The Estate Management Scheme, or EMS
What Is the EMS?
As part of the legal process of purchasing a property in the Grange Estate, new owners will receive a copy of the Estate Management Scheme. This is known as the EMS.
You can find a copy of it here. (Note that this is an 18MB PDF file.)
This is a legal document, drafted many years ago when the Grange Residents Company was started up.
It describes, in exhaustive detail, exactly what sort of developments, changes and enhancements a resident can, and cannot, do. In turn, it describes what the company will do in terms of looking after the estate.
Owners are legally bound to adhere to the - admittedly rather impenetrable - rules set out in the EMS.
Can You Explain That A Bit More For Me?
The EMS is complicated.
We have drawn up a guide to its interpretation. You can look at that here.
What If I Ignore The EMS?
It may be tempting to ignore the EMS’s stipulations.
However, the legal nature of the document means it offers enforceable powers. Flouting the rules may lead to actions being taken against those infringing them.
These range from the right for the company to inspect a property, or to carry out corrective works in default and to charge the owner.
If the expenses incurred are not repaid by the owner a charge will be officially registered against the property.
EMS, The Board And The Conservation Area
So there is an EMS, which is a legal document dating from the 1970s.
This is implemented by the Board of the Grange Estate Residents Company.
At the same time, the Estate lies within the Grange And White Ledges Conservation Area, maintained by Ealing council.
At each stage, there are rules which you need to be aware of.