el valle murcia

Great work being done by many of you through EOS - keep it up please.

I haven't posted for a while but recently completed. Top items for me are :

Landscaping - makes the diference between an OK site and one that really stands out  

Security arrangements - need a secure site and a stop to all of these burgalries I keep on reading about. Can we have some screening around the perimeter of the sight, e.g. nice greenery / bushes ?   

Community set up and fees - I still don't know what I'm supposed to pay and what I am supposed to get

Ammex - they've still not replied to 2 of emails

Pool access / need for lifeguards - what's the law ? 

Suites Hotel - what will we have access to and will there be special arrangements for us to use the Aparthotel ?

That's all for now I think, but if I identify others I will post before the meeting. Unfortunately I cannot come out due to Easter scholl hols duties (on my own with 3 kids !) but wish all attending the best and hope you make the porogress I know you can on all of our behalves.

Regards

Hello all (again),

One further thought I have had is around security.

Should we adopt one form of security shutter type, i.e grilles or electric shutters (I've seen pictures on both) so that we have consistency and through a large order, presumably, cost effectiveness for all owners?

What do you all think ?

Regards  

rdhoot, that sounds like a good idea, but again the problem is going to be to get all the community owners to agree to one style and then what if they won't / can't afford to etc ? Could have it a s a community rule perhaps ?

I'm sure there are lots of things like this that need to be addressed to ensure that our community prospers and all owners are gald that they bought. 

To all attending the meeting next week - can you get a list of all the things that Ammex do currently and whom with and at what cost ? This would be a good place to start I suggest.

Regards, and keep the good work up!   

We read with interest the point regarding security - we were one of the unfortunate ones who have been broken into and lost flat screen tv, DVD and Sky box etc - we complained bitterly to the office regarding security issues but nothing was done. We had to take our own measures to secure our property which, like everyone who has an apartment, especially a ground floor apartment, has an inadequate utlity door lock which wouldn't keep a 7 year old out - we were advised by the office on security grills and shutters and were shown around the site at the different measures that were taken to secure the apartments. We opted for double glazing and bars on the utility area, and a manual roller shutter to match the window grills on the patio door. We were never told it had to be of a certain colour, style or manufacture - we believe it blends in very well, but most importantly it makes our apartment secure. From what we have been told the site is a lot more secure than it was 4 months ago so this will be a small blessing to those who haven't secured their apartment or haven't signed for their new unit yet. Unfortunately we are not able to attend the meeting, but for those who are going please don't put any rules forward dictating that the apartments that already have bars/grills installed have to change to a specified brand - this will cause even more problems that everyone could do without .

To Nicholas 1 and sds,

I didn't post my thoughts to agrieve you further. I appreciate that some people have already taken steps to secure their apartments. Perhaps I should have made it clear, I was referring to those who haven't and a rule going forward to ensure cost effectiveness. I didn't mean to imply a retrospective rule. Clearly this would be unfair and silly.

On a wider note, once the community is actually run by owners for the benfit opf owners, there must be a lot of things that need doing across 527 units and therefore single contracts and best price through to consistency of quality etc. is the best way forward for all owners ?

Regards.      

Proposal for agenda items as follows:-

1) Community president.  - what critea is proposed in the election of a president

2) Community set -up and fees ( my preference is for single contracts and single community)

3) Ammex (have not had any communication from them to date after completing in June)

4) Security

5) Lifeguards - I am out here at the moment and have acknowledged lifeguards on duty basically sleeping all day in the swimming pool toilets. (do we really require them).

Thank you to all of  you who have expressed your concerns. This meeting is called to kick start the community to exchange findings and how to move forward and spread the word with some consistency. It will also hopefully bring some clarity about what is going on with Ammex and how we can ensure that all purchasers are contacted regarding the forthcoming AGM's .

I am dismayed as I purchased some  6 months ago and havent heard anything from Ammex. I have tried to contact our  president /representative but have had no response.

I think our prime concern is to ensure that everyone who has purchased gets the opportunity to vote or send in a proxy vote at the AGM's. Unless we change over the elected president we will be stuck under the influence of Interlarken for another year and we certainly dont want this.

It will also be an opportunity for members from different communities to take shared info and agreed recommendations  to each individual AGM.  If this site is to be successful we must establish consisitency across the communities be it with one president or 4.

 I think the successful communities work together and the sooner  there is some clarity around  a swimming pools, maintenance, sun blinds, windows, shutter,  bars etc the better .The last thing we all want to end up with is a complete mix match of colours etc. I apperciate that some have already put up different bars blinds etc and there will need to be some flexibility with those already erected but just  to stipulate a colour will be a starting point - this however is not something than can be tackled next week but through the individual agms . If each comminuty makes a consistent recommendation then at least  we have a start and shared aim . 

We are coming out tomorrow (5th until the 16th) and so can confirm that we will be attending on 10th.

We are in Block 17 - fingers crossed for a hope of improvement.

One item we havent covered much which is very important is what language is used at the AGM!

I have read the language to be used is normally the laguage of the majority of owners, but this should be voted on at the 1st AGM so i suggest this item be put on the agenda.

I am led to believe the vast majority of purchasers are English and if so i presume this would be obvious choice to use. It is also possible to use an interpreter at the AGM should this service be required.

The minutes of the AGM have to be published in Spanish (this is a legal reqirement) but it is normal to have a copy in English (or the prefered language of the AGM as instructed by the owners)

Ian

Just back from a week in CDL. Our apartment in Block 15 is pleasant enough with just a few outstanding defects. The site however needs a lot of work. Pool attendents lying around with no one using pools - weather was indifferent. The builders are making a mess of the road in with muck everywhere and waste paper blowing around. The grounds are very poor and need a lot of work. security is a joke - no control and a guy driving around at our expense. Very hard to see what Ammex are offerring and I'm not convinced that they should be kept around.

The area will be great in a year or 2. Finva Cortesin golf is great - top quality and the area has excellent restaurants in the area. If we could get the site sorted and brought under control of owners, it can be a good medium term success.

cannot make meeting, posted comments earlier.

i was told by ammex, maintenance expenses actual per quarter were 315e, therefore based on everybody paying 840 for 6 months ,they have a reserve of 200e per apartment.

we all have issues re gardens, security, spec (not incl individual matters)

we have ammex in place as management co carrying out wishes of owners.

why dont we instruct ammex to take action on our behalf against the developer.

this could be funded from reserve account and if it cost 50e per apart (23,000e),and nobody should need to put there hands in there pockets.

i am sure a good spanish architect and lawyer could pick many faults, and it might force mlh act rather than ourselves.

no one person can act alone but this way using majority voting , all 550 owners are together

just athought!

have a good meeting

noddy

I think this makes some sense. Our individual property defects we can deal with  directly or through legals but when it comes to the common areas our management company must seek to compel the developer to comply with the planning conditions. Ammex or a replacement must be instructed to pursue this aggressively and may well need expertise to do this.

I think this makes some sense. Our individual property defects we can deal with  directly or through legals but when it comes to the common areas our management company must seek to compel the developer to comply with the planning conditions. Ammex or a replacement must be instructed to pursue this aggressively and may well need expertise to do this.

I think this makes some sense. Our individual property defects we can deal with  directly or through legals but when it comes to the common areas our management company must seek to compel the developer to comply with the planning conditions. Ammex or a replacement must be instructed to pursue this aggressively and may well need expertise to do this.

We are  unable to attend the meeting but would be grateful if we could get rid of Ammex as soon as possible to replace them with one President and committee for the whole CDS apartment development.  Ammex have not been earning the money we are paying them; for example, when we enquired of Ammex what our buildings insurance covers my email was ignored; the follow-up met the same lack of response.  Incidentally, it would be helpful to us all if we knew what was covered by the buildings insurance.

A previous posting cited the management fees we are paying per quarter.  We are in favour of this being as low as possible without jeopardising keeping the site looking good.

Pool lifeguards are probably expenses we can do without.  Last summer beside our block the lifeguard was on duty only during  'office hours'.  Clearly people do use the pools outside these times.  At the large development at Peurto De La Duquesa, where we stayed in the past, no lifeguard was on duty at all.

As regards security, having a security guard in a hut at the main entrance will be a waste of money and worthless in terms of protecting our properties.  If you look at the site layout on the CDS website you will note we do not have a secure site. There aree four other roads by which people can enter the site; apparently these roads will allow residents from oher developments (some yet to be constructed in the hills) to travel through CDS to link to the main route to Casares village.  A better option for security would be to have a team of guards (2-3?) patrolling on foot or bicycles in order to access where vehicles cannot go.

Gardens: work needs done to bring these up to standard, they were never good but do have potential.

Michael and Hazel

The very best of good luck for tomorrow, though I believe you need more than luck, you need an exceptionaly diligent leader and a strongly supportive inner circle or commitee. All strength to your elbows and sorry I cannot be with you, still no suitable mortgage I am afraid, but I will be eagerly watching the resulting posts.

Best Regards

This might be too late to be picked up before tomorrow's meeting but I have just received a response from Ammex to some questions I asked some time ago regarding language of the AGM and voting by proxy. The answers are self explanatory and as follows:

  "Dear Mr. Longhurst,

Having just returned from CDS one of the most pressing issues is clearly the state of the grounds and communal areas generally. Why are all the manholes so proud of the ground - is it the norm or have they just been mean with the topsoil ?  Apart from the 'gardens' there is so much 'snagging' to be documented and pursued it's an enormous task. Just taking the stairs down to our car park one can see numerous unfinished works, holes in ceiling, broken doors on electrical cupboards, missing drain covers etc etc etc. The rendering on the block opposite ours finishes above ground level and looks dreadful.  The pool area at the back of blocks 14-16 has mssing life belts, unfinished showers, a worrying long crack in the floor tiles which might indicate subsidence, dips which accumulate muddy water after heavy rain - the list goes on ...  The lifeguard situation is ludicrous and a total waste of our money.

Personally I see no sense in trying replace Ammex at this stage, once they are answerable to and can be directed by the owners we will have a better opportunity to judge them. They must have accumulated some understanding of our site which will be useful in the short term. We would first need to check out the alternatives anyway.

i think getting our own private web site for owners to discuss matters is a good way of discussing matters.

reading comments on other threads, obviously outsiders think its all doom and gloom and whilst there are many issues, if these are common knowledge the development gets a blighted reputation.

noddy