WaterColour Management Company Ltd - February 2026
Information Update for Residents – February 2026
Purpose: Since our formation in late-November, 2025, your Board has been meeting almost every two weeks to establish priorities and to understand what’s worked and not worked historically. This summary is to provide residents with an update on progress-to-date.
2026 Budget Delay
As you will know from previous correspondence, finalisation of the 2026 service charge budget has been delayed by a number of factors. These include a heavily delayed start to the budgeting process as new Directors were not appointed until late November 2025, a lack of historical information being provided by the outgoing Directors and, most recently, the need to review the approach taken for the major building works necessary for two apartment blocks to attempt to minimise the financial impact on leaseholders (owners in these blocks have already received communications from Trinity).
As a consequence, the budget is now expected to be issued during March, and we really appreciate residents’ patience during these unusual delays. As well as the formal notification of the budget and the impact on service charge demands, we will also be communicating directly with residents in the affected blocks to clarify the position regarding their charges and the building work required. As part of this ongoing process, we intend to seek alternative quotes from local contractors with a view to reducing both cost and scope of work as much as possible for the leaseholders affected. If any residents know of suitably qualified potential suppliers, then do please let us know their details so we can potentially include them in the process.
Pathways
As residents will be aware, the sandy footpaths in various areas have deteriorated, in some cases creating a potential trip hazard due to raised ironworks. Tenders for remedial work were sought last year by the previous Board which, unfortunately, your current Board believes to be both expensive and, in some cases, unnecessary. We have therefore been discussing requirements with local contractors to propose different options which, whilst maintaining the overall appearance, would be more cost-effective. We have therefore delayed the issue of the promised pathway survey whilst we review the costs and suitability of these alternatives. This analysis is now at an advanced stage so we anticipate issuing the survey in March. We appreciate your patience.
Fencing and Hedge Cutting
We have conducted a number of ‘walkabouts’ to ascertain what needs to be done regarding fencing across the development. We are pleased to report that, as a consequence, the knee-high rail repairs are in progress and work has been instructed for the repairs to fencing by the pumping station, both at a cost significantly below previous quotation.
The lagoon works — delivered in full alignment with Surrey Wildlife Trust’s guidance and carefully timed around the bird‑nesting season — are well underway and expected to be completed towards the end of February. The team achieved all of this well below the originally quoted cost.
Apartment Blocks - Lifts Contract and Fire Safety
Following a re-tender exercise completed in 2025, the Board has reviewed the potential lift maintenance suppliers, their costs and proposed services. As a result, we’ve moved the contract from Otis to United Lift Services with effect from 1st February 2026. The new contract will provide an increased level of service visits and shorter emergency call-out times whilst delivering a significant reduction in the contract cost paid by leaseholders.
Discussions have been held with Surrey Fire and Rescue Service regarding flat block fire safety requirements. This follows on from a previous fire door survey and fire risk assessment to ensure that required work is identified and prioritised and to understand what current guidelines dictate. A final decision on what’s actually necessary has not yet been taken.
Liaison with Trinity
Trinity have attended some of our Board meetings (either in-person or remotely) to increase the effectiveness of the communication between us. With that objective in mind, Trinity have provided the schedule for the year for their visits in order for the Board to plan to meet with them onsite monthly.
Future Plans and Ambitions
This list is not intended to include everything we’re considering or planning but will, we hope, give you a sense of our commitment to increased transparency and the overall future well-being of the development:
· A meeting with our local Police Sergeant is planned to take place shortly.
· We recognise that there is a need for both external cleaning and internal decoration and carpet
replacement in the apartment blocks as nothing has been done since they were built. We are reviewing
when and how these works can be undertaken, if and when funds are available. As with the fencing and
building works requirements, we’d prefer to place this work with local contractors when the time comes.
Suggestions from you for potential contractors we might want to invite to participate will be very much
welcomed.
· In the spirit of cost-reduction and increased effectiveness for residents, we plan to review all major
contracts during the course of this year.
· We are at an early stage in considering whether to set up flat block ‘steering groups’ to look at the
various issues they are facing.
We look forward to providing you with this type of update on a regular basis. As a minimum, we anticipate this will be once every quarter, although we will of course provide interim additional information whenever necessary.