In case of emergency
Right next to Residentie Oxford, the demolition of a building belonging to Ghent University went wrong. Due to misjudgement when propping the building, the contractor caused damage to the residence. Part of the wall even came down. The team at Gerantis Artevelde had to respond quickly and decisively.
We immediately contacted the police, fire brigade, owners and residents. The fire brigade evacuated the premises, and our Gerantis property manager rushed to the scene. Once evacuated, a stability engineer inspected the building and formally assessed the damage. We drew up an insurance claim that included property descriptions, photos, etc.
All parties involved (us, Ghent University, the responsible contractor, the stability engineer, the Public Safety Department of the City of Ghent, the fire brigade, etc.) came together for an emergency meeting. The building was declared partially uninhabitable by order of the mayor. Residents were given some time to gather their belongings, and then the contractor made the building waterproof and the police sealed the property.
We organised an information meeting with the co-owners to discuss the next steps - technical, administrative and financial. The contractor repaired the damage, and the residence was ready to be repainted. Our Gerantis property manager followed up the project, including the settlement from the insurance company.
“In situations like this, it is important to react quickly, take control of the project, keep calm and organise everything properly. This is the quickest way to normalise the situation for residents.”
A court procedure for greater security
When a terrace railing fell into the street during a storm, we started a court procedure.
Charging stations - Private or communal meter?
With more and more electric cars on the road, the demand for charging stations in garages is rising. But how do you best approach this as a co-owners’ association?