Rookwood Court

Common Services

The estate benefits from the services shown in the menu.

The majority are funded by the service charge, due biannually in December and June and paid by the flat owner or if you are a tenant by your landlord.

Report a Problem

Communal Areas and Grounds

To report a problem contact our Managing Agent

Flats and Garages

Tenants

If you have a problem please contact your managing letting agency or landlord.

In the case of an emergency involving a common service please contact our Managing Agent directly.

Owners

If you have problems please contact our Managing Agent.

Owners may consult the Managing Agent or a Director on management policy or general concerns.

Insurance

The Company has a block policy covering all buildings on the estate. Accidental damage is the most likely cause of claims. The insurance premium is included in the annual service charge. An excess is applicable.

Although window maintenance is the responsibility of owners, once installed they become part of the fabric of the building and thus are covered by Company building insurance.

Cover includes provision that should a flat or flats become uninhabitable as a result of any of the risks - fire, gas explosion, etc., claims for renting alternative accommodation (by Lessees only) may be met up to a limit of the total sum insured, proportional to the number of flats affected.

For full details of cover please contact the Managing Agent.

The policy does not cover contents of flats or garages for which you need to arrange your own cover.

Making a Claim

The Managing Agent will initiate any claim but it is the responsibility of the leaseholder to progress the claim with the broker by providing evidence/photos and getting quotes etc. For full details of the claims process contact the Managing Agent.

Unoccupied Flats

If your Flat is unoccupied for more than 45 days, insurance cover for various perils is reduced unless certain conditions are met. Please apply to the Managing Agent for further details.

Cleaning

Communal Areas

Stairs and landings are cleaned weekly.

Timing may vary.

Window Cleaning

Windows are cleaned on alternate months (January, March, May, July, September, November). The contractor usually starts on the first Monday of the month (first Tuesday after a bank holiday). Work across the estate can last up to three days.

The contractor may not be able to clean open windows, especially on upper floors.

While the contractor is on site please close all windows, including stairwell windows.

Rubbish Collection

We all share the responsibility for keeping our estate clean, safe, and pleasant - let's each do our part with our rubbish.

You MUST:

  • Separate rubbish into recyclables, land fill items and food waste
  • Squash items as small as you can
  • Flatten cardboard boxes
  • Put rubbish carefully in the correct bin and close the lid
  • If a bin won't close, store items elsewhere until after the next rubbish collection

You MUST NOT:

  • Leave anything in a bin store except in a closed bin
  • Put a black bag in a recycling bin (if you do, the Council will not empty it!)

Except:

  • Early on Thursday morning bins may be overfilled

More:

  • Bin stores are only for permitted rubbish (see below)
  • Can you reduce the volume of your rubbish?
  • If visiting Slyfield, why not take some of your rubbish with you? (tip closed Tuesday and Wednesday)

Full details:

Bin stores

The council empties the bins, normally weekly on Thursday.

There are six bin stores, two for each group of three blocks.

Each includes:

  • at least one large wheeled bin with a GREEN lid for recyclables no black bags in these bins - if you do they won't be emptied
  • at least one large wheeled bin with a BLUE or BLACK lid for permitted waste (land fill)
  • a small black bin for food waste

If permitted rubbish items won't fit in bins with lids closed you MUST NOT leave them in a bin store.

For what to do with non-permitted items see 'Other Rubbish' below.

  • What can be recycled? For help understanding what can be recycled please see the GBC recycling guide.
  • Permitted rubbish For guidance on what can and can't be collected see Household Recycling and Waste here

There is a serious risk of vermin, particularly rats. To minimise the problem bins must be kept fully closed. To make best use of space please squash items destined for the bins. Flatten cardboard boxes. Large boxes may need to be cut up. If a bin is full you may put additional items in early on Thursday morning before rubbish is collected, but please not at any other time.

If permitted rubbish items won't fit in bins with lids closed you MUST NOT leave them in a bin store. For what to do instead see 'Other Rubbish' below.

Other Rubbish

Domestic appliances, old furniture, packaging etc:

EITHER

  • Take them to the main Guildford Community Recycling Centre at Slyfield Green
    Moorfield Rd, Slyfield Industrial Estate, Guildford GU1 1RU

OR

  • Use the Surrey County Council recycling search tool here to find a suitable place.

OR

  • Telephone the council and ask for a special pickup. There is a charge depending on the number of items. ☏ 01483 505 050.

Grounds

Roadways

We are a private estate, therefore roadways are unadopted. There are no pavements alongside the roadways.

Speed Limit

The estate speed limit is 10 MPH.

Please watch out for pedestrians, especially children, who may not do what you expect. As there are no pavements you will frequently encounter people walking on the tarmac.

Rook Wood

Rook Wood is the area behind the upper garages.

Entry is at your own risk. Estate insurance does not include personal injury cover, for example from falling timber.

Please do not drop litter in Rook Wood.

Dogs must be under control on a lead in this area.

You must not start a fire, with smoking strictly forbidden.

Grounds Maintenance

We are very fortunate to have extensive and pleasant grounds. We endeavour to care for them in an environmentally friendly manner.

Maintenance is carried out as follows:

  • Flower beds: Most have been adopted by residents. If you wish to contribute please contact directors@rookwoodcourt.net
  • Lawns, other grassed areas and hard surfaces: Weekly maintenance in summer, fortnightly in winter. Lawn mowing is usually fortnightly in summer, less frequent in winter.
  • Hedges, shrubs, smaller trees: Several pruning visits per year.
  • All other trees including those in Rook Wood: Biennial survey by a specialist contractor with major work undertaken usually annually. Many of our larger trees are subject to Tree Protection Orders so GBC permission is frequently needed.
  • Snow and Ice: After an official warning a contractor attends to clear snow and spread salt when the council grits the public roads. This covers roadways, paths and steps. There are also bags of salt in yellow bins around the estate which residents are free to use when necessary. There are also bags of salt in yellow bins around the estate which residents are free to use when necessary.

Compost Heap

The compost heap is up the steps into Rook Wood opposite #51-61. Residents are welcome to use it for house plants and dead flowers.

Nothing else may be dumped in Rook Wood, including:

  • no plant pots or other plastics or ceramics
  • no debris from repairs
  • no furniture, whether or not made of wood

See also Flower Beds

See also Flower Beds

Communal Areas Lighting

Most internal and external lights are controlled by sensors outside specific blocks.

A local electrician replaces lamps and carries out repairs as necessary.

Please inform the Managing Agent if a light is not working.

Aerials

All flats are supplied with standard terrestrial reception. Cable is available at lessee's expense.

Satellite dishes are not permitted.

Water

Supplier

Flats are charged individually by Thames Water for water and sewage services. Application can be made to Thames Water for an average user charge which may reduce your water charges compared with an assessment on the basis of rateable value.

Stopcocks

In case of a leak in your flat it is essential to know where the internal water stopcock can be found. Test the stopcock at least annually by turning it off and on. This will help to ensure it is in working order in an emergency. Leaseholders are responsible for stopcock maintenance. External stopcocks are installed in different ways in the estate, some for individual flats and others for several. Due to this complexity we suggest that these stopcocks are left alone.

Meters

It is not possible to install a water meter in flat numbers 1-28 unless the flat has been altered so that the heating and all other plumbing is off the mains supply. The same applies in some higher number flats.

Decoration

Interior

Redecoration is planned on a 5 year cycle which may be varied depending on need. See also Flat Front Doors

Exterior

Exterior redecoration of the blocks and garages is planned on a 5 year cycle. In practice the major element, garage doors, typically remain in good condition several years longer.

Maintenance of flat windows is the responsibility of the owner. However, exterior painting of window frames is the responsibility of the Estate. Most windows on the estate now have plastic frames which do not need painting.

See also Replacement Windows

Electric Car Charging

The Directors are aware that electric car charging points will be a service that residents would like, but the decision on timing is difficult.

Once a number of residents are using electric cars we will reconsider the need.

For various reasons Directors are unlikely to sanction the installation of private charging points.

In the meanwhile, there are plenty of local commercial charging points.

Useful Contacts

Emergency: ☏ 999 (Fire, Police, Ambulance)

  • Gas Emergency: ☏ 0800 111 999
  • Report an Electricity Power Cut here or ☏ 0800 6783 105
  • Thames Water contact
  • Clark Gammon ☏ 01483 668000

Health

  • NHS 111 (24 hour health helpline): ☏ 111; NHS website here

Royal Surrey County Hospital

Local Politics

what3words Addresses

For emergencies, deliveries and taxis what3words addresses may be better than your postal address.

Block addresses are at or close to the 3m square immediately outside the block main entrance door.

If any seem incorrect please advise directors@rookwoodcourt.net

Get the what3words app from Google Play or Apple App store. Check your exact location wherever you are. If needed, give emergency services the address.