Consultation with leaseholders on building works and services

Major Works Guide

Camden must consult with leaseholders if we intend to carry out works, repairs or improvements to your block or estate. How we consult with you depends on the type of contract we use to carry out the works.

Qualifying Long Term Agreement (QLTA)

This is an agreement with a contractor to provide goods or services lasting more than 12 months. If leaseholders will be required to pay more than £100 per year we must consult with them.  Examples of a QLTA include: building insurance, grounds maintenance, lift and door entry maintenance contracts.

Where a QLTA includes works to properties, for example, general building maintenance, and leaseholders will be required to pay more than £250 each, an additional consultation must be carried out.  Please refer to the section below called ‘Qualifying Works’.

Qualifying Works

We consult with leaseholders if a QLTA includes works to properties, such as general building maintenance where leaseholders will be required to pay more than £250 each. There is one stage of consultation with leaseholders.

One-stage consultation: Notice of Intention  

We write to each leaseholder and Residents Tenants Association (if one exists) who may be affected by the contract to:

• describe the proposed works and why we think they are necessary
• provide the total estimated cost of the proposed works
• give leaseholders 30 days to send us their observations/comments in writing

Two-stage consultation: Notice of Intention and Notice of Proposal

If we have to carry out a very large, or specific piece of work, to your block or estate that is not covered under an existing QLTA. We will carry out an individual tender just for this one works contract. Before procuring a contractor we will write to each leaseholder and Residents Tenants Association (if one exists) who may be affected by the contract to:

•    describe the proposed works and why we think they are necessary
•    provide a budget estimate cost 
•    inform leaseholders whether they are entitled to nominate a contractor, or why not
•    give leaseholders 30 days to send us their observations/comments in writing

After all tenders have been returned and moderated, we will write to each leaseholder and Residents Tenants Association (if one exists) who may be affected by the contract to:

•    describe the proposed works and why we think they are necessary
•    provide the total estimated cost of the proposed works
•    advise which contractor we would like to offer the contract to
•    give leaseholders 30 days to send us their observations/comments in writing

The Public Contracts Regulations

The Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR 2015) and the Public Procurement (Amendment)(EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (PPAR 2020) require the Council, as a public authority, to advertise any agreements over £5,336,937 for works, or £426,955 for services, by way of a public notice. This notice is advertised in the United Kingdom FTS (Find a Tender Service). Where it is necessary to issue such a public notice, the right of leaseholders to nominate a contractor, or service provider, themselves does not apply.

In addition to the consultation we are legally required to carry out, Camden has introduced a Better Homes and a Mechanical and Electrical planned works pre leaseholder consultation process. This resident engagement is managed by the planned works teams. 

Please find a Guide to Capital Works Engagement here: Resident Engagement Guide

Major works calculations 

Each property has a Rateable Value (RV) based on its size and location. Estate Rateable Values (ERV) are calculated by adding together the RVs for all the properties on the estate.  Similarly Block Rateable Values (BRVs) are calculated by adding together the RVs for all the properties in the block.

We work out the cost for major works by using rateable values. We divide the cost of works to the estate by the ERV and multiply this by your property RV.

For example:

Total cost	£7681.39	A
Block RV	603	B
Property RV	376	C
Property cost	£4789.72	D

A divided by B, multiplied by C, equals D

When will I receive an invoice?

An estimated demand will be posted out to you each February when major or planned works are anticipated to be being carried out to your block or estate over the next financial year. But we will only ask you to start making payments towards an estimated demand when the works actually start on site.

After the end of each financial year we will work out your share of the actual expenditure incurred by the Council, for major works or repairs carried out to your block or estate, you will be sent this actual adjustment each September. 

Please find a invoicing schedules explanation here: Billing explanation

You can request a schedule of works breakdown, an example of what you will receive is shown here: Explanation of BOQ breakdown

When the Council carries out major works to the block or the estate where you live, your lease requires that you have to pay towards the cost. We recognise that it can be difficult for some leaseholders to meet the costs of major works bills.  Therefore we offer a number of different options for leaseholders.  Details can be found in our Major Works Guide.

If you wish to discuss these options with us, please call us on 020 7974 4444.

Leaseholders will be sent an estimated invoice at the end of March if Camden anticipates carrying out major work to your building or estate next financial year.

You will only need to make payments towards the bill once works have started on site. We will write to you with a works start on site letter when works commence.

Please refer to the attached guide for further information.

If you have any concerns about this or any other aspect of your service charges please contact us for more information;

• Query regarding major works – capitalservices@camden.gov.uk
• Query regarding charges or payment plans – camdenleaseholderservices@camden.gov.uk

Current Consultations

First Tier Tribunal Dispensation Application October 2022 - Long Term Agreement for the supply of electricity and gas (notices and all documents)

• Tribunal Decision
• Cover letter and Notice of Intention sent out to leaseholders
• Application to First Tier Tribunal
• London Borough of Camden's Statement of Case
• Directions from the Tribunal
• Letter from the Tribunal
• Camden’s bundle submitted to FTT

First Tier Tribunal Dispensation Application May 2019 - Long Term Agreement for the supply of electricity and gas (notices and all documents)

• Tribunal Decision
• Cover letter and Notice of Intention sent out to leaseholders
• Application to First Tier Tribunal
• London Borough of Camden's Statement of Case
• Directions from the Tribunal
• Certificate of Service

First Tier Tribunal Dispensation Application November 2017 - Long Term Agreement for the supply of electricity (notices and all documents)

The Tribunal has granted the dispensation. In line with paragraph 3 of the Tribunal’s further directions dated 12 January 2018, attached is a copy of the determination as well your appeal rights. Please note we have added the new contract details below, see contract information below.

• Tribunal decision
• Contract information

NHH Electricity Supply 2018

Camden Council has entered into a long-term agreement for the supply of electricity. The service is the supply of electricity for the common parts, for example supplying lighting and lifts across Camden’s housing estates within the London Borough of Camden via Non Half Hourly Meters. These are electricity meters, which do not automatically read consumption every half an hour. The profile class for these meters are 01-04 (quarterly billed). Due to the nature of the energy market, the council was not able to comply with all the consultation requirements and has applied to the First Tier Tribunal (property chamber) for a dispensation.

Please see below the relevant documentation and application relating to the above;

• Letter regarding further directions – 24 Jan (PDF)
• Further directions – 24 Jan 2018 (PDF)
• Further directions – 18 Jan 2018 (PDF)
• File Copy NHH notice of intention (PDF)
• Case_Papers Directions (PDF)

You can also request information on the dispensation from capitalservices@camden.gov.uk.

Camden have awarded the following Flexible Electricity and Gas Supply contracts:

•    Name of Supplier – Npower (electricity)
•    Date of Agreement – 26 November 2019
•    The Contract Duration – 4 years
•    The date upon which the supply starts – 1 October 2020
•    The date upon which the supply ends – 30 September 2024

•    Name of Supplier – Total Energies (gas)
•    Date of Agreement – 26 November 2019
•    The Contract Duration – 4 years
•    The date upon which the supply starts – 1 October 2020
•    The date upon which the supply ends – 30 September 2024

Camden have awarded the following Non Half Hourly FTFP Electricity Supply contract:

•    Name of Supplier - SSE
•    Date of Agreement – 4 June 2020
•    The Contract Duration – 12 months
•    The date upon which the supply starts – 1 October 2020
•    The date upon which the supply ends – 30 September 2021

•    Name of Supplier - SSE
•    Date of Agreement – 28 July 2021
•    The Contract Duration – 12 months
•    The date upon which the supply starts – 1 October 2021
•    The date upon which the supply ends – 30 September 2022

Leasehold Building Insurance

Camden has tendered for the provision of the leasehold building insurance, which has resulted in entering into a long-term agreement. We consulted with leaseholders on the proposal. The current contract with Arthur J. Gallagher Insurance Broker Ltd will expire on the 31st March 2023.

• Building Insurance – Notice of Proposal
• Building Insurance – Notice of Intention

 

Current Consultations

19-002 - Maiden Lane Boiler Replacement Works

Please note that Camden have appointed a consultant to carry out an updated options appraisal in early 2020. This report will reconsider some of the renewable heating options for Maiden Lane Estate. This takes into account the views expressed by residents that they are supportive of more renewable options.

Details of this further options appraisal will be included in the second stage of leaseholder consultation, the Notice of Proposal.

• Option Appraisal

Proposed external refurbishment work at 1-238 - Levita House

Please see below the relevant documentation and information about the works.

• Landlord Proposal
• Summary of Observation