I am wondering if any people here have any experience of Resident's Associations in terms of what should/shouldn't be done, how they are run etc. ( for the record we do not have a management company/agent who oversees things)
Our situation is, last week a note was pushed through our door stating that the Residents were holding a meeting that evening on on one of the communal spaces. There was no contact information on the note and we were unable to attend due to prior engagement.
Our neighbours, on either side of us were both away so they too would not be there.
Last night a further note was put through the door, this time with a standing order mandate attached! asking every household to contribute 10euro a month to a newly set up Current Account, to cover the cost of maintaining and planting in communal areas.
This afternoon I was fairly horrified to learn that 3 fairly mature trees ( planted before the estate was built 6 years ago) on the largest communal area had been chopped down without warning by some residents. There are 3 communal areas on our street (which is kind of U shaped, with there being only 1 entrance to the street by car the other end is grassed over with a foot path ) the biggest of which is in the U bend and is overseen by dozens of houses, this is where the trees were and is the only area that has ever been tended to by the developer, the other areas have been looked after by near neighbours - including ourselves. It's interesting that the house numbers we have been asked to return the mandates to are directly over the large area and my feeling is we are being asked to contribute so they can have a nice space to look at.
What is infuriating me most is that the area has been used for all the kids on the street to play and now it seems this self appointed group are attempting to turn it into their own garden almost. My son's friend was apparently told not to play hurling on the green as it might damage the shrubs!
Speaking to the woman who lives next door, we agreed that in theory these things are a great idea but we do have concerns - particularly _
How they arrived at this contribution amount ( which will amount to almost 10K a year if everyone paid up!)
Do they have a budget drawn up and will we receive regular statements to show how the money is being spent?
Do they have the right to alter/determine the use of communal areas without consulting ALL residents?
Who are the trustees of the accounts and who elected them
There are other minor niggles too but those are our main ones!
I would like to approach them in a friendly civil manner as I am sure they are entirely well intentioned but perhaps haven't really thought it through, I would even like to be involved but havent actually approached all the residents to discuss setting up the association and have just done it themselves.
Any pointers/advice would be appreciated.
Our situation is, last week a note was pushed through our door stating that the Residents were holding a meeting that evening on on one of the communal spaces. There was no contact information on the note and we were unable to attend due to prior engagement.
Our neighbours, on either side of us were both away so they too would not be there.
Last night a further note was put through the door, this time with a standing order mandate attached! asking every household to contribute 10euro a month to a newly set up Current Account, to cover the cost of maintaining and planting in communal areas.
This afternoon I was fairly horrified to learn that 3 fairly mature trees ( planted before the estate was built 6 years ago) on the largest communal area had been chopped down without warning by some residents. There are 3 communal areas on our street (which is kind of U shaped, with there being only 1 entrance to the street by car the other end is grassed over with a foot path ) the biggest of which is in the U bend and is overseen by dozens of houses, this is where the trees were and is the only area that has ever been tended to by the developer, the other areas have been looked after by near neighbours - including ourselves. It's interesting that the house numbers we have been asked to return the mandates to are directly over the large area and my feeling is we are being asked to contribute so they can have a nice space to look at.
What is infuriating me most is that the area has been used for all the kids on the street to play and now it seems this self appointed group are attempting to turn it into their own garden almost. My son's friend was apparently told not to play hurling on the green as it might damage the shrubs!
Speaking to the woman who lives next door, we agreed that in theory these things are a great idea but we do have concerns - particularly _
How they arrived at this contribution amount ( which will amount to almost 10K a year if everyone paid up!)
Do they have a budget drawn up and will we receive regular statements to show how the money is being spent?
Do they have the right to alter/determine the use of communal areas without consulting ALL residents?
Who are the trustees of the accounts and who elected them
There are other minor niggles too but those are our main ones!
I would like to approach them in a friendly civil manner as I am sure they are entirely well intentioned but perhaps haven't really thought it through, I would even like to be involved but havent actually approached all the residents to discuss setting up the association and have just done it themselves.
Any pointers/advice would be appreciated.