Residents Set To Take Over Estate Management

Residents met with Chamonix Estates at the Robert Smyth Academy
Pic: Andy Carpenter

Residents on Market Harborough’s Farndon Fields estate are claiming victory in their battle with a management company they are now set to ditch.

Homeowners will instead set-up their own residents’ association and take on the role of the upkeep of communal areas and open spaces.

They say estate management company Chamonix Estates has been imposing ‘extortionate’ fees on them over the past few years, with some bills rising from just over £20 to nearly £600 pounds a year.

The decision, which will need to be ratified next month, was taken after over 50 residents met with the company.

Lara Raffaelli, who has been leading the campaign, spoke to Hfm:

Residents met with Chamonix Estates at the Robert Smyth Academy
Pic: Andy Carpenter

A spokesman for Chamonix Estates said : “A number of those present expressed a desire to establish their own company to manage the development. As we said at the meeting, and is within their legal documentation, this legal vehicle already exists – it is either of the two Farndon Fields management companies that the meeting was held for and they are already members of. Sadly, the view expressed highlights the lack of understanding of some, but not all, of the residents, despite the best endeavours of the Barratt Homes and Chamonix.

Barratt Homes have committed to completing the land transfer within the coming weeks and as soon as that has taken place, Chamonix will convene a further meeting of the management companies where home owners can become Directors and take responsibility for the management of their own affairs if they so wish. At that point, we will work with those Directors to educate them on the responsibilities and duties inherent on the role.”