The flat is our only abode, which we bought over 4 years ago. We inherited a somewhat informal structure that one of the 4 directors also became the Co Sec, the Chairman and the Treasurer. We have a much truncated version of the Articles of Association, and basically nothing about procedures for the running of our block of 4 flats. So thank you, Monica, we shall go to CAB and try to formalise and have written procedures, as the Co Sec likes to make up the rules as she goes along.
We also inherited the gardener, who is actually a maintenance man, as he knows very little about gardening, but is very willing. The U(pstairs) N(eighbour) pays him to come over regularly to do house maintenance stuff for her. A volunteer is required to supervise him, and my DH and he have struck up a good working relationship. My DH is concerned that the gardener will be sacked, as he has very little other employment, and basically doesn't manage his life very well.
The current Co Sec as just a director, was only sociable when it came to the AGM, and that was the only meeting required by the previous regime which ran very smoothly for over three years. Any maintenance required and costs etc were managed by email, and my DH, being retired, was usually the organiser and overseer. The previous Co Sec moved on, and felt obliged to register the accountant, the current Co. Sec, as the UN really did not want to have anything to do with it being 84, we were hardly ever there, and a new family had just moved in. An outside agent was considered, but too expensive, and not efficient.
Our encounters with the accountant up until then had all been brief, and some of them had been quite strange, e.g. one day the accountant was the only person in the flats when it was the gardener's work day and one of the flat owners always gave him a cup of tea. When the gardener asked for a cup of tea, he was told that it was her day off so she couldn't bring him a cup of tea.....
And once the accountant was given a position of authority as Co Sec, she has really enjoyed throwing her weight around. Fortunately as she so enjoys her new powers, she copies everyone into all the developments, so we have a clear trail. Inadvertently the UN copied us into a bullying, aggressive, alienating email all about the negative and highly detrimental effects of our flood and that we would not be allowed access to the "sinking fund" into which we all pay monthly. She placed our Terms and Conditions of the Leasehold with a solicitor, who was going through it line by line to find any loopholes, to ensure that we are not entitled to anything from the sinking fund, etc etc. So, thank you UN for your faux pas, as we now have a better idea with what we are dealing.
As "normal" people we are offended by such behaviour, and the appalling thoughtlessness and total lack of empathy. She obviously cannot take even an implied suggestion of criticism. In fact she becomes incensed over nothing. However, if we understood that she had some sort of personality disorder, we would be more tolerant of her emotionally unbalanced attitude. And we need to get her out of a position of authority so that we can sustain our investment. For example, we had our immediate drain inspected in the summer, and the technician was unable to clear it. We emailed the Co Sec there was a problem with the drain, and could she (and her interfering boyfriend, who does not live there) have the drains inspected, as we were going to be away for the next 3 months. The return answer was in the negative, so 5 months later we came back to a flooded flat due to blocked drains identified in the summer.
Thank you, Missfoodlove, as I feel that the UN has become manipulated by the Co Sec, and as you can see above, she is busy with smear campaigning. Luckily the new family firmly will not have anything to do with any of this, and he has been very helpful in sorting engineers for the drain clearance and repair - a perfectly normal relationship - phew!
Having read the horrible email, I sent two calming, soothing, explanatory, reassuring, business-like emails, to which I did not receive a reply. I sent a third one that was rather more pointed at the Co Sec when I encountered her in the garden. I asked why it was necessary to send our Leasehold to a solicitor, and she claimed that "we are doing everything we can to help you." She evidently had not understood that we had all read the very nasty email, although I had just tapped on the Reply button to send my conciliatory emails.
And now, two months later, I sent a firmly worded email to all that they had responsibilities to fulfil as a director to a company registered at Companies House. Furthermore that by publicly humiliating my DH, they cannot be surprised that he has withdrawn his willing co-operation.
Yes, we could sell up, but it would be leaving the others, and the gardener in the lurch. We have invested very heavily financially in this flat, bought for our very old age, which makes it exceptionally difficult to give up.
. I was going to put a wink there but the subject is too serious.