They bought apartments in parts of a hotel where operations were restructured. But after the hotel went bankrupt, the apartment owners believe that they are now left with all responsibility for operation and maintenance. Also of the hotel part, which is now empty. Vibecke Hansen is chairman of Spåtind Fritid AS. She represents those who have bought the apartments that are physically connected to the commercial part of the building. She is distraught over the situation they have found themselves in. – We cannot help but take responsibility. Because otherwise the whole building will be destroyed. FEELS USED: Vibecke Hansen, chairman of Spåtind Fritid AS, feels she and the other apartment owners are forced to cover the costs of electricity and maintenance for the entire hotel. Photo: Privat Desperate situation The electricity bill for December alone is expected to be over NOK 200,000. They receive no electricity support, and Hansen describes the situation as precarious. Hansen tells news that the electricity must be left on as it is difficult to empty the water pipes, especially the sprinkler system. Other solutions such as environmentally friendly glycol solution in the pipes are expensive. In addition to electricity, the apartment owners now have to pay municipal taxes, plowing costs, fixing fees, the alarm center and a caretaker. It was Oppland Arbeiderblad that mentioned this case first. Hansen fears the building will suffer more damage with each passing week this winter. And now the limit is approaching for how much they are able to pay. In the sales prospectus Your own place on the mountain, it is emphasized that the apartment owners do not have anything to do with operations, but that the table is set. HEAT: The bathrooms are set to heat to prevent the pipes from freezing. Photo: Elin Fossum / news Venerable hotel Spåtind Høyfjellshotell was opened as early as 1965. The venerable hotel is located on the mountain section between Gudbrandsdalen and Valdres. In its heyday, the hotel was a regular haunt of revue king Leif Juster. In recent years, Spåtind has carried out major upgrades and changes, and has had several owners. In the last year alone, around NOK 15 million has been spent on improvements. Eventually, the conversion of most of the rooms started to be sold as apartments. When new owners came in in 2020, the hotel was renamed Spåtind Fjellstue. In October, however, the owners of the hotel, Spåtind Sport AS, filed for bankruptcy. As a result, the around 70 apartment owners ended up in a very difficult situation. Spåtind Fjellstue at SynnfjelletSpåtind Fjellstue has large common areas, here from the foyer and fireplace lounge. From the foyer, Spåtind Fjellstue The reception at Spåtind Fjellstue The dance hall at Spåtind FjellstueIn the basement there is a new pool and newly renovated wardrobes. The newest concept is Basecamp, which was completed in March 2022. Here there are four rooms with 8-20 beds, two changing rooms, a handicap toilet, a drying room and a training room. Several of the apartments have been newly renovated. The owners of the apartments have taken care to empty the water pipes in Grautbua Café, to avoid water damage. There are several cabins around Spåtind Fjellstue – Refuse to pay Panthaverne, Etnedal Sparebank and Innovasjon Norge, according to Vibecke Hansen, have not been interested in taking care of the building . She says she is surprised and shocked that they refuse to pay for electricity and maintenance. – The mortgagees are acting irresponsibly and with little maturity. Now we are the ones paying to save a building that we don’t own. – Understands the despair Estate manager Klaus A. Munkeby Linaae of the law firm Campbell & Co tells news that he understands that the apartment owners are despairing. Munkeby Linaae states that the bankruptcy estate has lifted the seizure in the commercial part of the hotel. The property has therefore been returned to Spåtind Sport AS i.a. as a result of Etnedal Sparebank and Innovasjon Norge having a lien on the property. Klaus A. Munkeby Linaae Photo: Campbell & Co – The bankruptcy estate also does not have the funds to cover the current expenses, he says. This creates a situation where it is uncertain who takes responsibility for the building, and who covers expenses for, for example, electricity and insurance. Hoping to find new buyers Bank manager at Etnedal Sparebank, Stian André Skåren, also understands the situation. But he still tells news that the bank does not see it as prudent to spend more money. – We have been a partner for several owners of Spåtind, and have had a genuine desire for the destination to succeed, says Skåren. Read the full response from Etnedal Sparebank: From Etnedal Sparebank Etnedal Sparebank understands that the situation is difficult for the shareholders in Spåtind Fritid, the case is also difficult for the bank. We have been a partner for several owners of Spåtind, and have had a genuine desire for the destination to succeed. We still hope to find buyers who will be able to contribute to developing Spåtind as a destination. As is well known, Etnedal Sparebank is not the owner of the commercial part of the hotel, but the mortgagee. We already have a significant exposure through our lending commitment and we do not see it as financially sound to increase the exposure further. Stian André Skåren, bank manager at Etnedal Sparebank STORE ROOM: The apartment owners believe they are forced to take over responsibility for the large common areas. Photo: Elin Fossum In a bankruptcy, all stakeholders will suffer in various ways. This is what Kjetil Svorkmo Bergmann in the communications department at Innovation Norway tells us. – We fully understand that the situation can be perceived as unfair, but we remind you that Innovation Norway owns neither the business part nor the shares in Spåtind Fritid AS. We are mortgage holders and are thus also affected by the bankruptcy. Read the full response from Innovation Norway: From Innovation Norway In a bankruptcy, all stakeholders will be harmed in various ways. Innovation Norway accepted to share the costs with Etnedal Sparebank and Spåtind Fritid AS for one month after the opening of bankruptcy, so that it would be possible to get a quick solution for the hotel in place for the benefit of all parties. We have always made it clear to Spåtind Fritid AS v/chairman that it could not be expected that Innovation Norway would be able to contribute beyond this. Therefore, it should not come as a surprise that Innovation Norway has refused to cover additional costs. Unfortunately, it is not possible to get a solution in place quickly, but we are still working for a solution with the new owners of Spåtind Fjellstue. We fully understand that the situation can be perceived as unfair for those who have bought apartments in connection with Spåtind Fjellstue, but we remind you that Innovation Norge owns neither the business part nor the shares in Spåtind Fritid AS. We are mortgage holders and are thus also affected by the bankruptcy. Innovation Norway is financed from the national budget and in our opinion it is not justifiable to use public funds to cover costs we are not obliged to cover, on the other hand it is our task in such a case to contribute to achieving a solution which means that We do not spend more money on a bankruptcy than strictly necessary. Kjetil Svorkmo Bergmann, special adviser, communications department Pays, but must stay away Back are the owners who say they cannot afford to use the apartments now as operating costs must be kept to a minimum. Hansen says that there is a certain irony in the fact that they have agreed that a trail machine can stand in the garage of the old hotel and get power for the engine heater from them. – We want the trail network to be just as great even if the hotel is not in operation. But we ourselves have to stay away from both the apartments and the wonderful ski slopes. TOURING TERRAIN: The hotel is named after the highest peak on Synnfjellet. Photo: Solum, Stian Lysberg / NTB scanpix
ttn-69
Vibecke Hansen and the other apartment owners say they must save the entire Spåtind Hotell on Synnfjellet – news Innlandet – Local news, TV and radio
