Oaklands

02/06/2026

IMPORTANT - CHANGING THE LOCKS

It has been many years since the Yale Security Suite of locks was first fitted at Oaklands. These locks are now rather old-fashioned, and no longer provide the best possible security for the building and your possessions (and mine). That being the case, every lock in the building – some two dozen or more – is being replaced on Friday 12th June, from 9.00 a.m. It follows that when you come home after work, you will be locked out. Please don’t panic! In most cases, it will simply be a matter of your ringing my doorbell. I will let you in, and hand over your new key, which, as before, will operate the locks to the front door and to your room, only. If you would like to return your old key to me for disposal, at that or any other time, you may do so. If you expect to be home late on the evening of 12th (say, after 8.00 p.m.), please let me know, so that we can make some alternative arrangement.

Kind regards,

Michael Hargreave Mawson
Proprietor

29/05/2026

Fire Extinguisher Installation and Servicing Certificate, 2026-27

14/05/2026

Portable Appliance Test Certificate, 2026-28

05/05/2026

PORTABLE APPLIANCE TESTING

Please be advised that routine safety testing of portable electrical appliances will take place on Thursday, 7th May, and (if necessary) Friday, 8th May, starting at 10.30 a.m. on each day. Contractors will be issued with master keys, and will require access to all rooms, and to all items of portable electrical equipment supplied by Oaklands (e.g., lamps, kettles, toasters, cookers, washing machines, and so on). Please ensure that all such items are in plain sight on Thursday - not hidden away in cupboards!

Note that items of electrical equipment not belonging to Oaklands are not required to be tested.

Thank you for your assistance in this regard.

24/04/2026

HOLIDAY ABSENCE

Dear All,

I shall be away from the morning of Tuesday 28th April until the afternoon of Tuesday 5th May. Tash and Jackie will be coming in as usual three times a week to keep the shared areas clean. I trust everything will continue to run smoothly in my absence, but in case there is an issue that cannot wait until my return, my son, Gerald Hargreave Mawson, will be available. In case of emergencies, please call him on:

07874 736120

Kind regards,

Michael Hargreave Mawson
Proprietor

22/04/2026

"Almost half of renters DON'T have contents insurance . . ." A useful guide from MoneySavingExpert:

This MoneySavingExpert guide has full info on contents insurance for renters and tenants, and shows you how to compare quotes and find the best cover for you.

20/04/2026

ELECTRICITY METERS – CHANGE OF PLAN

Dear All,

I have now fixed our electricity costs for the twelve months from 1st May, at a considerable – 14% – saving on the previous fix. Rather than returning to each of you £5 as a refund for the price reduction that came into effect on 1st April, I will instead reset your meters early, giving you a 14% saving for the rest of the month (as against what I am actually paying). I will be carrying out this work, and emptying your meters, on Thursday 23rd April, from 11.00 a.m. Please ensure that you leave me reasonable access to the meter.

Should this time not be convenient for you, please let me know, so that we can agree another time. There is no need for tenants to be present for the reading. As ever, if a meter has over-charged for electricity used, I will leave any over-payment on top of the meter.

Thank you in advance for your co-operation.

16/04/2026

FOOD WASTE RECYCLING

At last the council has supplied individual caddies for each room! These have been numbered and left in the hall for you. Please help yourselves to the caddy bearing your room number, and follow the instructions in the leaflet that you will find inside.

16/04/2026

Fire alarm maintenance report and certificate, 2026-27

13/04/2026

FIRE SAFETY

Dear All,

Our contractors, ADP Fire & Security, will be on site from 10.30 a.m. on Thursday, 16th April, to carry out the routine half-yearly inspection and maintenance of the fire safety system, including the heat- and smoke-detectors, and the alarm. As part of this visit, access will be required to your rooms by the service engineer, who will be issued with a master key. You do not need to be present, but please ensure that there is clear access to the floor area underneath the ceiling-mounted heat- and smoke-detectors.

Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience you may experience as a result of this service visit.