PREGUNTAS FRECUENTES

1. ¿Cómo afecta el brote de Covid-19 a la renovación?

Hemos logrado un acuerdo de que, dadas las implicaciones para la salud y la seguridad, la renovación de Lancaster West es un trabajo esencial, y continuaremos progresando sujetos a cualquier cambio en la orientación de salud pública en los próximos meses.

Cuando el trabajo continúe, emprenderemos el trabajo asegurando que el PPE apropiado y el distanciamiento físico estén en su lugar.

2. ¿Cuándo se renovará mi propiedad?

Está programado que la renovación principal de propiedades individuales en la finca comience en la primavera de 2021. Se espera que dure tres años a partir de entonces.

3. Veo propiedades en la finca que ya están siendo renovadas. ¿Se puede hacer el mío ahora?

Nuestro nuevo equipo de renovación interno ha estado trabajando en las propiedades a medida que se vacian. Algunos de estos pisos renovados se han utilizado para organizar eventos de puertas abiertas. Estas viviendas se alquilan en virtud del Plan de alquileres locales, que en un sistema basado en puntos que da prioridad a los residentes en la finca en el momento de la tragedia. Además, nuestro equipo interno de renovación ha reemplazado cocinas en el 14% de los hogares y baños en el 15% de los hogares.

Estamos buscando comenzar un programa de renovación in situ más adelante este año, sujeto al impacto de la pandemia y la disponibilidad de proveedores y contratistas.

4. ¿Podré opinar sobre las características individuales que se incluyen en la renovación de mi casa?

Sí, aunque los residentes ya han dado prioridades para su bloque, consultaremos con los residentes de cada hogar individualmente más cerca del momento para finalizar la elección de estilos, accesorios, accesorios y electrodomésticos. [Tu hogar. Tu elección. Foto del folleto]

¿Se restaurarán los bloques de uno en uno?

Es muy poco probable que todas las propiedades en un bloque se realicen al mismo tiempo. Una vez que se complete la fase de diseño detallado, podremos comenzar a priorizar el orden de los trabajos para mantener la interrupción y el costo al mínimo, y acordar el momento de los trabajos internos con usted.

5. ¿Tendré que vivir en mi propiedad mientras se realizan las obras?

Desafortunadamente, no podemos volver a alojar a los residentes mientras se realizan los trabajos, a menos que tengan vulnerabilidades graves que significan que no podrían quedarse en sus hogares.

6. ¿Qué harás para ayudarnos a vivir con la interrupción?

Se aplicarán restricciones estrictas cuando se pueda realizar un trabajo ruidoso. No se realizarán trabajos ruidosos los fines de semana y festivos.

Sin embargo, estamos buscando proporcionar instalaciones de bienestar para todos los residentes afectados de lunes a viernes de 8 am a 6 pm.

También se explorará la oportunidad de cambiar de casa, donde se transfiere un arrendamiento a una casa ya restaurada, renunciando a su propiedad existente para que pueda ser restaurada para otra familia en la finca.

7. ¿Cómo me mantengo al día con el programa de renovación?

Publicamos actualizaciones periódicas en nuestro feed de Instagram @Lancasterwestneighbourhoodteam o envíanos un correo electrónico a lancwestrefurb@rbkc.gov.uk  

1. ¿Cuándo comenzará la renovación?

¡La renovación ya ha comenzado!

Estamos entregando una "renovación continua" de obras internas a las propiedades como parte del Plan de alquiler local, así como pilotos para ventanas y calefacción y agua caliente, para que la mayor cantidad posible de residentes se beneficien de la renovación lo antes posible.

Para fines de 2019, alrededor del 10% de todas las casas habrán recibido una nueva cocina y / o baño desde la tragedia de Grenfell.

Esto se logrará mediante:

1. Nuestro equipo de reparación interno reemplaza cocinas y baños que no se pueden reparar.

2. Continuar renovando nuestras propiedades vacías a través de nuestro programa de casas nuevas como parte del Plan de alquileres locales.

El programa de renovación más amplio está programado para comenzar a principios de 2021.

2. ¿Por qué ha tardado tanto en llegar al final de la fase de ideas?

Los esfuerzos para comenzar las etapas iniciales de la renovación llevaron a los residentes a diseñar conjuntamente los libros de ideas, pero al mismo tiempo, muchos residentes enfatizaron la necesidad de que las reparaciones se prioricen por encima de la renovación. En respuesta a esto, se creó el Equipo Vecinal de Lancaster West y, con la ayuda de los residentes, diseñamos conjuntamente un equipo de reparaciones que está transformando las reparaciones rápidamente a una calidad mucho más alta que antes.

Además, el gobierno se comprometió a hacer de Lancaster West un "Estado modelo del siglo XXI", pero la cuestión de cómo se financiaría se mantuvo. Con un esfuerzo de colaboración entre la Asociación de Residentes de Lancaster West y el Equipo Vecinal de Lancaster West, a fines de julio de 2019, se ha asegurado un total de £ 57.9 millones.

Ahora que sabemos con cuánto dinero estamos trabajando, podemos pasar a la fase de diseño detallado que garantiza el más alto nivel de calidad, relación calidad-precio y longevidad, dejando un legado duradero para miles de residentes en los próximos años.

3. ¿Podemos esperar un proceso más rápido en el futuro?

¡Las renovaciones nunca son un proceso rápido, por lo que la rapidez no es algo que podamos prometer!

Pero a través de la capacidad de recuperación y un gran esfuerzo, ahora estamos en una mejor posición para ofrecer más claridad sobre qué esperar y cuándo.

Como guía básica, nos estamos acercando al final de la fase de ideas y esperamos comenzar la fase de diseño detallado a principios del próximo año, con los residentes listos para experimentar obras importantes (incluidas ventanas, etc.) a principios de 2021.

Además, en mayo de 2019, los representantes de bloque nos dijeron que querían maximizar la elección y el compromiso durante todo el proceso de renovación. El nivel de participación de los residentes significa que cada etapa de la renovación primero debe contar con la participación de los residentes antes de que podamos pasar a la siguiente etapa. Por un lado, esto aumenta la duración de cada fase, pero por otro asegura que las necesidades, inquietudes y preferencias de los residentes son factores primarios en el proceso de toma de decisiones, complementados por requisitos de salud y seguridad y legales.

4. ¿Cuál es el siguiente paso?

A medida que avanzamos en la fase de diseño detallado, necesitamos expertos especialistas que garanticen que la renovación se realice con el más alto nivel posible. Todas las personas y organizaciones que serán nombradas deben cumplir con ciertos criterios, por lo que actualmente estamos entrando en el proceso de adquisición.

Este es un proceso regido por la ley y la regulación y dado el valor de las obras, significa que debe seguirse un proceso del DOUE ( Diario Oficial de la Unión Europea) .

El Lancaster West Neighborhood Team es una organización que está decidida a codiseñar sus servicios con las personas a las que atiende. Como resultado, actualmente también estamos explorando formas en que podemos involucrar a los residentes en este proceso. Esta es una oportunidad para que los residentes supervisen y den su opinión sobre quién va a entregar la renovación de su patrimonio, así como una fantástica oportunidad educativa que podría iniciar el comienzo de una nueva carrera para aquellos que participan.

5. ¿Esta renovación será realmente dirigida por los residentes?

Sí, estamos haciendo tipos únicos de compromiso con los residentes, para lo que es una situación única. Estamos ansiosos por garantizar que los residentes puedan participar tanto como sea posible en el proceso de renovación y nos hemos tomado el tiempo para crear oportunidades para que usted participe.

Hasta la fecha, hemos llevado a cabo Días de Ideas en los que nos dio una gran idea de lo que quiere y necesita en el patrimonio; Hemos lanzado una serie de Talleres de Priorización, en los que puede informarnos sobre sus preferencias colectivas para la renovación.

Sus prioridades, junto con la información que obtenemos de las encuestas estructurales de la finca que nos dice cualquier área de la finca que deba ser restaurada por razones de salud y seguridad, informarán al equipo técnico a medida que desarrollen el diseño detallado.

6. ¿Por qué organizas eventos de puertas abiertas?

A) Para mostrar el Estándar de Casas Nuevas de Lancaster West y obtener retroalimentación continua para mejorarlo.
B) Promover la Política de alquileres locales, para aliviar el hacinamiento, los problemas de accesibilidad y ayudar a acercar a las familias.

C) Para proporcionar una idea de lo que podríamos esperar de la renovación, y garantizar que los residentes permanezcan animados y optimistas de que esto realmente está sucediendo.

7. ¿La renovación realmente entregará la calidad vista en las propiedades de los vacíos?

Si. Si los residentes priorizan las cocinas y baños, y otras mejoras internas para su bloque, entonces tenemos el presupuesto para poder invertir este estándar en toda la finca.

El costo promedio de los trabajos vacíos vistos en los eventos de Open House es de £ 35k por unidad. Hemos asegurado £ 70k por unidad en fondos, que cubrirán las ventanas, la calefacción y el agua caliente y la tela del edificio.

Para fines de febrero de 2020, habremos costado las preferencias de cada bloque. A fines de la primavera de 2020, habremos realizado varias encuestas que nos permitirán crear un programa que combine las preferencias de los residentes con las condiciones de los bloques y los hogares.

8. ¿Qué pasa con los electrodomésticos de cocina?

Para promover una reducción en el uso de gas, por razones de seguridad y sostenibilidad ambiental, ofreceremos horno eléctrico integrado y cocinas como parte de todos los reemplazos de cocina. Bajo ninguna circunstancia compraríamos electrodomésticos a gas, aunque los residentes que tengan su propio suministro de gas y horno serán libres de mantener esto, sujeto a cualquier cambio en la regulación de seguridad del edificio.

Si los residentes están de acuerdo en que los electrodomésticos de cocina, como los congeladores frigoríficos integrados, son una prioridad, entonces estos podrían incluirse en el programa de la cocina, sujeto a un costo. Si el paisajismo, los balcones y los nuevos ascensores fueran una prioridad, no tendríamos los fondos para entregar a la escala y la calidad demostradas en la actualidad.

9. ¿Qué harás para ayudarnos a vivir con la interrupción?

No se puede subestimar la escala de ruido e interrupción de una comunidad en recuperación. Sin embargo, ofreceremos una gama de medidas que incluyen:

Las restricciones estrictas a las obras audibles (medidas desde el límite de la propiedad en la que se está trabajando) solo tienen lugar entre:

· 8 a.m. a 6 p.m., de lunes a viernes

· En ningún momento los sábados, domingos y festivos

· Horas restringidas para actividades de alto impacto (es decir, trabajos de ruptura de hormigón)

· De 9 a.m. a 12 a.m. y de 2 p.m. a 5.30 p.m., de lunes a viernes

· En ningún momento los sábados, domingos y festivos

Trataremos de proporcionar instalaciones de bienestar para uso de los residentes durante las horas de trabajo (8 am-6pm, de lunes a viernes)

Retendremos una pequeña cantidad de pisos vacíos para uso temporal, para aquellos con vulnerabilidades agudas que se verán afectadas por el trabajo y no pueden quedarse en su hogar. También se explorará la oportunidad de cambiar de casa, donde se transfiere un arrendamiento a una casa ya restaurada, renunciando a su propiedad existente para que pueda ser restaurada para otra familia en la finca.

 

For resident leaseholders (including shared owners) the contribution of the Council will have a 20 per cent reduction applied when rechargeable works are billed for. 

The contribution from central government (£24.9m) will not be recharged to resident leaseholders. This equates to a 54.4 per cent discount for resident leaseholders who wereresident at the time of the tragedy, and also at the time of being required to pay the charge. In addition, the maximum potential charge for resident leaseholders will be £15,000 over any five-year period whilst the government grant is utilised, and an extensive range of repayment methods will be put in place to ensure no one is financially stretched as a result of the refurbishment.

 

Following a request from the Lancaster West Residents Association (LWRA), which has since been agreed at Leadership of the Council, non-resident leaseholders (e.g. Notting Hill Genesis and buy-to-let landlords) will be fully charged for the cost of works, including the government grant.

There is no limit on the level of recharge for these properties, however repayment options will be available. The table opposite summarises the full repayment options that will be available to leaseholders.

1. If you are a resident leaseholder at the time of the tragedy, there are different options that may be available to you to help pay the remaining cost of the refurbishment.

You may be eligible to receive either a mandatory loan or a discretionary loan from the Council at differing rates of interest. Both loans can only be taken out for an amount of £500 or more and can be spread over a three to ten-year period.

Mandatory loan: Your lease is 10 years old and you have been charged more than £2,250 for any major repair work. The loan has interest added to it at the local authority mortgage rate.

 

Discretionary loan: You have been charged for major repair work. You have to pay interest on the loan and the length of the loan depends on the value of the invoice. The loans are like a mortgage and a charge will be placed on your property. The land registry will be informed and in the event of you selling the property, the debt will be paid from the proceeds of the sale. There is also an option to secure a charge on your property.

3. Voluntary charge

If you are a resident leaseholder who is retired or disabled, we can secure a charge against your property, although we would expect you to pay the legal costs and interest associated with this. We would recover the debt when your property is sold or transferred. Please note we would always encourage you to seek independent legal advice before placing a charge on your property.

Further options are available, including applying for a bank or building society loan, equity schemes and extending your mortgage at

a better interest rate. Please note we would always encourage you to seek independent financial advice before signing any financial agreement.

 

For more information, please contact lancasterwestoffice@rbkc.gov.uk

 

RBKC leases are in the main repair-only leases. For example, a repair would include the replacement of a faulty lighting system where one is already present. This includes all parts of the building and estate which are known as ‘common parts’. Improvements, i.e. installing a new feature to a block, such as a lift are not rechargeable.

 

 

These are the parts that are not granted to residents in the lease but residents have right of access to and comprise the fabric of a building. These include but are not limited to, walkways, staircases and stairwells, door entrances, communal doors and windows, communal pipework and lightings.

 

Future investment in the Lancaster West Estate will trigger a Section

 

20 Consultation for leaseholders. This is a two-stage consultation process. At each stage leaseholders have the opportunity to make ‘observations’ to which the Council must give due regard.

 

 

A Section 20 Consultation is triggered when any lessee’s individual recharge for works to a block is in excess of £250.

 

First, a Notice of Intention is issued to leaseholders which sets out the nature of the proposed work. This is then followed by a Notice of Proposal which sets out the total cost of the works, the recommended contractor and your individual recharge.

5.When will we know what will and won’t be potentially recharged?

 

It will not be until any future works are specified that we will be able to properly ascertain what is to be recharged but we will ensure that you are only recharged for works that are permitted under the terms and conditions of your lease.

6.How will the Council calculate overall refurbishment costs and how will this be broken down as charges for leaseholders? 
      

Any major works that are rechargeable would be calculated in the same way as your day-to-day service charges. This is apportioned using the Council’s weighted room formula:

 

●Flat weighted rooms divided by block weighted rooms e.g. 4/50ths of the cost of works.

 

●Professional and management fees would also form part of the calculation.

 

●Any works that are not rechargeable under the lease would be excluded from the calculations.

 

 

There are a number of free and independent advice services available to lessees, such as The Leasehold Advisory Service: www.lease-advice.org

The most common definition for sustainability is from a 1987 United Nations report and describes it as ‘meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs’. 
Sustainability has three pillars: 
- Environmental – living within the means of natural resources and aspiring to net-zero carbon 

- Economic – using resources efficiently and responsibly 

- Social – achieving good social wellbeing 

All of these are very closely linked and its necessary to try and promote all three in harmony, but generally we are talking about environmental sustainability. 
Environmental sustainability covers a range of different areas, including:

-Reducing carbon emissions and tackling climate change 

-Improving air quality

-Improving green spaces and biodiversity 

-Tackling fuel poverty and lowering fuel bills

-Recycling and minimising waste 

-Using sustainable materials and not exploiting resources

We’re tackling these key issues through our sustainability programme to help transform Lancaster West into a model 21st century estate. 

2. Why does the estate need to become more sustainable?

Climate change is an undeniable problem which threatens all our futures, and this is being caused by thr fact that across the worl we're overusing fossil fuels to generate energy. The most important thing we can do to limit climate change is to change the way that we use resources and reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.

The UK Government has passed a law committing the whole of the UK to bring its greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero by 2050. To achieve this, everyone will need to do their bit by reducing their energy demand and switching to renewable sources of energy. Housing makes up 18% of total UK emissions, so it will be necessary to make homes across the UK more suitable to reach this goal, and more laws are likely to be brought in to make this happen. 
Sustainability also brings a whole range of other benefits. By making the estate more sustainable, we can make it a healthier, greener, more comfortable, and more affordable place to live. 

3. What are our sustainability goals?

Our main goal is for Lancaster West to become a model net-zero carbon estate by 2030. Carbon is emitted when we use energy for things like electricity and heating, so we need to work to reduce the amount of energy we use on the estate and get the energy we do use from low-carbon renewable sources. 
The key priorities we are focusing on to achieve this are:
- Making homes more energy efficient, warm and comfortable.
- Switching the heating and energy we use to a clean and green supply.
- Creating a green estate with a thriving environment.
- Engaging residents on the co-design of their estate.

4. Are you being ambitious enough about reducing carbon emissions?

Our ambition is for Lancaster West to be a net-zero carbon estate by 2030. This is in line with the broader Council goal for all its operation (including housing) to be net-zero by 2030, and ahead of the UK Government goal for the UK to become net-zero by 2050. This is an ambitious but achievable target that we will be able to reach by working closely with residents, experts, and other government organisations. 

1. What works will be done on the estate to meet these sustainability goals?

The most effective way of reducing carbon emissions from housing is to make the homes more energy efficient , so we'll be doing a lot of work in individual properties across the estate to do this, as a part of both the internal refurbishment and major refurbishment of the estate. 
Where appropriate, as a part of the internal refurbishment project, we are installing wall, floor, and roof insulation to properties. Insulation effectively works like a thermal blanket for properties and keeps them warm, reducing their heating demand and making them more comfortable. 
When replacing appliances in kitchens and bathrooms we are installing energy efficient options, such as induction cookers, Methven Aurajet shower heads, which save 25% of water used in each shower, and dual flushing toilets. We are also replacing lighting energy efficient LED bulbs.
Alongside this, further improvements will be made to homes through the major refurbishment of the estate. While the details of this will be decided by residents, this will include the replacement of windows and changes to building fabric to make it more thermally and energy efficient. We are also upgrading the current heating systems and connecting the estate to a new energy efficient, low-carbon district heating network. 

2. What is already being done to make the estate more sustainable?

We're already taking action to make the estate more sustainable. We're currently trailing different methods and products in void properties, and a few tenanted properties, which may be rolled out across the estate. 
The tea garden has been created, which provides a new pleasant green space on the estate. The herbs grown in the garden n can also be used by residents, which is more sustainable than buying them from the supermarket. We are continuing to explore options to further increase biodiversity and green spaces. 

Recycling bins in homes and across the estate help to divert waste from landfill and contribute to sustainability goals. We have also provided hot box composting bins to make compost for the community gardens and are on track to save 1,456 litres of food waste from entering landfill. 

The LWNT are also reducing emissions from our own operations. 30% of repairs operatives and 20% of LWNT staff are local residents and walk to work, saving 5 tonnes of carbon emissions from entering the atmosphere per year . Repair operatives are also using cargo bikes to make repairs and we have replaced the team's van with 2 zero-emissions electric vans.

3. How will this affect individual properties?

The need to make the estate more sustainable is one of the key drivers behind the internal refurbishment programme and will provide some direction to the work that we do. We will consult with residents at every point of the process to make sure you're happy with any sustainable changes to properties, but could include better insulation, doors, new energy efficient appliances in kitchens and bathrooms and new heating controls. 
Making these changes will reduce the energy demand of homes, and consequently reduce their carbon emissions as well as this, they should make homes more comfortable by keeping them warm in winter and stopping overheating in summer; reducing draughts, condensation, and mould. 

4. Will these changed address problems of overheating? 

It's important that all changes we make to properties both help us to reduce the estate's carbon footprint, and help make homes more comfortable. This includes addressing issues of homes being cold in winter, overheating  in summer, as well as any issues with damp, mould, and condensation. Improving insulation helps to regulate the temperature of properties at a comfortable level while improving ventilation ensures constant supply of fresh air and will address problems of overheating. 

5. Is anything being done to recycle waste from the refurbishment (such as windows and kitchen unites)? 

We're working closely with suppliers and contractors to ensure that high sustainability standards are upheld throughout delivery of the refurbishment. Our suppliers have made commitments around recycling and reusing materials and appliances and diverting waste from landfill wherever possible. 
Where possible, appliances removed from properties will be collected and processed via our contractor's recycling plant. Vinyl floor removed from properties is also being recycled and we are purchasing this recycled flooring for the refurb where possible.

We have also made agreements with suppliers to ensure that materials used in the refurbishment are sustainably sourced wherever possible, and that sustainable methods are used for installation and transportation of new materials and appliances and waste. 

Due to the need to make housing more sustainable to meet the UK Government’s net-zero target, there are various funds available from UK Government and the Greater London Authority in support of sustainable initiatives. We’re exploring opportunities for grant funding and other ways of financing our sustainable changes and continuously exploring opportunities for new sources of funding. Making use of these opportunities means that we can free up additional funding to make further improvements to homes as part of the internal refurb.

2.  Will this increase costs for residents? 

We are looking to fund sustainable changes primarily through grant funding and other finance opportunities from UK Government and the Greater London Authority to ensure that the cost of making the estate sustainable is minimised and will not need to be passed on to residents. We are also doing feasibility studies for all major changes to ensure that they're viable and will bring both environmental benefits and long-term financial benefits to residents. 

3. Will there be any cost benefit to residents? 

Making homes more energy efficient means that less energy is needed to heat and power them. All of the options we are exploring will help reduce the demand for homes and therefore will reduce costs for residents. For example, putting insulation around home is effectively like putting a jacket around a home and keeps it warmer, meaning that there is less of a need to use central heating to keep it warm. A-rated appliances are highly energy efficient and similarly can save energy requirements and costs. As a result, some of the changes being made in the internal refurb will lower the energy requirements for homes and reduce the cost of energy bills in the long term. 

Ultimately, we want Lancaster West to be a net-zero carbon estate by 2030 and this is our main success criteria. So, we’ll have succeeded if in 10 years, we have refurbished the estate to high energy efficiency standards in a way that residents are happy with, have developed an efficient low-carbon heat network and provide most of the energy on the estate via renewable sources. 

In the shorter term, success can be seen by progress against our key objectives:

- Making homes more energy efficient, warm and comfortable. 

- Switching the heating and energy we use to a clean and green supply. 

- Creating a green estate with a thriving environment. 

- Engaging residents on the co-design of their estate. 

2. How are we calculating the carbon emissions of the estate exactly, so we can show beyond doubt that we are on track to become a net-zero carbon estate? Can we share this tracker with residents, and be transparent about the way it is calculated?

We're currently developing an approach to how we calculate the emissions of the estate so that we can accurately measure progress against our net-zero carbon goal. This will include looking in detail at the materials and equipment on the estate, and energy usage from boilers and in individual properties. 
Once we have decided an appropriate method of calculating emissions, we will share this and our tracker with any interested residents.

3. What are smart meters and how will they benefit us? 

Small meters are modern gas and electricity meters that have a range of intelligent functions. They come with and in-home display, so its possible to see how much energy you are using and how much it costs, which can help to avoid wasting energy and money. They can also communicate directly with energy suppliers, meaning that bills will be accurate, with no need for suppliers to visit homes to read meters - though residents get a say over how their information is shared. 

We're currently trialling both Nest and Switches smart meters on the estate. These smart meters can also learn from residnets' heating preferences and adjust temperature accordingly, which is estimated to save between 8.4% and 16.5% energy used for heating, which could help reduce both emissions and costs. 

More information can be found on the government website: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/smart-meters-how-they-work