Block Management Services

The role of a Managing Agent

The role of a block management agent today is a complex one and requires a professional approach. To carry out the role requires knowledge of landlord and tenant law, building construction, health & safety regulations, basic accounting and more. There are benefits of professional management which should be balanced against the fees which leaseholders will have to bear.

Benefits of using a block management agent

• Professional managing agents will bring an organised approach to the administration and collection of service charges and reserve funds, planning timetables for redecoration and repairs as well as inspection and supervision of works.
• Our assessment of what must be done and when, will be independent of private interests and preferences and based solely upon our duty to keep the premises in good repair.
• The process of collecting funds and the responsibility for taking steps to recover unpaid charges will be removed from the individual directors of the RTM.
• A managing agent should be geared up to handle the time-consuming administration and handle it more efficiently through better facilities for storage and retrieval of records as well as the documentation essential for accounting purposes.
• Issues and disputes can be dealt with impartially and at an arm’s length to limit the animosity and division which could arise where personal issues become the business of neighbours and colleagues.
• An agent will distinguish between the needs and duties of the company under the Companies Acts and the needs and duties of the company in its separate role as Landlord and the relevant landlord and tenant legislation.
• Acquire competitive insurance rates to save the client money.
• Using an agent passes some of the responsibility for compliance with leases, laws and codes of practice to the agent but the directors of a RTM are responsible for setting policy and monitoring the work of the agent.

What qualifications should a block management agent have?

Here at Housemartins, we are members of the RICS (Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors) and accredited members of ARMA (Association of Residential Managing Agents).  The advantages to our clients of us having membership of a recognised professional organisation are that members will…

• have professional indemnity insurance to assist you if the agent has acted negligently;
• hold fidelity insurance in case a member of staff is found to have stolen monies;
• be checked on the way they hold monies collected on behalf of their clients, ie you; and
• be required to have a complaint handling procedure and access to an independent ombudsman service.

Why choose Housemartins Property Management?

• Personal and friendly administration
• Professional standards
• Robust common sense
• Transparent charges
• Management and surveying expertise under one roof

Our commitment to you

We are fully insured and adhere to the Service Charge Residential Management Code issued by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, to ensure competence, integrity, fairness, transparency and peace of mind to our clients.

Click here to download a property management brochure.

For more information please visit our Property Management website.