Property management refers to the management of individual residential homes or commercial buildings whereas block management refers to the management of communal areas and operations of a multi-unit building such as a block of apartments.
Block management is when a multi-unit block outsources the management of things like maintenance of communal areas, health and safety responsibilities and tenant queries.
At J Property Management London, we offer both general property management and block management. We help private landlords and property investors alike keep their tenants happy and their properties well-maintained. Get in touch with our team today and see how we can help you.
What Is Block Management?
Block management covers the many different responsibilities that come with dealing with a block of flats that are often too big of a task for freeholders or property investors. Hiring a block management company means that they can outsource these various responsibilities to a team of professionals and ensure that everything is properly dealt with.
Block managers handle multiple-residence buildings and multi-unit blocks such as a block of flats, student halls or local authority housing blocks. Unlike property management, which handles individual tenants and specific properties, block management handles all the units within the block as well as the common internal and external areas.
When employing a block management company, you’ll outsource things like the maintenance of common areas (e.g. gardens, lobbies, staircase, lifts), adherence to health and safety regulations, budgeting and forecasting for building fees and organising repairs and necessary work for the block.
Block management companies will also be responsible for collecting service charges and ground rent, dealing with tenant enquiries and liaising with different parties such as contractors and the freeholder or the property investor.
What Is Property Management?
Property management is the management of residential family houses, flats and maisonettes, commercial properties or multi-unit buildings. It can also refer to portfolio property management for landlords or investors with multiple properties.
The main responsibilities of a property management company are usually handling tenancies, marketing vacant properties, tenant sourcing, dealing with tenant issues, collecting and managing rent and organising property maintenance and repairs.
Property management companies usually offer full property management for landlords who want to be more hands-off or specific services to free up landlord time. They are there to ensure that landlords are getting the most out of their property investment and can rest assured knowing their property is in expert hands.
What Are The Main Differences Between Block Management And Property Management?
Both block management and property management companies are there to keep tenants happy and properties well-maintained. However, there are some key differences:
Duties
Property management companies concern themselves with individual tenants and individual properties whereas block management companies help multi-unit residential buildings manage communal areas and issues impacting the building as a whole.
Communal Areas
Block managers will always be involved in the maintenance of communal areas like gardening, painting or repairs in common areas and fixing the lift. They oversee wider property maintenance. Property management will deal with the maintenance and repairs of specific properties – for example, one flat within an entire block of flats. In order to deal with things that concern an entire building, they will need to speak to the block management company or freeholder.
Communication
A property management company will usually deal directly with individual tenants or owners of the individual properties. Block managers act as a point of liaison between freeholders and leaseholders and will need to mediate any tenant disputes.
Financial Management
Whereas property management companies handle individual rent collection, block management companies deal with service charges and ground rent collection.
What Does Block Management Include?
What’s included in block management varies depending on the needs of the block, however there are some core responsibilities that block management usually includes:
Block Maintenance
A block management company is responsible for the proper maintenance of the entire block including addressing repairs as quickly and efficiently as possible. They will handle scheduled maintenance and regular property inspections as well as emergency repairs or issues that may crop up.
Point Of Liaison
It is the responsibility of the block management company to liaise with contractors and maintenance staff to carry out work as soon as possible. They’ll be responsible for arranging a time for contractors to come to the building as well as handling the payment. Block management companies often handle the “invisible” work that goes into ensuring the block is running smoothly like dealing with contracts, scheduling regular inspections and bookkeeping.
Health And Safety
Buildings must adhere to health and safety regulations and relevant building guidelines to minimise risk of accidents or injuries for tenants. This responsibility falls with the block management company – keeping up with changing compliance and implementing safety measures when needed.
Financial Management, Budgeting And Forecasting
The block management company will be responsible for managing the building’s finances – from collecting service charges and ground rent from tenants to budgeting and forecasting for maintenance and repairs and paying contractors and maintenance staff.
Tenant Complaints
Block management companies will be the key contact for residents if they have any issues. They’ll need to respond to any complaints professionally and quickly and take action when needed in an efficient way.
Legal Compliance
There are many different laws to be aware of when managing a block – from landlord and tenant laws to health and safety compliance and building regulations. A block management company will ensure that the building complies with any relevant laws and regulations and will handle the complex legal responsibilities.
Expert Block Management & Property Management With J Property Management
At J Property Management, we help landlords and property investors across the UK manage their specific needs. Whether you’re looking to manage one flat or a whole black of flats, we have bespoke offerings to suit your requirements. Contact us today to find out more about our professional services.
