Residents Info

A Nice Place to Live

The feedback we receive from most residents is that Meridian Place is a fantastic place to live. This is evidenced by the very low turnover of apartments since they were built in 1997. Personally, I’ve always valued the intimate size of the development and the peace and quiet that the well-constructed building affords.

Close proximity to our neighbours and the shared nature of the common areas, has meant that some issues seem to raise their heads on a regular basis. These issues, whilst relatively minor, do entail significant work for those employed on our behalf (impacting our service charge) as well as causing distress to the rest of the Meridian Place community. Current hot topics are:

• Refuse and Recycling: Please always use the basement bins provided. Rubbish should be bagged. Large items should be taken to the local recycling centre; alternatively, you can arrange to have the item collected by Tower Hamlets Borough Council. Please log into your Tower Hamlets account to arrange for bulk collection (this can now no longer be done on the phone).
• Balconies: These are not for BBQing, drying washing, or storing bicycles, but are great for potted flowers and deckchairs.
• Cooking Smells: Before you chef up your next culinary delight, make sure that your kitchen extractors (both of them) are turned on. This stops cooking smells lingering in the lobbies where they cannot be easily extracted.
• Noise: The apartments are very well insulated, but do be mindful of others.
• Children’s Play Area: There is a small play area in the front of Meridian Place that is suitable for the very young, alternatively there’s a great play park in St John’s Park just a couple of minutes walk away. The central courtyard was not designed with kids in mind, but for its visual amenity.

Orientation for New Residents

If you’re new to Meridian Place, the following ‘Meridian Place Primer’ will help you get up to speed.

Apartment Interior

Hot Water: The water is heated electrically, using an off peak system. This heats the tank over night. If you need hot water in a hurry, or the full ‘overnight’ tank is not enough, there is an immersion heater. The switches for the water heating are in the boiler cupboard. I leave the Off Peak switch on all the time; this ensures the tank is heated every night. Flick the Peak switch on to turn the immersion heater on: turn it off once you’ve finished, or you’ll run up a large electricity bill.

Water Supply: In the boiler cupboard you will find the main water stop cock for the property. Turning this off will cut off the supply to the whole apartment.

Heating: Most apartments use a night storage heating system supplemented by wall- mounted electric heaters. The storage heater uses cheap electricity at night. To switch it on, use the switch on the wall. There are two knobs, one either end; one controls the heat input over night (setting to 2 is usually sufficient) and the other controls the flow of heat out during the day. The output knob allows you to boost the heat output if you’re feeling a little chilly.

Electricity Supply: The Consumer Unit is usually located just inside the main door. This houses the MCB’s (like a fuse) for the various parts of the flat. The MCB’s are designed to ‘trip’ if there is a fault, for example, if a bulb blows. They are reset by flicking the trip switch back up on the relevant MCB. If you lose power for any reason your first port of call should be to the Consumer Unit.

Bathrooms: There are electrically heated towel rails in both bathrooms controlled by switches in the hallway at ankle height. There are also extractors in each bathroom; they can be controlled by switches at ceiling height in the hallway. Please leave the extractors on at all times as this helps to eliminate dampness and condensation. The shower has a separately mounted on/off cord mounted switch in the bathroom.

Windows: The windows all have breather strips over them. Please keep these open to avoid condensation and damp. The windows can open either by tilting from the bottom or opening from the right. When locked the windows will only tilt; when unlocked they can tilt and open. When the handle is in the downward position the window is closed. When the handle is in the horizontal position the window can be tilted. When the handle is upward, the window can open. Important: Please be careful if you want to open, rather than tilt, the windows. If you open whilst the window is tilted it will end up on one hinge only and is both difficult to get back in, and likely to get damaged. Generally, avoid opening the window fully unless you are washing it. If you want to open it however, the following method works: start with the window in the fully closed position, with your hand on the left hand of the window, turn with window handle to the upward position. Now open the window. If you don’t have your hand on the window, it can end up tilting first, with disastrous consequences. The Lease requires that you are required to wash the windows on a monthly basis.

Telecoms/Internet/TV: Most premises are cabled for Sky and various broadband offerings. Some guidance on availability may be obtained from our managing agent, Parc Properties.

Noise: Each apartment is really well insulated, both for warmth and noise reduction. That said, Meridian Place is a quiet development so be mindful of others.

Balcony: The door onto the balcony is fitted with a door brake and retaining bar to stop it getting damaged. Please always use the brake and never remove the bar. The brake is operated by pulling the handle to the downward position when the door is ajar. Please keep the balcony tidy, it not for the storage of bikes (these belong in the basement). It is not for drying clothes or for BBQing. It is, however, a lovely spot to sit in the afternoon sun and enjoy a glass of Pimm’s.

Kitchen: If you’re cooking anything always make sure that the cooker hood is switched on. The hood extract to the outside world and will stop the place getting all smoky and smelly. All of the appliances have isolator switches. These can be found above the appliance.

Common Areas

Exterior Basement and Parking: Each apartment has an allocated parking space; please do not use other people’s without their permission. In the basement you will also find a secure area to park any bicycle you may have.

Refuse and Recycling: Also in the basement is the bin store and recycling bins. Always bag up your rubbish and place in the bins provided. Never leave anything on the floor. The bins are emptied weekly; if you get to the store and find no bins, carry your rubbish to where the bins are waiting to be emptied (just outside the main basement vehicular entrance).

Porterage: Martin provides a porterage service and will happily sign for packages on your behalf. you will need to make special arrangement for large deliveries however, as the porter’s lodge is small. His contact details are in the Estate Mgmt Section.

Security: Meridian Place is covered by CCTV, both above ground and in the basement car park. In addition, there is a manned security post 24 hours a day. These deterrents help to ensure that Meridian Place is a safe place to live with very few incidences of theft. Don’t be lulled into a false sense of security though, thieves are notoriously opportunistic and will seize any opportunity, so do keep cars and bikes locked, and do not allow entry to the building anyone you do not know.