report any machine problems to either the Estate Office or Security Lodge quoting the machine number if possible.
Please note that we cannot be held responsible for any damage to clothing caused by the machines.
NOTICE BOARD
There is a notice board beneath the main Arlington Arch where matters of interest to residents are posted by the Board of Directors, and individuals. If you wish to display a notice please contact the Estate Office.
Please note that it is not permissible to advertise property sales, rentals or business services on this notice board. However the sale or rental of car park spaces can be advertised.
COMMUNAL SATELLITE TELEVISION SYSTEM
The Bow Quarter is equipped with a communal satellite system which can supply a range of digital/satellite channels. If your apartment is not equipped with such a service, and where new residents wish to receive these transmissions, you should contact the company that maintains and installs the equipment, Blakeglow. Their telephone number is 020 8505 4340. They have packages available for those residents wanting digital/satellite channels. Prices include connection, installation and tuning and the supply of set top boxes. For further information please contact Blakeglow.
Please note that residents are not permitted to have either satellite dishes or external aerials.