Residents that live on Kennet Island have come home today to find letters informing them that will need to pay £36 to the Management Company, Hallmark Property Management, for each pet that resides with them.
It is not clear at this stage if this latest action is aimed at Residents who live in apartments where there are likely restrictions in their leases or to all residents.
As I have not received a letter (and I own a pet), I can not be sure of which type of resident has received a letter but from the calls and emails I have received so far, residents feel as strongly as I do about this.
There has been no consultation with residents or issues raised with them. There is no indication on how long this license runs for, how it will be policed and how it can be interpreted if you had 10 fish for example! It also does not state what the charge will be used for. It it for example to pay towards the upkeep of the small grass areas that are used by residents with their dogs or it simply going into the pockets of Hallmark?
I have written to Chris Gilbert, MD at St James for an explanation. I have asked him whether this is some kind of misunderstanding and for St James reasoning for implementing this charge now when they have given residents permission previously. I have also made him aware that residents are deeply unhappy about this and it’s management by Hallmark Property Services.
If there have been issues with residents owning pets – why have they never been raised with KIRA before? That way a mutually agreeably solution could have been found that is not bullying residents who are already disappointed with issues such as parking.
I have launched a petition to evidence the feeling held by residents which I will send them as soon as residents have had the opportunity to sign it. The petition can be found at http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/say-no-to-pet-licensing-by-hallmark-and-st-james.
It’s this sort of thing that happens in our community that has prompted me to stand in this Thursday’s Local Elections and I will of course keep you, my neighbours, informed as this pet licensing threat develops.