A new contractor to provide a specialised Invasive Plants service

Section 20 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 (as amended) requires a landlord (Clarion Housing) to consult tenants and leaseholders who pay variable service charges before entering into a long-term agreement where:

• The agreement will be longer than 12 months, and
• any single tenant/leaseholder would be liable to pay more than £100 (including VAT) within a year

This notice has been sent to all leaseholders and tenants who pay, or could pay, towards the cost of planned or cyclical maintenance works as part of their service charge. Tenants do not pay for the works but pay a charge for the provision of any mechanical and electrical equipment, e.g. lift or door entry system (which is based on the life span of the installation).

We propose to enter into a single long-term agreement for the services of a supplier(s) to provide a specialised invasive plant service across the group.

Long-term agreements allow us to work with contractors over a longer period of time to maximise efficiencies and achieve greater value for our customers.

The length of the contracts will ensure that we are able to provide consistent delivery standards.

Any existing contracts in place we have will be coming to an end very soon.

If you are a tenant most costs for repairs and maintenance to your home are paid for as part of your rent and not as an additional service charge. Leaseholders and tenants will only have to pay a service charge for works carried out under the contract to their block and estate if these are rechargeable under the terms of their lease or tenancy agreement. When work becomes necessary this will be priced in line with the terms of the contract and you would be consulted on specific works exceeding £250 per property.

Yes, please contact the Home Ownership Team and we will arrange for this documentation to be posted or emailed out to you. It is also available to download on this page.

You have the right to make observations on the intention made. In order to do so, you should send your comments and observations in writing to:

Section 20 Team
Clarion Housing Group
Reed House
Peachman Way
Norwich
NR7 0WF

Email: s20.observations@clarionhg.com

If you wish to make formal observations they must be in writing and received before 8th March 2023.

If you would like to discuss this notice via the telephone, please contact customer services and ask to speak to the Home Ownership team. Please note any verbal communication cannot be deemed to be an observation which should be considered.

No, but you have a right to make any comments or observations regarding the Notice of Proposal. If you are happy with the information you have been provided, we would just ask you to keep the Notice for your records.

Clarion Housing is subject to the Public Contracts Regulations (2015) and consequently we are required to publish a Contract Notice in the Find a Tender Service (FTS).

This will allow all contractors to express an interest in applying for the agreement.

Clarion Housing is not required to give leaseholders the right to nominate contractors when FTS applies as a result of the value of the contracts to be awarded.

The scope of works that will be provided under this contract will be as follows:

• Survey, identification and source of invasive plants
• Clearing and fencing off as necessary identified land to allow access to infested areas
• Treatment to eradicate invasive plants by spraying and/or injection of herbicides. Excavation at sites where advised necessary
• Maintaining treatment by scheduled visits and keeping treatment site clear of general vegetation
• Winter mulching of canes if deemed necessary
• Removal of controlled waste from site if required, for disposal at a licensed waste facility
• Monitoring of ongoing treatment
• Issue of Warranty/Guarantee
• Monitoring of site under Warranty/Guarantee