Re: Re: An apartment block is forever.

It is a thought everyone interested in the Built Environment has had more than once; once you enter a scenario of multiple ownership the control is certainly watered down. Throw in a few inherent defects a managing agent who doesn’t care and you have a recipe for disaster.

I do however think that planners are tightening up on management plans for apartment buildings and that many grants for permission are part of a phased development so at least in theory on most sites it should be possible to enforce at least some standards.

Once more than 8 units are involved planners should think very carefully before granting consent for apartment schemes as the fragmented ownership makes it very difficult to acquire poor quality buildings in boom times and renders remodeling / demolition unviable in a weak market. Choice could be slum housing or surface car-park in worst case scenario.