Frequently Asked Questions

Table of Contents

How do I report a leak?

If the leak is coming from above, you should first contact the owner/landlord of the flat above as soon as possible. If the leak is coming through from outside, you should contact urbanbubble. Contact details can be found on the Contacts page.

How can I report a maintenance issue in one of the shared areas such as the garden or decking?

You can do this in one of two ways:

1) Report the problem on the Fixflow app.
2) Report directly to the Caretaker.

How can I get in contact with urbanbubble?

See the Contacts page.

Where do I dispose of my recycling and rubbish?

Depending on the type and condition of your waste, you can dispose of it in different ways:

What are the rules on owning pets?

Pet owners must obtain permission to keep a pet from the Management Company. The permission granted is solely in relation to your own property – the communal garden is out of bounds to pets. For more information, see the downloadable Pet Policy and accompanying permission form.

What are the rules on visiting pets?

Pets at The Sorting House must observe the terms of Pet Policy at all times, regardless of if they are a permanent resident or just visiting. Visiting pets become the responsibility of the owner or resident of the flat they are visiting for the duration of their visit. See the Pet Policy page for more information.

How can I recycle or dispose of large items such as a sofa, bookcase or fridge?

We encourage residents to recycle where possible, but there are options for disposing of large items too. Please see the dedicated Large Items page for more details.

I don’t own a spare Car Park space and I need one for a visitor. What can I do?

You must ask permission from the owner of any space inside the Car Park to use it. You can ask other residents for free spaces on our Facebook page. If permission is not granted, you must park outside of the building. There are several external options on where to park that we’ve listed on the Car Parking page.

Can I buy / rent a car parking space in the car park?

Car park spaces in the city centre are always in high demand. Residents often advertise spare spaces on our Facebook page or post a note on our notice board in the foyer. For more details and for some ad-hoc parking options, see our community collated Parking page.

Should my car park space number match my door number?

In some, but not all cases. As car park spaces have been bought and sold over the years, the numbers have changed for many of them. If you’re ever unsure which your space is, please contact the Caretaker. See the Contacts page for their contact details.

How do I find out the code for the post room?

Please contact our caretaker, who will be happy to help you locate and use the secure post room.

What day is the maintenance fee due?

The service charge is payable to urbanbubble on the 1st of the month, payable in advance. If you are renting, this is most likely included in your rent payment.

Do I need to buy contents insurance?

Having contents insurance is recommended. Issues such as water escape or hot water heater breakdowns can prove expensive. If you are an owner/landlord you should check if it’s a condition of your mortgage. If you’re a renter, you should check to see if insurance is included as part of your rent.

Do I need to buy buildings insurance?

Buildings insurance is covered as part of the maintenance fee. You do not need to buy it separately.

I’ve been asked by my solicitor about ground rent. What do I tell them?

Ground rent at the Sorting House is “Peppercorn”. This means that the land belongs to the freeholder and there’s effectively no ground rent to consider. Your solicitor will know what is meant by Peppercorn ground rent.

Yes! We have a community collated page containing details of service providers recommended by other residents. See the Trades & Professionals page.

How can I get an electricity or water meter reading?

Our Caretaker can provide meter readings on request. You can find their contact details on the Contacts page.

Is there a policy for short term rentals of properties in The Sorting House such as Airbnb etc?

Short term rentals such as services provided by Airbnb are strictly prohibited at The Sorting House. We encourage anyone to report any apartments used in such a way to urbanbubble.

Where can I store my bike?

There’s a secure Bike Store within The Sorting House car park. Residents are advised to either make use of the Bike Store or store their bike within their flats. There are some limited bike racks on the 1st and 2nd floors, but these are usually occupied.

Bikes should not be attached to any railings throughout the building, anywhere in the foyer, left in shared areas including the garden, or blocking fire exit routes or paths. Bikes left in these areas will be removed and disposed of by the management company.

How do I get access to the secure Bike Store?

The Bike Store requires a separate fob that’s available for purchase from the management company once you’re moved in. Only residents can buy a Bike Store fob.

You can request a fob using the contact urbanbubble form.

What are the rules on Smoking?

Smoking is strictly prohibited throughout all shared areas of The Sorting House. This is a requirement of the lease and local fire officers. For more information, see the Smoking Policy.

What is the colour of the Front Doors and Window frames?

The front doors and internally facing window frames must all painted in the same colour paint:

British Standard (BS4800) 00-A-09 Granite. Residents are encouraged to contact urbanbubble to replace doors and window frames to ensure that they meet fire safety guidelines.

My energy company says that my electricity meter needs to be replaced. What do I do?

The electricity meters are managed by the management company. Refer the energy company to contact urbanbubble to arrange such replacements. See the Contacts page for more information.