About us
Cottington Close Estate is in Kennington, London SE11.Previously managed by Lambeth Council we became a TMO in September 1993. Now renamed RMO (Resident Managed Organisation) to be more inclusive of all residents on our estate. We have a small, friendly in-house staff team, a thriving community garden and lots of events for residents.
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About our RMO​
A Resident Management Organisation (RMO) is an organisation set up under the UK Government’s Housing (Right to Manage) Regulations 1994, which allow residents of council housing or housing association homes in the UK to take over responsibility for the running of their homes.
Cottington Close TMC became a corporate body and annually elected a management committee to run the body. This body then entered into a formal legal contract with Lambeth, known as the Management Agreement. The Management Agreement details precisely which services are managed by the TMO on behalf of the landlord. Our management include day-to-day repairs, allocations and lettings, tenancy management, cleaning and caretaking, and rent collection. The RMO’s operations are funded by the management fees payable by Lambeth under the agreement.
Cottington Close TMC changed its name to Cottington Close Resident Management Organisation (RMO) to encompass not just Lambeth Council tenants but leaseholders and other residents on the estate.
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COTTINGTON CLOSE HISTORY
Cottington Estate RMO sits between Kennington Park Road and Kennington Lane in Kennington, London SE11. The newer part of the estate which sits along Opal Street was built 1952-1958 and houses 207 properties. We also include Fontenoy House sitting on Kennington Lane and Isabella House (circa 1932) off Othello Close which brings the total properties on our estate to 247. We became a TMO on 17th September 1993 and the Founder Members were:
Claudette Jacobs – Chairperson, Nicola Ann Wilson – Secretary, Irene Cooper – Treasurer, Joan Light, Elizabeth Glynn, Winnifred Mitchell, Maxwell Agbeko
Our Mission Statement
‘To deliver excellent resident focused housing services and services that contributes to the invigoration and cohesion of our community’
Our Vision
‘A clean green and safe place we are proud to call home, with a thriving community where every voice counts’​
Our Staff
Office Based
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Stefan Tavernier-Gustave – Estate Director
Email : STavernier-Gustave@lambeth.gov.uk -
Charlene Clarke Housing Officer and Resident Engagement
Email: cclarke3@lambeth.gov.uk -
Maggie Hector - Repairs and Administration Officer
Email:mhector@lambeth.gov.uk
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David Whiting – Repairs Supervisor
Email: dwhiting@lambeth.gov.uk
Estate Caretakers -
Alan – (West Patch) Adam Ct, Ariel Ct, Brutus Ct, Dumain Ct, Fontenoy Ct
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Erol – (East Patch) Harfleur Ct, Falstaff Ct, Hamlet Ct, Portia Court and Isabella House
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XXX - Pending recruitment
The Management Board
We currently have 12 dedicated board members. Board members can be council tenants, leaseholders or residents on the estate. Also the RMO can nominate co-opted members to the board. Co-opted members generally have a particular experience or specialism that will benefit the board and the community. You do not need any specialist qualification or experience to become a board member and we particularly welcome residents from ethnic minority groups and young estate residents, since, at the present time, residents from these groups are under represented at board level. Any training required by board members is provided free of charge.
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How do I join?
First you must be a shareholder and the cost is £1 for a lifetime membership to the RMO. The membership entitles you to a right to vote at the general meetings and to nominate/be nominated as a Board Member. Residents over 18 years old will need to complete their own form. Shareholder forms are available at the office.
New boards are nominated and elected at the annual general meeting (AGM). You should fill in the nominee form sent with the AGM notice through your letterbox and then ask another resident or neighbor on the estate to nominate you by signing the paper. You must return the nomination form to the estate office for the attention of the secretary
ESTATE CLEANING & MAINTENANCE
​Our cleaning staff wear uniforms and are responsible for the general cleanliness of the estate. They have schedules of work to complete every day such as sweeping and mopping, litter picking and dealing with bulk and domestic refuse. We provide a cleaning service Monday to Friday between 7am to 4pm.
We have a team of 2 caretakers and 1 supervisor who are responsible for the work and they each have blocks for which they are responsible. The grounds maintenance service (e.g. cutting the grass, weeding and pruning) is also completed by our caretaking team.
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Sweep and mop the ground floor entrances and lifts every working day.
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Remove litter from entrances, stairwells and lifts every working day.
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Sweep and mop stairs and landings and wipe down handrails every week.
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Wipe down doors in communal areas and paint work to remove grime and dirt weekly.
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Remove racist or abusive graffiti / fly posting within 24 hours and remove other graffiti / fly posting usually immediately, but certainly within 5 working days.
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Pick up litter to outside areas of the block daily.
Out of Hours Emergencies
Monday to Friday 5pm till 7am, Weekends & Bank Holidays. Any urgent problems in your home or communal areas Phone the Out of Hours Service 5pm to 7am:
Lambeth call centre on 020 7926 6666​​