moneybags Posted May 27, 2010 Author Share Posted May 27, 2010 Hi All Im new on here, its 3.50am and just read every post while working night shift ( IT ).... First of all, OMG im not even an owner on any of your complexes and every problem mentioned is same as mine Platinum House Harrow... I bought back in 1999, finally moved in 2 1/2 years later, my apt was only one finished on 1st floor far end and next door was open shell, i had plaster boards between me and outside world, apt was freezing, it was another year before my floor had been sealed up, they were building only apts that had sold... Harrow Observer headlines, Luxury Homes from hell.. a foreign worker even died on site... 8 years on and people still ask me is is it complete...answer NOPE... We were stiched up every way possible... lies, lies and more lies.. we tried to get a residents meetings going but only 10 max turned up, the top floors were completed by 2005/6, lesuire suit even later time, roof top gardens 2007, car parking NEVER, CCTV, so FUNNY, there we not even wired up, timer lighting never worked, cleaning, what cleaning, main stairs never finished, never will be.. We are now on 4th management company Fairweather and Ellis... took over from Opus, who started great, then went down hill fast, excess charges every year, nothing ever done, etc etc - same as rest of you.. 320,000 a year charges for 150 apts.. I had meetings with the Comer Brothers, waste of time, i also visted other sites while building, same problems... Platinum House, Comer had one guy building them, complete one and get paid, only prob the guy could not afford it, so went bust, next guy was even worse, cheap foregin workers, 150 apts and max 5 people on site some days, Comer even went on record, all be finished by summer, that was 2002 LOL When mine was complete it was luxury, i had hard wood flooring, porcelin tiles, granite work tops, upper floors later on got laminate, cheap tiles, cheap work tops etc etc... I found out we were paying service charge on size of apt, mine was 850sq ft, well what a joke, its was really only 624, i had it lazer measured by agent, i then found i was paying more than my neighbour who had a bigger apt, i sorted this and whole complex was resized, my charge went from 0.85% down to 0.59%... Everythings linked to Comer homes, they had hands in all pies, as stated in earlier posts, the management companies are there own people, recommended services are there people. We also have had lift problems for last 8 years, one never worked, still waiting for it to be fixed. lesuire suit has had so many problems, jacuzzi broken 9 months of each year, pool was cleaned and now leaks into apts, Penthouse never sold so is now broken up into smaller apts, still NONE sold, 10 years on... roof top garden leaked into apts, had to be taken up and fixed, Now nothing up there... Car parking never sorted, so people park anywhere, some people paid £10K for a space. Complex is mostly rented out, owners run a mile... Im not there anymore as i work away but have lovely tenants but as you say most dont give a shite and come and go every few months, even an estate agent owns one and he cant sell it on... Main doors and car park doors, usless and Octopus charge us £25k a year to rent them... break all the time and can be opened easily... Conceierge ( never seen him at desk ) they charge £48K a year for him, Polish guy on minimum wage i hear. Fairweather have taken over and fingers crossed will sort things out, Helen is very nice, she said to me its nice to hear an owner who is concerned even when not living here. Prices have crashed, apts were worth £280K back in 2006/2007, now selling for around £200, some over seas investors were dupped and paid £350K for apts, direct from Comers i heard.... I had mine sold for £249,000 but the dam credit crunch came and buyer pulled out, i was soooooooo gutted... Comer advertise luxury but cut ever corner possible and then dont do a thing, NO HSBC as these are conversions, all we get and I have never seen it, is some sort of build certificate. Comer had to pay Harrow Council 2 million to get the other site, BRADSTOWE house, its mentioned on here, yes it still a shell, could not be built until Platinum House was completed, then 2 years ago it started, NOW the PRICE, 2 beds started at over £600,000 - now you can see why its just a shell, its in a shocking place on corner of main road, ex DSS site, cant see it even being built and no one will pay that sort of money lol.. Well sorry were all in same boat, maybe one day all will be sorted.. dont hold your breath though... Cheers Gunnerrob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moneybags Posted May 27, 2010 Author Share Posted May 27, 2010 OMG Gunnerrob, Christ how do they get away with it?? They are terrible, I can't understand how they are still in business. I wouldn't buy a shed from them again. Luxury, ours is an "oasis of peace and calm" FFS. If they aren't employing minimum wage Poles its paddys. Nothing is done by a liveried van, just seems to be a couple of their mates going to all sites. What the xxxk are we stuck with. These management companies are just another name for Comer. They have so many names to avoid litigation. I hope you sort it out soon mate, best Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunnerrob Posted May 27, 2010 Share Posted May 27, 2010 Hi Mike I worked in Dublin and bought a house there and asked large builkder if they had heard of them, nope, no surprise.. My own car park space and 5 others were boarded up and used as storage for paddy builder, he didnt give a sh*te, Comer didnt care, i sent them a bill for space, no reply.. We had a lawyer on site ( owner ) he said we could take them to court and prob win 50K each but needed to put 10K in each, we said if he wins he can take 15k of each of us, sadly he decided against it, then owners moved one by one, sadly i kept mine, then i started working away and well rest is history... Now as you say most are rented, at least i get a lot, its town centre and has parking... They once sent out a plumber as toilet blocked, Indian guy ( 50's ) and side kick from peru ( no english ), he could not unblock it so decided to take out toilet, he said all waste will go all over floor, I promptly kicked him out, i then saw same guys in Woolwich complex, OMG, cowboys is too good a word, i was working in Lewisham for CityBank and popped over to Woolwich site, made out i was a buyer, sales lady was new, show flat was same layout as Platinum House even thout it was 7 years on, she said noithing works, dont buy here, concierge was Polish or Russian, lobby stunk of sewage, i asked whats that, he shrugged and said in broken english, bins below, omg... I have just tried calling Fairweather but no answer, there web site is down and says under construction, i wonder if they have also gone under, geez We will never see our complex running smoothly but bills will keep coming in... Imagine renting main front doors and signing 10 year deal, Octopus must be laughing.. even our secure parking gates dont close properly and people can just slip in... Only good this gor me was the 2 1/2 years delay made me keep my 1 bed flat, had an offer of 75K at time of buying in Platinum House in 1999, rented it out for next 5 years and sold for £157,500 .-) - shame i didnt sell Platinum House when i had chance... Cheers Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moneybags Posted May 27, 2010 Author Share Posted May 27, 2010 Hi Rob, those two chaps are the Comer maintenance "team", they appear all the time, also two Irish lads, with glasses, look like the Odd couple!! I tried sueing, got screwed by a shit lawyer who promised me a good claim then after a year and 4K told me to try "concilliatory approach", rubbish and nothing you can do. Shame your lawyer did not come through, you know how much he could make if he just took on Comer work!!! Anyway the smell is the sewers, they are kept in a pit on site then dirty pumped up to the road sewer, if it blocks it really stinks, ha ha You should go small claims for the car park space rent, unless they gave you an alternative then they are covered. Oh F&E started here after Opus for about a week or so then they disappeared, now called "Comer property services" all still the same names as OPUS. contact the portfolio manager Mr Robert Sheppherd, he controls all sites now, he is really good. robert@comerpropertymanagement.co.uk Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunnerrob Posted May 27, 2010 Share Posted May 27, 2010 Hi Mike I rang FE property today, no answer, what a surprise, web site down too, not a word in post about them leaving, why, well as you know, just another comer home company, i realy thought we had turned corner, we even got a £47,000 rebate from Comer homes... So Helen from FE is now working at Comer services, well all other staff from old managements went to comer, there reason, we have to take on the staff, OMG how can these people work for such crooks who lie after lie, Comer Homes should be on Homes from Hell... New Budget, for Platinum House 380,000, up 90,000 on last year and the 1st excuse, Conceirge charges going up... Now get this FE told me they were getting rid of Concierge after complaints, suddenly the Residents Committe ( never heard we had one ) had decied they want him to stay and GET this, we owners PAY HIS RENT..... for Fks sake... Charges Conceirge £44,000 a year ( he gets minimum wage ) Conceirge rent £20,000 a year £64,000 for a Polish guy who is never at desk but available by mobile, oh yes we pay that too I said im stopping my payments and you can take me to court... no fking way am i paying for his rent.... The lady said call Helen or Robert, this Robert guy was part of OPUS im sure of it.. Nightmare Cheers Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eagletower Posted May 28, 2010 Share Posted May 28, 2010 Bloody hell!! Platinum house sounds like a nightmare!!!! F&E are no longer active and Helen does work for Comer Homes now. My service charge quote is exactly the same as my neighbours and his flat is bigger than mine! Not happy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moneybags Posted May 28, 2010 Author Share Posted May 28, 2010 (edited) Hi Rob, You lot seem worse than us here at Mast Quay, I would NOT be paying his rent!!! FFS, Helen is both from Opus and F&E. I think Robert Sheppherd is new though and give him his due he is getting stuff done here the estate is getting massive maintenance and repairs, I bet it costs us too though. Im very interested in the fact your flat was not the size they said, How did you get yours measured mate?? How did you get that money the 44K? Mike Edited May 28, 2010 by moneybags Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eagletower Posted May 28, 2010 Share Posted May 28, 2010 (edited) Mike's right, Robert Sheppered does seem on top of things and quick to act on emails etc. i have raised my query with regards to the service charge. will post the outcome. After reading Gunnerob's email i am so shocked at how bad things are. I am really thankful mine is only a small site . It share's none of the problems posted above. I guess with it being so small it's a lot easier to manage. Edited May 28, 2010 by eagletower Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eagletower Posted May 28, 2010 Share Posted May 28, 2010 Moneybags- what's been happening at your place - improvements wise? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moneybags Posted May 28, 2010 Author Share Posted May 28, 2010 Well mate 4 of us owner occupiers went to comers HQ and had a meeting with RS and Helen, we brought up all our concerns re parking, security cleaning etc, he took on board our concerns and has put in place a programme of repairs and maintenance, he says Opus did not collect over £250,000 in service so the estate was bankrupt effectively. That is why nothing was getting done. He took on board that they as well Opus were to blame and so that is why they took over. The estate has had workmen here everyday since our meeting and things slowly look better on site. We are waiting for parking enforcement to return and that should be soon, that will keep the dross out also the squatters are imminently to be evicted from the penthouses. We know its Comer but so far so good. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunnerrob Posted May 29, 2010 Share Posted May 29, 2010 Hi Mike Just read your post and not to put a dampner on things but RS said exactly same things to me, exept PH is 400K in debt, which doesnt make any sense at all cause last year it was only 8K.. I spoke to RS on Fri, it started off bad but we both calmed down and had a chat for an hour... He was gratefull of my input, said same things to you as he did to me.. I said to him Greenfield, Opus, FE are all comer homes, he said no, they just could not cope as many owners not paying, how can this be on all complexes, now the millions dollar question, all these companies pulled out, so why have they gone bust, surely they would just continue running there other developemts and just drop Comers, so that tells me what i was 99% sure about there all under comer umbrellas, go bust and then comer say we cant chase them, how can Helen work for Opus, FE and now Comer, surley she cant be doing a good jon ??????? I asked RS why there going to charge me for a conceirges rent, he said he had multipul owners writing to him to request this, i said he can you do this without consolting ALL owners, surley you have to write to us, no one asked me if i was happy, i also said justify charging us 64,000 for this guy who does naff all and is never at desk... 24 hours on call my ****... I also asked why has parking not been sorted after 10 years, same answer as all others, we will sort it out, he recons all owners in arrears will have there property repossed and one guy owes 70K in service charges, i asked why have u not taken him to court, same excuse im NEW to all this... I asked why have the charges risen by £80,000, he said its only a budget, NOT once in 10 years has anything bufget been less, infact all have gone over by 20, 30,000 and we have to pay, Comer might sort out all these problems but we will pay for it, and if owners are not paying, us who do will get the bill... RS talks the talk but so did Opus and FE and look where that got us, Comer Homes will always be dodgy, how there still in business i will never know. Also its the same story, we are trying to get a better deal on conceirge, security gates, lifts etc etc Im still waiting for an email with new budget and charges, i have cancelled my standing order but as im not in UK i cant see these people face to face.. Our budget rises every year but we have nothing to show for it... I really feel like gving the keys back to Bank and saying stuff it.. THis mess will never end, my charges are £2242 for a 2 bed 624sq ft apt.... Cheers Rob Ps, Mike im not sure what u mean by 44k and I had my apt lazer measured by an vestate agent. . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunnerrob Posted May 29, 2010 Share Posted May 29, 2010 sorry for all speeling mistakes, it is 1.30am and on the wine lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moneybags Posted May 30, 2010 Author Share Posted May 30, 2010 Hi Rob, You said that you got 44K back from them , I assumed that was because they sold you a smaller flat than quoted. You said you proved the apartment was smaller than they said, How did you prove that and how did you go about getting recompense? Thanks mate, Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunnerrob Posted May 30, 2010 Share Posted May 30, 2010 Hi Mike I have just read through all my posts and i have not mentioned getting anything back from Comer, the only mention of 44k, is charge for concierge ?? I only found out my apt was not 850sq ft was back in 2006, thats when i queried the service charge and management checked everything, they said my apt was 850sq ft including blacony, mine being a corner apt i have large one, 15ft x 32ft, still i dont think it was 850sq ft. We get charged by size of apt... so 850sq ft was 0.85% of budget, mine was dropped to 0.59%..talk about being ripped off... I got back over £3000 in service charges.. Cheers Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moneybags Posted May 30, 2010 Author Share Posted May 30, 2010 Hi Rob, thanks mate, got a bit mixed up, will check my sq ft, mine should be 700, you must have a double aspect place then, nice, talk soon fella, best Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eagletower Posted May 31, 2010 Share Posted May 31, 2010 Refreshingly have to say Comer Homes management have been pretty good so far! Our gates weren't shutting yesterday. Woke up today and they have been repaired and also notices informing residents that vehicles not parking in their allocated spaces will be clamped , also warning residents that CCTV will be use to fine the lazy @£$% that throw rubbish on the floor of the bin stores rather than the bins them selves. If they carry on like this then brilliant! I just want my service charge sorted to reflect my smaller flat! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cozza Posted June 3, 2010 Share Posted June 3, 2010 Hi Pedro, You know that would be fine and do not worry I'm gone as soon as things start to get better but what do I put in the HIP? I would have to drop the price so much further and I've lost 55K now. I have to pursue the windows issue and the lifts. I am stuck at the moment but it will change and I will leave. I am sad though, my apartment is amazing just Comer that is not. I went to a solicitor, he mugged me for a further 4K and said he could do nothing, they are registered overseas and have limited liability, they have so many people after them they have covered there exits. They simply change their names. Greenfield, Opus whatever. If this blog stops one person from trusting them ever again its worth it. Please never buy from these people you will forever regret it. I just wish I had been more vigilant and just looked the warnings were there I just didn't look. 160 flats here have problems, so many people effected and that is just one site. If you see anything with Comer in the title RUN. mike There's a lot you can do if you think your service charges are unreasonable. The Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 protects leaseholders from unreasonable service charges. The Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002 states that prescribed forms must be used by freeholders to extract ground rent and service charges. Also, if any works are carried out costing over £350.00 per flat per yr, your freeholders need to serve a Consultation Notice on leaseholders. If the prescribed forms or consultation notices are not used, you do not need to pay your service charges/ground rent. Your Lease will also contain provisions on what your service charge should include. Have a look at those clauses in detail. As well as taking your freeholder to the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal for a determination of service charges, you can see whether Right to Manage can be exercised separately. You said that many of the flats are BTL's. That doesn't mean those owners are happy to pay unreasonable service charges. Downloading Office Copy Entries of the Leasehold Titles to each flat may provide you with an address to contact those leaseholders to discuss the service charges/Tribunal proceedings. Sadly, leaseholders faced with freeholder abuse must be proactive to protect themselves against abuses. www.lease-advice.org.uk should be able to help with free advice but I would suggest contacting a specialist solicitor in leasehold law would also be necessary as this area of law is complicated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cozza Posted June 3, 2010 Share Posted June 3, 2010 Refreshingly have to say Comer Homes management have been pretty good so far! Our gates weren't shutting yesterday. Woke up today and they have been repaired and also notices informing residents that vehicles not parking in their allocated spaces will be clamped , also warning residents that CCTV will be use to fine the lazy @£$% that throw rubbish on the floor of the bin stores rather than the bins them selves. If they carry on like this then brilliant! I just want my service charge sorted to reflect my smaller flat! The proportion of service charge you pay should be located in your Lease! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eagletower Posted June 5, 2010 Share Posted June 5, 2010 Comer informed me to work out the service charge they have applied a basic no. of bedroom and bathroom rule. Eg all 2 bed and 2 bathroom flats pay the same rate. etc This was bought in recently. I can see why this suits them as they have 6 unsold flats, one of which is a penthouse and is 3 bedroom 3 bathroom but is actually 4 times the size of my flat. Going by their new system instead of paying 4 times the amount the would only pay 50% extra than me because it only has 1 extra bedroom and bathroom! They have a number of 3 bedroom flats , all of which are split level and a lot bigger than mine unsold for which they are liable for the service charge so i can see why they would want to apply this rule. I am awaiting to hear from them as i have requested they re-evaluate my service charge. On a positive note, service wise they are going a great job. The car parks are being patrolled for people parking where they shouldn't, the bins are a lot cleaner. The Communal areas are very clean and tidy and all the bulbs are working ( used to go weeks with bulbs being blown and not replaced) so well done to that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moneybags Posted June 5, 2010 Author Share Posted June 5, 2010 Hi Eagletower, they can't charge like that , your lease says how the charge is worked out and it has to be on size, are you sure that is how they charge? mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eagletower Posted June 5, 2010 Share Posted June 5, 2010 Maybe i am jumping to conclusions but this is the exact explanation i recieved "Your service charge up to 31st March 2010 was 1.6%; your neighbour’s was 1.76%. I understand that for 2010 onward there has been some minor amendment, basing the calculations on bedroom and bathroom allocation to assist with assessments." But the end result is i am now paying the same as my neighbour instead of less!! But that's how i have interpreted it. What do you think Mike? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moneybags Posted June 5, 2010 Author Share Posted June 5, 2010 Hi Fella, Im not sure, ill ask how they measure mine her and see what he says, Ill let ya know, I though it was on square footage, thats the only fair way, otherwise people with bigger flats with more in pay less!! No way. I will ask RS and let you know in relation to Mast quay mate Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moneybags Posted June 5, 2010 Author Share Posted June 5, 2010 If your paying 1.6 and he is 1.76 he is paying more fella Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eagletower Posted June 5, 2010 Share Posted June 5, 2010 That's the thing. Up to March 2010 that was the case. The latest notice for Service Charge shows were paying the exact same amount. So as it stands were paying the same amount , When he should be paying 1.76 and me 1.6. And some of the other flats should be paying a hell of a lot more. Especially the penthouse! I haven't heard back from RS when i emailed him saying it has been worked out to my detriment and i want a reevaluation based on my flat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moneybags Posted June 5, 2010 Author Share Posted June 5, 2010 Nah mate, they are wrong, they can't charge everyone the same rate, FFS mine is only 700 god knows what the penthouse is, its a complete floor. I will let you know what he says to me about service rates, as far as I know for the next year it does go on your sq ft. You got an e mail, Ill copy you in on my mail to him mike newacres@yahoo.co.uk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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