Plumtree Close and Honey Close
Oak Park Dagenham

Your property is one of 204 flats that form the private part of a Development built by Fairview New Homes between 1994 and 1995 on the old Sports Ground Site. They called the development Oak Park and many residents have tried to retain this as part of the address. Certainly the old oak in the centre of the green is an attractive feature, which together with the extensive gardens make this an exceptionally attractive estate. There are large car parks throughout the estate giving ample space for you and your visitors. The flats vary in size from studio to large two bed roomed, so there is something to suit everybody.

The Estate is administered by Exeter Road Management Company through SWA Chartered Surveyors who are the appointed Managing Agents. The residents appointed their own Directors to the Company after the first 2 years and despite enormous inherited problems and debts, the Estate has blossomed ever since. Each year we have implemented changes to an attempt to improve the Security and Environment of the Estate.

The Company and ourselves are rightly proud to claim the lowest service charges in this part of the Country for the range and standard of services provided. These include all of the following:

¢ Domestic water consumption
¢ Internal communal lighting
¢ External lighting, including the streetlights in Plumtree Close
¢ Cleaning of Common Parts
¢ Monthly window cleaning
¢ Gardening
¢ Maintenance of guttering and underground sewers and drains
¢ Entry phones
¢ Communal doors & windows
¢ Maintenance of existing Television and Satellite
¢ Paladins hire and Refuse storage
¢ Building maintenance and repair
¢ Building Insurance
¢ Communal water consumption
¢ Redecoration of the Exterior
¢ Redecoration of the Internal Common parts
¢ Provision & maintenance of a complex locking system
¢ Collection and Administration of Service Charges
¢ Cleaning up and Clearing all kinds of litter and damage
¢ Pollarding and maintenance of Substantial Trees
¢ On site security 8 to 11.5 hours a day

Every effort is made to minimise the cost of these services whilst at the same time maintaining the highest possible standards. As a resident and member of the Company you may become aware of something that might cause additional cost. Anything you can do to minimise unnecessary expenditure will be of benefit to you and the estate, so please let us know immediately

All tenants pay an equal share of the general service charges except in regards to domestic water consumption. This is metered per block. At the last Annual General Meeting of members, it was decided to identify the water charge as a separate item based upon the consumption of each block individually. This was done to give incentive to residents to control escalating water usage in some blocks.

A sinking fund is maintained towards high future costs such as redecoration. Residents of Blocks B, C, D & E contribute towards a small sinking fund for the upkeep of Plumtree Close, a private road that must be kept clear at all times for emergency access.

As a properly registered tenant the first person named on your contract becomes a member of the Estate Management Company. General Meeting are held and all members are invited to come along and discuss Estate matters. There is a small board of elected Directors.

The garden areas are maintained throughout the year with visits taking place once a week during peak growing periods extending to bi-weekly then monthly during the winter. An area of garden at the rear of Block D is fenced off for extra privacy. As well as giving access to the main front door, your key will give you access to this area as well as those bin stores which are locked.

External lighting beside your entrance door and over the parking areas has been upgraded for convenience and cost saving. The entrance light will come on as darkness falls and then brighten as you approach. The Car Park lights are also fitted with sensors to come on only during darkness.

The entrance doors are fitted with entry phones and automatic closers. The developers did not provide us with high quality systems and materials everyone has to take particular care when entering and leaving. These door closers are checked weekly and adjusted accordingly.

At residents meetings held in 2001 and 2002 it was decided to employ a security firm to patrol the estate in an attempt to limit vandalism and abuse of common areas. A firm have been onsite since March 2001, on average they are there nine hours a day seven days a week, working extra hours weekends and during school holidays. We are pleased to say that to date the costs of repairs due to vandalism has been reduced.

The Company has overseen the running of Cable into the estate and this is easily connected if required by contacting the Cable Company. Alternatively there is a communal Television and Satellite system with sockets provided in each flat. Although, strictly speaking it is not the Companies responsibility to change the system, these communal systems have been upgraded to provide digital reception. You should be aware though that Sky are constantly changing the transmission parameters and the system in place can not pick up anything transmitted on low band.