FAQ

Please see below for responses to questions frequently asked in relation to living at Rishworth Palace. If you have any further queries, please use the Contact page or, alternatively, the Rishworth Palace Ltd. post box in the main entrance foyer. 

Do I need buildings insurance?

Your monthly management fee covers buildings insurance for Rishworth Palace. That's to say that it covers the roof, external walls, communal spaces, communal electric and water facilities, waste pipes up to your facilities and water pipes up to the point of entry into your apartment. It does not cover all of the internal structures in your apartment or any of your contents. Neither does it cover you for public liability within your apartment. Some residents elect to have only contents insurance in addition to the main Rishworth Palace policy; others take specific water leak insurance to cover the cost of repairs to their and/or neighbouring apartments from leaks within their apartment. A number of residents have sought specific 'demised premises' insurance to cover damage to internal structures such as stud-partition walls and public liability should a visitor or tenant injure themselves in their apartment. It is up to each resident to secure a level of cover they are happy with and to be fully aware of the nature and merits of each of the coverage methods outlined above in relation to their specific context. 

Am I allowed to remodel my flat?

Yes, but there's remodelling, and there's remodelling. If you're installing a new kitchen or bathroom, for example, you should aim to use contractors that are part of the government's Competent Persons Scheme.  This means that you do not need to apply to Calderdale Council for building regulations approval. You will only ever need to apply for full planning permission if any aspect of planned work will impact upon the listed elements of Rishworth Palace i.e. exterior walls, original beams, windows or roofs. Such instances should be very rare. Please discuss any such plans with the board of directors before proceeding with an application. Any contractors you employ must have public liability insurance to satisfy the requirements of the main buildings insurance policy. You must not use contractors that do not have this level of insurance. Please contact the directors before appointing contractors if you are in doubt. 

Can I get Sky Q?

Probably. The majority of the mill is wired to receive satellite TV via communal dishes and networking, but upgrades are required at key junction boxes within void spaces of the mill to upgrade batches of flats to Sky Q. We respond to upgrade requests on an ad-hoc basis. It may be that your flat is already Sky Q ready or we may need to investigate upgrade options. Please contact the board of directors if you are unsure before placing a Sky Q order.  

Is the mill equipped for fibre optic broadband?

Yes, but the local BT cabinet has a limited number of connections. They have been allocated to different broadband providers, so it may be that your provider is unable to offer you fibre optic speeds. Standard broadband is in the 3-5Mb/s range; fibre optic is typically in the 25-30Mb/s range. 

Where is my parking space?

Whilst the deeds of each flat do stipulate which space belongs to which flat, residents do not adhere to these plans. Indeed, a great deal of work has been done to the external layout since the original plans were made in 1994, so some spaces no longer even exist. Each flat owner has an absolute right to one car parking space on a first-come first-serve basis as per the lease. We kindly ask that residents bear in mind the fact that the four annexe apartments only have one entrance door and ask that cars are not parked in the annexe car park for extended periods of time. There are no plans to reallocate parking spaces as the board believes firmly that this would create many more problems than it would solve. 

Can I replace my windows?

Yes, but only to a very specific standard. In 2009, planning permission was sought by Rishworth Palace Ltd. to replace the existing timber frame windows with powder-coated aluminium frames that were deemed in keeping with the character of the mill, it being a Grade 2 listed building. This permission expired in 2014, so any apartments wanting to upgrade must make their own planning application to Calderdale Council. 

Where are my utility meters?

Water meters are located in cupboards off the main stairwell in the main building. Electric meters are located in cupboards in the communal spaces on each floor in the main building. These cupboards are not to be used for the storage of personal items as this presents a fire hazard. 

Can I attend a board meeting?

If you own an apartment, you are a shareholder of Rishworth Palace Ltd. with voting rights. You are, therefore, eligible to attend the Annual General Meeting held each summer. If you rent, you are not permitted to attend this meeting but you may attend the many resident clinics which are held throughout the year. Please see the notice boards for details. 

Am I allowed to keep pets? 

Yes, but you do not have an automatic right to do so. As per each apartment's lease, pets can be kept if permission is sought from the board and approval is granted. In reality, it is almost always granted. If you ask to keep a significant number of pets or exotic pets, the board is unlikely to grant permission. Similarly, if pet owners do not manage their pets in a respectful manner that is conducive to communal living, the board is likely to revoke permission. Keeping pets without board permission is a breach of the lease. 

What is my management fee spent on?

Rishworth Palace is kept in excellent condition thanks to the careful allocation of funds to both maintenance and transformative projects. From an entire re-roofing project to the re-surfacing of car parks, re-painting of interior spaces, re-pointing of external walls, maintenance of the garden, upkeep of the laundry and gym, upgrades to the lift mechanism and CCTV; funds are spent wisely on prioritised and well-publicised projects. Each year at the Annual General Meeting, a detailed breakdown of expenditure is provided alongside budgetary proposals for the following year. 

Who are the landlords? 

Freehold Management Ltd. collect £50 ground rent each year, payable in January. They represent the landlords with whom we have no direct contact. The lease is for 999 years, beginning in 1994. 

What is Rishworth Palace Ltd responsible for?

The maintenance of the building and its grounds as detailed above, the insurance of the building, the collection of the monthly management fee and the day-to-day running of the mill. We are here to respond to residents' requests and to make the mill as pleasant a place to live as is reasonably possible. We are not, however, able to police residents and ask kindly that neighbours seek to resolve minor disputes between themselves in a respectful and collegiate manner. 

What should I do if I have a complaint about Rishworth Palace Ltd?

Please raise all matters directly with the chair of the board using the appropriate email address on the contact page or in writing via the director's postbox at the main entrance. Minor concerns will be actioned accordingly; complaints will be discussed and minuted at the next available board meeting. If it is a serious matter, an interim meeting may be convened. All complaints must be raised directly with the chair. The company secretary will not respond to complaints that have not gone via the board of directors. 

How can I support Rishworth Palace Ltd? 

The company is run by volunteer residents who give freely of their time and energy. Whilst the number of board members is limited and kept under careful review, we enjoy support from many quarters and a number of residents act in advisory roles based upon specific areas of expertise. If you feel that you have something to offer the board and, thus, our community more broadly, please do speak to us! Membership of the board does and indeed has to evolve over time. In terms of the day-to-day running of the mill, we simply ask that you cohabit in a respectful and considerate manner and help to keep Rishworth Palace the genuinely pleasant place to live that it is! 

The Directors, Rishworth Palace Ltd.