Karin has been a Resident Representative since 2018 and lives just north of Wells, where she’s part of a small community of four Hastoe homes.
While the role is very occasional, Karin takes on a few practical tasks throughout the year to help things run smoothly.
“After any big storms, I look at the entire roof space from outside to check if any tiles have come loose,” she says. “Once a year, I check the wooden posts that mark the edge of our wilding area, just to see if any are starting to rot and need replacing.”
She also takes note of any loose stones, paving issues or wear and tear in the communal areas and lets Hastoe know so they can be addressed.
Because she works from home, Karin is often around during the day and is happy to lend a hand when needed.
If someone turns up and looks like they might need a bit of help, usually it’s a maintenance contractor, I’ll pop out to say hello and see if I can point them in the right direction. It’s always nice to be able to offer a bit of support.
In the past, Karin has helped her neighbours by keeping an eye on issues with the sewage system and she continues to stay involved in looking after the shared garden spaces.
“Our wilding hedge got a little out of hand at one point,” she says. “Now we’ve got a good routine for cutting it back at the right time of year to protect any nesting birds.”
For Karin, the role is all about taking pride in where she lives and doing her bit to support her neighbours. She helps to ensure the homes and shared spaces stay safe, welcoming and well cared for.
