Forum Topic

LAPN - the ALMO

Hello hello,I've just bought an ex-council flat in Brentford and recently received a letter from the Council about entering a long term agreement with LAPN - an ALMO. Having spent the past couple of months decorating and furnitureless, I'm afraid it slipped my notice somewhat. I don't know very much about it - can anyone else tell me anything? I'm afraid that most of what I have read about ALMOs is not positive. Has this decision been made already or is there somewhere where we can voice our concerns (other than the meeting on the 3rd July). Will they be taken into consideration? I'm actually pretty happy with how the council runs the block I live in and I'm not keen on the idea of the management going private. Is anyone else in the same boat? Does anyone else have any views on this?

Rashmi Chavda ● 6966d11 Comments

This link to a page on their website should tell you morehttp://www.lapn.org.uk/residents/res_leaseholders.htmlOr go to the Hounslow Homes Websitehttp://www.hounslowhomes.org.uk/index.htmFailing that, just pop down to their office in Brentford High Street, on the left just before the Converted Firestation, "traveling west"

Ian Roberts ● 6964d

Hello Barry,I'm not sure - and I'm not sure if they have yet either! I found a letter telling me about it, but it was a follow-up letter; the first one got delivered to me in May, only I don't remember receiving it and don't know what I've done with it as everything's still up in the air in a 'no furniture or carpets or toaster' kind of way. Apparently there's a meeting for leaseholders on the 3rd July - I can't remember where or what time though. I hope I can find the letter again...

Rashmi Chavda ● 6964d

RashmiThis is the first time I’ve herd of LAPN, when did Hounslow Homes join them?Rashmi, until you mentioned LAPN I'd never herd of them before, I must go around with my eyes and ears closed.

Ian Roberts ● 6965d

Hello everyone,I think I've been a bit of an idiot so far - I didn't realise that HH was an ALMO already. Sorry! If we're already being managed by an ALMO, what will LAPN bring to the party and who'll be in charge?

Rashmi Chavda ● 6965d

Hello Barry,I've looked at the website and read something very similar, but (having never lived in a flat before) I didn't know much about ALMOs; I've read some scary articles by Defend Council Housing type organisations. Do you know about their previous record? How much service charges may go up by? What other leaseholders living with LAPN management think of it? I wouldn't mind getting someone elses opinion on it, really.

Rashmi Chavda ● 6965d

About LAPN LAPN is an alliance of London authorities who want to collaborate to improve the efficiency and value of services to their tenants and local communities.Over £2 billion pa is to be invested in improving London housing stock to decent homes standard by 2010 by the 33 Boroughs.  Such a programme has the capability to deliver considerably better value as a co-ordinated programme than as stand-alone projects.  The London Area Procurement Network (LAPN) aims to assist major regional buying groups, within the Decent Homes context, to take advantage of advanced procurement and collaborative management practices. This will secure high and continuously improving value, both in the quality of the houses and in the capital and operating costs they incur. LAPN brings together the main recent advances in procurement and construction processes to achieve cumulative advantages in the long-term London housing improvement programme.

Ian Roberts ● 6965d

Hello RashmiAre these the pepole you are asking about?http://www.lapn.org.uk/

Ian Roberts ● 6965d

Hello John, I was aware of Hounslow Homes managing the stock, but recently I received a letter saying that they were going to get an ALMO called LAPN to manage the properties instead. I'm really very happy with the service I've received so far from Hounslow Homes.

Rashmi Chavda ● 6965d

Rashmi, Hounslow Homes, the ALMO you are referring to, took over the management of Hounslow Council's housing stock in 2002. If you bought your flat recently then Hounslow Council is the freeholder that your lease relates to. However, the management of all leasehold properties is vested in Hounslow Homes. As such, this is information the solicitor who handled your conveyancing should have been aware of.

John Connelly ● 6965d

Thanks for the advice Alan; so far I haven't been asked to sign anything. I think one of the things I'm worried about is that I won't ever be asked to sign anything and that basically it's a done deal. Nothing was mentioned about handing over management to an ALMO when I originally bought the flat, but I get the impression that these wheels have been in motion for some time. Can HH do that without the tenants and leaseholders consent? Is there anyoner else who's effected?

Rashmi Chavda ● 6965d

Hounslow Homes has one of the best reputations in the sector and is generally very popular, it was intending to build new housing and manage stock in other areas (at least until the change of control in the council), i do not know what is happening to those plans now. I know that there has been some disagreement between HH and leaseholders in relation to service charges on several estates. If you are being asked to sign any agreement then please get professional legal advice.

Alan Sheerins ● 6966d