Denying fishmonger entry to £18m flat is a slap in face, court told
A MULTI-MILLIONAIRE financier is suing his building’s management after complaining that cuts to the concierge service left his fishmonger unable to deliver on at least two occasions.
Iouri Chliaifchtein, 60, alleges that the cuts in Grosvenor Crescent, central London, where his bought his apartment for £18 million, also mean that there is no one to drive his car to and from his garage, security cameras are not always monitored and uncollected rubbish attracts rats and mice.
Mr Chliaifchtein, director of a wealth management firm, is suing the building’s management company to force it to employ more concierges. One member of staff at night and for most of the weekend was not good enough, Central London County Court was told.
Timothy Dutton QC, his barrister, said: “In our submission, it is clear that staffing levels are not adequate to provide services appropriate to the highest quality residential accommodation.”
But 3-10 Grosvenor Crescent Management Ltd, which owns the freehold, is fighting his claim, saying there is nothing sub-standard about the services provided to its wealthy residents.
The company, of which Mr Chliaifchtein is himself a director, said it would cost too much to employ as many concierges as he is demanding.
The block, originally eight houses, was redeveloped in 2011-12 to provide 15 homes. Mr Dutton said multiple members of staff initially manned the reception desk in the basement. But that changed when the management company, made up of the leaseholders of the 15 flats, cut staff in April 2015.
The court heard Mr Chliaifchtein was particularly concerned about fire safety and security when he bought the 999year lease. Mr Dutton said the level of service now is a breach of the tenants’ leases. Mr Chliaifchtein said residents and their guests sometimes had trouble getting into the building. Mr Dutton spoke of “two or three times” when his fishmonger could not deliver to his apartment because he did not get an answer from reception. Challenged on if that was a serious inconvenience, he said: “If you were without lunch one or two days, it’s enough for you.”
Edward Denehan, representing the management company, said employing three members of staff round-theclock, as Mr Chliaifchtein wants, would cost £70,000-a-year and there was no evidence of any rats or mice. “That is one tenant out of 15,” he said. “He gives not one example of how security has been compromised by staffing levels. There are fire and smoke alarms in the building, audible throughout.”
The hearing before Judge Nigel Gerald continues.