Whether it’s on behalf of the developer or owner, or on behalf of the leaseholders, the benefits of putting a block of flats into the hands of a reputable leasehold management agent are invaluable.
At LevelUP Property Management, we work with property owners directly, or with the leaseholders and RTM’s independently from the owners, to ensure that the property is well-maintained and safe. Although they own their flats, leaseholders don’t own the ground the building in built on, and each leaseholder pays the owners an annual fee towards the upkeep of the block.
Whether they get together and arrange their own management agent, or leave it to the owner, is up to the two parties to agree, but by arranging it themselves, the leaseholders gain the power to choose the agent they want, and to deal directly with those taking responsibility for how their building is maintained and run.
It’s easy to think about management agents as being there to make sure the building is clean, the lifts are in good working order, the drains and guttering aren’t blocked and the gardens are kept neat and tidy, but the service goes so much deeper than that. Leasehold management takes responsibility for areas such as health and safety risk assessments within the building, fire protection – increasingly prominent in people’s minds after the Grenfell fire – supply of utilities and appropriate insurance cover.
LevelUP is a people-first, technology-led property management company that believes strongly in the power of building good relationships and excellent communication channels with our clients, because that’s what’s important in this industry. Tenants, landlords, owners, leaseholders – all they want is that their property is well looked after and that, should they need to, they can speak to someone quickly and find an answer to a question or a solution to a problem.
We offer several different property management services, from block management and tenant services through to estate management throughout the UK. Bespoke management packages ensure that all our clients get a tailored service, from experienced property professionals, to meet their requirements.
When we are appointed as management agents for a block, there’s a clear and comprehensive progress that begins with a meeting between the client and their dedicated property manager to discuss terms, sign contracts and agree a start date.
LevelUP follows the Association of Residential Managing Agents guidelines for changing management agents – drawn up to ensure all aspects of a handover are taken care of and that the process is as smooth as possible for leaseholders.
Once a start date has been agreed, we begin the process of working with the outgoing agent, where there is one, or the developer, to request all the information needed. We add all the property and leaseholder details to our software and a 90-point property inspection is completed. After a full audit on everything that is being carried over, health and safety and compliance checks are carried out, payment arrangements are put in place and a Welcome Pack is set to every leaseholder.
Once our agreement is in place, LevelUP will take over the running of the building including repairs and maintenance, compliance and safety management, inspections, dealing with queries and handling complaints, and the preparation of an annual budget and reserve/sink fund planning for service charges.
Clients are provided with log in details to our online management software, which provides full visibility of accounts, invoices, payments, and maintenance logs. All other leaseholders can gain access via the app to report issues and post messages. Our team are always available to assist in any way, as we believe it is often better to talk to a person directly. Monthly reports can also be provided if required, providing an overview of the current logged jobs and their status plus associated costs, these can then be adapted to share with third parties.
The major benefit of employing the services of an agency like LevelUP is that the leaseholders can rest assured that all aspects of the building in which they live are being taken care of. There’s a massive amount of responsibility in maintaining a building; servicing, repairs and maintenance work and inspections that, if not carried out by a responsible person, can potentially have devastating consequences. On top of that, insurance needs to be in place and at the right level, car parks have to be maintained, annual accounts prepared – a list that isn’t exactly endless but is onerous if not left in the capable hands of someone that is experienced in property management.
To find out more about the services available through LevelUP Property Management, call 01908 419899, email info@leveluppropertymanagement.com or visit www.leveluppropertymanagement.com
Carla Bussey
Director
LevelUP Property Management
