Guinea Florin.
Clients
Case Study: Sapphire Court, London E1
In 2008 Guinea Florin took over the management of Sapphire Court in Tower Hill, East London.
We inherited a failing building with a long list of maintenance issues and very concerned residents.
After taking on responsibility for Sapphire Court and its 36 flats on two sites, Guinea Florin undertook a full assessment of what was required to bring the development up to an acceptable standard, improve facilities and to restore residents pride in their building.
Coming into a new building can be difficult without knowing its particular and actual maintenance costs - however some works were in need of immediate attention. Guinea Florin's first action was to reduce the service charge which we felt was over-budgeted. We set a more realistic charge which still enabled us to complete long-overdue repairs and refurbishments. We are monitoring our costs carefully as we go forward.
On taking over the contract we immediately set about urgent repairs and refurbishments, including:-
• scaffolding the building to undertake urgent repairs to leaking roofs and flashings, renewing large areas of guttering and downpipes.
• sending our plumber into flats to stop leaking cistern overflows which were allowing water to fun freely down the walls of the building, causing serious damp and staining.
• clearing hallways of bikes and abandoned items.
• upgrading communal lighting in all areas including the roof garden and car park, installing low-energy lamps and fittings.
• tackling the areas where the damp course had been breached. Repaired and sealed walls and ceilings. We have at last been able to remove the bucket in the lobby that had been collecting drips for two years!
• undertaking a complete re-decoration of the inside of the building - lobby, corridors and stairwells.
• upgrading signage throughout Sapphire Court.
All these works have been completed within the reduced service charge set by Guinea Florin for Sapphire Court in 2008.
In addition we plan to complete the following:-
• a full external decoration of the building.
• renewing the threadbare carpeting throughout the communal areas.
• a complete roof garden refurbishment.
• upgrade security in the car park with new gates.
• new external railings.
Case study date: March 2009