As background you should know that Haward Soper and Celia Murray have lived in the block since 1988 (save for some time spent abroad). Haward, a retired commercial professional and currently an Honorary Professor of Law at the University of Leicester, has managed De Montfort Court since 1993 and Celia (a retired teacher) and Haward have owned it since 1994. It contains their home, and their philosophy is that they have been managing the place on the basis that it is home for all residents. There are non-resident, subletting, flat-owners and their interest in the block is slightly different but must be respected. Haward and Celia take the view that all involved in the block are deserving of being treated with dignity and respect by all involved in, resident or not, the block.
All who live here are endowed by law with the ancient right of peaceful enjoyment of their tenure. All, equally, hold the duty to allow others to peacefully enjoy their tenure. Although not yet a legal right, Celia and Haward strongly believe that part of the right of peaceful enjoyment is the right to understand and interrogate pending and actual decisions which affect people’s tenure. Haward, an academic at times, has published work on your right to be consulted and has followed his own advice for over 30 years.
The strategy promotes and formalises the engagement strategy which ensures that flat-owners and residents may participate in the making of decisions which affect them directly or indirectly at De Montfort Court including decisions relating to: –
The purpose of the strategy is to formalise consultation and communication arrangements at De Montfort Court. We intend to ensure that all affected by safety or financial or other issues are provided with the opportunity to comment on all decisions relating to such issues and to be provided with appropriate documentation and advice in relation thereto. They will all be offered the opportunity to raise concerns face to face with management. Comment will be minuted by the Board and monitored to determine the effectiveness of the process.
The strategy has been circulated to all residents and to all flatowners; those subletting flats or flatowners must circulate it to those over 16 years old residing in their flat. The strategy will be considered at one Board meeting each year; to which all residents will be invited. The strategy has been developed using the model from section 91 of the Building Safety Act 2022.
As far as possible the strategy, and any updates, any engagement and any proposed decision and the final outcome will be circulated by email but where residents or flat-owners do not wish to communicate by email or have no email access the documents will be made available either in Flat 4 or on a ‘stick’ (to be provided by the reader).