House Rules

Since the Prince of Wales Mansions (POWM) comprises a small community, it is essential that everyone should be considerate to the reasonable needs of others  More specifically, there are house rules which derive from the original deeds and the fact that the communal areas are owned by POWM Ltd.

Children

•  POWM is not considered to be a suitable residence for children.  There are no play areas on the site and the sound proofing throughout the building is poor, which means boisterous activity will be disturbing to neighbours, including those above and below an apartment.

Pets

An apartment block is not conducive to keeping pets because of the restrictive confines of the building. The only exception is guide dogs for the blind.

Business

It is expressly forbidden in the deeds to use any part of Prince Of Wales Mansions for the purposes of carrying out a business.

All residents are expected to:

• Conduct themselves in an orderly and civil manner and to take all reasonable steps to avoid endangering themselves or other residents
• Restrict noisy internal decorating or building work to normal weekday working hours and before 13.00 hours on Saturday, emergencies excepted. All such work involving contractors should be notified to POWM on the notice board, using the forms provided
• Keep noise (e.g. from TV, radio, multimedia, washers, dryers) to a minimum, particularly after midnight. It is essential that everyone abides by these rules, including tenants and guests
• Ensure that their floor surfaces are sound-proofed, preferably with good quality carpet and underlay. If any type of hard surface flooring is laid, it is essential that an appropriate soundproof substrate is used. Bare floorboards are not permitted
• Clean their windows regularly
• Not furnish or decorate communal areas without prior Board approval
• Use the loading bay and goods lift for furniture removals and the delivery of large items. The postcode to be given to direct to the delivery bay is HG1 1JB
• Not to smoke in any communal area, including the lifts

This is of prime importance to everyone. All residents must:

• Take all reasonable precautions to avoid endangering their own and others’ lives and property.
• Obtain written permission from POWM before any structural work is carried out.  If replacement windows are needed, please consult the Board of POWM about the style of the windows.
• Depending upon the work being contemplated, the Directors may require a copy of reports from qualified structural engineers and possibly Harrogate Borough Council.
• The cost of repairing any damage to communal areas or other apartments from any work, whether notified or not, will be the responsibility of the contracting owner. Owners must therefore have third party liability insurance from the date they purchase their apartment. Whilst owners should also consider having contents insurance, building insurance is not required since this is provided by POWM Ltd.
• POWM holds a spare key to each apartment which is stored in a secure safe.  These keys are used in emergencies only or with the permission of the apartment owner or renter. Residents should inform the Board of periods of absence exceeding 14 days. Failure to do so could lead to a forced emergency entry being made, for which the Board cannot be held responsible.
• Consider turning off water and gas services when leaving an apartment unoccupied for longer than 14 days, unless severe winter weather necessitates leaving the heating switched on.

• Prince Of Wales Mansions has CCTV covering all external common area doors.
• Everyone should check that external doors are firmly closed on entering or leaving the building; especially during windy weather.
• Prince Of Wales Mansions has an intercom system operating at the main entrance on York Place and the rear door from the car park. Residents are requested to provide all expected visitors and delivery people with the individual intercom code for their apartment.  A list of the codes is located outside the car park door.  Copies can be obtained from a Director.
• Entry to the building should be denied to anyone unknown. Visitors should be directed to contact their host via the door entry system. Do not hesitate to challenge or report anyone suspicious encountered anywhere in the building or in the car park.
• Never identify the external door key or let it fall into the wrong hands. Any loss should be reported immediately to a Director.

• Residents should whenever possible use their garages for parking and leave the car park spaces free for visitors, tradesmen and deliveries. Garage doors should be kept closed, to deter opportunist thieves.
• A valid POWM car parking permit should be displayed at all times in all vehicles owned by residents. Unless a visitor’s vehicle registration number has been entered on the Smart Parking approval list, visitors’ vehicles should be logged in at one of the two tablets in the basement corridor and the entrance foyer.
• Garages are owned by POWM Ltd and are only for the use of the flats; should you not wish to use the garage, it may be let, but only to another resident of POWM.
• Cars must not be left in the loading area by the back door. This area is designated for emergency vehicles, removals, deliveries and refuse collection only.

• Owners must provide their tenants with a copy of the House Rules and the Fire Precautions and should ask their tenants to sign for their receipt.
• Owners must take all reasonable steps to ensure that the House Rules and Fire Precautions are fully complied with.
• Owners are responsible for the actions of their tenants; they should therefore vet their tenants and inform them of their obligations, particularly not using Prince Of Wales Mansions to carry out a business.
• The repair of any damage to the common areas caused by tenants will be charged to apartment owners.
• The Board should be informed when tenants (or owners) move in or out of the building, so that the loading bay can be kept clear. This should also ensure that the goods being moved are authorised 
• Removals are to be made using the Goods Lift or staircase only.