DECISIONS

 

Heat pump compressors

Apartment owners whose windows are on the western face of the building (facing the motorway, where the people are too busy to look up) have had the privilege of being able to have heat pumps with the compressors on the ledge outside the windows.

This could have proved a problem, as those windows have to be fitted with flashings, to help with the problem of weather tightness. Would the compressors have to be removed? This would have been yet another expense for the shareholder.  However, after working with the compressor outside an 11D window, Aoraki have found it is possible to squeeze the flashing in behind the machinery, and attached it as necessary. And, if the fit is too tight, the pipework penetration will be slightly altered, to make room. Accordingly, it looks as if all the compressors will stay in place.

Some of the pipework is old, however.  Where the entry hole is worn and may leak, the infill will be improved. If the area below the window has to be replaced because of water degradation, a removable painted panel will be installed, and the compressor vented through that.  This has the advantage of making it easy to check any future leaks issue.

New relocation payments policy

The delay before returning apartments to their owners has proved to be a problem. The current policy is that everyone (that is, everyone without insurance) gets $150 a day for 90 days to compensate for loss of access. This 90-day policy will apply to all the residents on lower floors who have only just moved out, or will move out over the next few weeks.  They are all eligible for that payment.

Most people have to be out of their apartments for quite a bit longer than 90 days, however. The original budget was for 90 days, with no provision for longer, so a revision had to be made. Accordingly, it was finally decided that people could apply for additional payment, again at the rate of $150 a day, but with new conditions. The application must be for actual costs, with the proviso that it is capped at $150 a day.  If you stay in a luxury hotel, you cannot apply for that hotel's daily rate. You can only apply for $150 a day. You cannot apply at all if you have had free accommodation, for instance by house-sitting, staying with friends or family, or staying in a second home. It also does not cover lost rental.

A form is being composed to formalise these applications, and keeping receipts (or bank statements) is strongly recommended.  Also, many residents are moving to apartments that have been returned to shareholders who are willing to rent them at a reduced rate, because of the inconvenience of renting in what is virtually a construction site. The resident pays the rental to the apartment owner, and claims for that actual cost. This is not only a pleasant, friendly, neighbourly way of solving a problem, but saves money, too.

Returning to your apartment

There is a defects policy, where Aoraki will fix defects that have happened in the progress of their work, such as paint drips, holes in ceilings, and bumps in walls. The day before the apartment is handed over, it is inspected by an architect, Max of SPA. A list of found defects is created, accompanied by photos, and a statement of what will be done to remedy, and this is given to HGL, and handed on to the shareholder/s concerned.

The day that the shareholders take over (or soon after) an inspection is made by them, plus someone from TBIG and/or Aoraki. Any additional defects found by the owner/s will be discussed, and if necessary a route to a decision of what to do about them will be created. Often, there is an easy explanation. If a wall has been bumped or scratched during the work, for instance, it will have been mended, and painted to a quality finish in the colour of white previously chosen by the shareholder, at project cost. If it is historic damage -- present before the project commenced -- it will not be fixed.  That is up to the apartment owner.

A flow chart is being composed to make this process easy to understand.