Crescent House - New DoubleGlazing - Facade?

[Manuele]

Dear all,

this is my first message here, I really hope you can help me with this.

I'm a huge fan of this estate and I'm planning to buy a (very small) unit within Crescent House.

The real estate agent mentioned that (apparently) City of London will replace the glass facade with a more energy-efficient double-glazing facade, within the next year.

Is that true? As a first-time buyer, my budget is already tight and now I'm sort of concerned about the costs of this, knowing about the service charges for those living in GAH.

Please let me know!

Manuele

[Lee Studley]

I am a tenant in Crescent House and I have been told that we will be getting new windows, according to the City of London they will be starting next year on some of the blocks but not sure when they are starting Crescent House.

[Manuele]

Should I check with the estate office, maybe? I tried to contact City of London via email but I got nothing, no answer :-(

[Lee Studley]

You can ask at the Estate office but I'm not sure they will be able help too much with regards to dates, Try this email address I've always found Jason to be very helpful he is the Asset Programme Manager At the COL, please let me know if he lets you know anything significant.

[e-mail]

[Manuele]

Thank you very much Lee!

I'll try!

[nathan]

I am a tenant who lives in Crescent house, if you have not seen in writing from the relevant officials in the corporation its all hearsay, I have lived here for 2 decades and the city are masters of of the rumour mill, there have been rumours of double glazing and insulation since i moved here, as of yet i have seen nothing in writing.

[Manuele]

I see... well, thanks for your reply!

Now, I really don't know what to do... I guess I'll try to contact Jason at CoL...

[David Kreikmeier-Watson]

Hi Manuele

I would ask your Estate Agent for written proof of their claim from the City - as it's certainly not anything in the five year works plan, or anything that has been raised with tenants.
As a potential leaseholder you should ask the City itself about any likely works in the next five years - they have to provide tenants who intend to buy this information so should have it.

When I moved into GAH I was told by the City itself that windows would be done in a year or two - twenty years later they're finally being done.

Frankly, if you are concerned about these costs you shouldn't buy - the bottom line is that all buildings on the Estate are 'time expired' in terms of their original spec, and the City have done nothing substantial in terms of maintenance for decades ( until the GAH re-clad ).
Haven't you noticed the collapsed facade at the southern end of Stanley Cohen for example?
Two years later and it's still not repaired........

Anyway if you do buy, you'll probably soon be eager to have the windows replaced as they don't meet insulation standards, the wood is rotting, and some tenant's in Crescent complain about noise levels etc.

[Manuele]

Dear all, is this finally happening?
I've just passed by and I see there's quite a bit of scaffolding building up. Any news?

Thanks for your help :-)

[Lee Studley]

Just decorating no works on the windows.

Manuele said:

Dear all, is this finally happening?
I've just passed by and I see there's quite a bit of scaffolding building up. Any news?

Thanks for your help :-)

[nathan]

A group of leaseholders have a war chest of £5,000 apparently and are planning to increase this to £10,000 to fight tooth and nail to stop any windows project on GLE.

[Manuele]

...and why is that?

You can maintain the modernist aesthetics with a more energy efficient double-glazed yet identical looking window system.

nathan said:

A group of leaseholders have a war chest of £5,000 apparently and are planning to increase this to £10,000 to fight tooth and nail to stop any windows project on GLE.

[nathan]

I think it may have something to do with paying for new up to date fit for purpose double and triple glazed windows.