A block management company is responsible for general maintenance and administration of communal areas of multi-unit residential blocks, like a block of flats.
Block management responsibilities cover a range of things such as service charge collection, building compliance with health and safety regulations and overseeing repairs and ongoing maintenance.
At J Property Management London, we offer bespoke block management services to keep your block in tip-top condition, your compliance in check and your tenants happy. Ready to get started? Talk to our team today.
What Is A Block Management Company?
A block management company is a type of professional management company specifically for blocks of flats or other multi-unit buildings. They are there to manage and maintain the common areas and shared facilities of the block.
Block management companies are hired by the building’s freeholder when the freeholder wants to outsource the maintenance and management to an external party.
The exact responsibilities of the block management company will depend on the specific block but are likely to include collection of service charges and ground rent from tenants, financial planning, repairs and maintenance and ensuring that the building is compliant with health, safety and fire regulations.
What Are The Responsibilities Of A Block Management Company?
General responsibilities of a block management company usually include:
Maintenance Of Communal Areas
The maintenance of communal areas will be the responsibility of the block management company including ongoing maintenance and repairs of areas such as:
- Stairwells
- Lifts
- Hallways
- Parking area
- Gardens (where relevant)
They’ll need to schedule regular maintenance as well as take responsibility for any emergency repairs. Basically, anything that concerns the general running of the block and keeping it clean and safe will fall with the block management company.
Health & Safety Obligations
It is the responsibility of the block management company to make sure that a building complies with any relevant health and safety legislation to keep all tenants safe. This includes keeping up with changing laws and regularly carrying out safety inspections and risk assessments. Health and safety will also cover compliance for fire safety and environmental regulations.
One of the key responsibilities of the block management company is financial management including collecting service charges and ground rent from the tenants of the block’s units. These funds are used to pay for the general maintenance and building’s repairs so are necessary for keeping the building in good condition.
Ground rent and service charge can be used for many things including maintenance, repairs and cleaning of common areas as well as building insurance. The block management company will also be responsible for managing the budget, forecasting and allocating future funds.
Legal Compliance
Block management companies will need to make sure that the building is compliant with all relevant legal requirements, including any changing regulations. This also extends to the management of the building and will concern things such as leasehold law and terms of a lease. Legal compliance also includes inclusivity and accessibility for residents.
Tenant Management & Resolving Disputes
A block management company can handle tenant management whether its rent collection, lease compliance or just general queries. They’ll need to respond to tenants quickly and professionally. Having a block management company means someone to act as the middle man between tenants and freeholders, or resolving any disputes with contractors or staff.
Why Use A Block Management Company?
As a freeholder of a block you have to wear many hats – from being a great project manager to being financially savvy. That can be difficult for one person to take on. Using a block management company means that everything is under control and dealt with at the highest level of professionalism.
Up-To-Date Compliance
From legal compliance to health and safety compliance, there is a lot to stay on top of – especially with changing regulations. Using a block management company means that your building will stay up-to-date on all compliance without you having to get bogged down in the complicated legal bits.
Clear Communication
Dealing with multiple tenants can feel like a 24/7 job – from making sure ground rent and service charges are accounted for to answering queries or complaints in a timely manner.
Having a block management company on call means that you can step away from your phone and know that your tenants are in good hands. Block management companies will be in constant communication with your tenants and ensure that they’re being dealt with in a friendly, professional and efficient manner.
Safe And Clean Building
As a freeholder, you’ll want to keep your building in as good a condition as possible. Working with a block management company means that your building is well-maintained, clean and secure so that you don’t have to constantly be worrying.
Professional Service
Block management companies do this for a living. They are experts at all aspects of looking after a block of flats covering the legal and financial sides as much as the tenant communication, ongoing property maintenance and repairs and health and safety. A good block management company will keep the many cogs of the block running smoothly to create a safe and comfortable environment for tenants and free up your time and energy.
Professional Block Management With J Property Management
At J Property Management, we’re here to help you with your block management needs. We know the importance of your property asset which is why we do everything we can to protect your property value, maximise your profits and minimise your legal risk.
Whether you have a residential block, conversion, estate or a new-build, we offer full block management services to suit your needs.
Contact us today to talk to our team of property management experts and see how we can make block management as simple as possible for you.
