What is Property, Block and Estate Management and what do we do?
We are proud to be a firm that cares about our customer’s property management needs. We aim to give an excellent customer experience and provide value for money.
We are a hands on company that understands the requirements of both residential and commercial property management throughout Kent and London. Transparency and communication with a personal touch is key to our service.
About us
Our staff undertake regular continual professional development to ensure we are completely up to date and able to provide you with the best possible advice. Our property management department is highly experienced in managing a wide range of residential estates, commercial and block properties.
We are regulated by the RICS which means you can rest assured that all client monies are protected and held strictly in accordance with the code. Further, the RICS accreditation assures you of high professional standards of care.
We have a great network of professional contacts including solicitors, in house valuers, contractors, engineers, professional bodies, etc which means we can ensure we provide you with well rounded advice and experience.
Block Management
Block management is the property management of a block of flats or freehold site and includes managing the day to day maintenance and repair of buildings and external areas, landscaping, cleaning, insurance, utilities etc.
Michael Parkes Surveyors Ltd are experienced at block management, comprising multiple dwellings, throughout Kent and London. This will also included mixed use developments that have both flats and commercial property on site. Our Head of Property Management Alice Smith, is particularly experienced in managing properties in Kent and the South East and is happy to help with any properties in this area.
Our service includes:-
- Producing, monitoring and reviewing annual service charge budgets and enabling recommendations to be made to the client as to the levels at which the services charges are set and to liaise with accountants in the preparations of the accounts.
- Providing clients with regular statements of income and expenditure in respect of financial positioning.
- Meeting with lessees and carrying out regular site inspections.
- Ensuring sufficient buildings insurance is in place and deal with emergency works and repairs, as well as providing advice on the procedures to follow should a claim arise.
- Responding to routine enquiries raised by lessees/clients/potential clients either by phone, email, or writing and ensure any necessary information is circulated.
- We administer contracts for the provision of services provided to the common areas and deal with the authorisation of payment of accounts rendered by contractors.
- Issuing demands to lessees for service charges, ground rents, major works/section 20 requirements and manage arrears.
- We attend AGM’s, EGM’s, and directors meetings and take notes/minutes where necessary.
- Dealing with solicitor enquiries and ensure Lease terms are enforced and advise where necessary on lease covenants.
- We are well versed in changes in legislation, and health and safety compliance is high on our agenda so we can ensure our clients are fully compliant and up to date at all times.
Commercial Property Management
We manage retail units, land, industrial property and offices.
Our services include:-
- Submitting demands and collecting rent, service and other charges from tenants at agreed intervals.
- Making payments for day-to-day maintenance.
- Administering building and other insurances.
- Inspecting the property at agreed intervals to check maintenance and repairs and to deal with day-to-day repairs to structure, plant, fixtures and fittings.
- Attending to routine management enquiries from tenants.
- Keeping records of tenancies and other matters relating to the property.
- Administering funds and providing information to auditors.
- Liaising with solicitors on breaches of covenants, particularly payment of rents and Service charges.
- Considering applications from tenants for consent to alter properties.
- Advising on applications for assignments, sub-lettings and changes of use.
- Arranging lettings or lease renewals, negotiating rent reviews and obtaining premiums for variations of existing lettings.
- Health and Safety and Fire Safety advice.
If your current commercial managing agent has contacted you to renegotiate their fees, we would be happy to discuss arranging the management of your properties at very competitive rates.
Estate Management including Right to Manage & Resident Management Companies
We also undertake property management services for housing estates with communal landscaped areas (and sometimes un-adopted roads, pumping stations etc. ) that need Estate Management. An estate can comprise of a small close of houses from 5-10 dwellings but also can encompass multiple houses of 500/600 plus dwellings.
Our service includes:-
- Submitting demands and collecting service and other charges from tenants at agreed intervals.
- Making payments for day-to-day maintenance.
- Administering insurances.
- Inspecting the property and/ or site at agreed intervals to check maintenance and repairs.
- Attending to routine management enquiries from tenants.
- Keeping records of matters relating to the property.
- Administering funds and providing information to auditors.
- Liaising with solicitors on breaches of covenants.
- Health and Safety and Fire Safety advice.
This service can also be tailored to include single dwellings or blocks of flats, and large or small estates of houses.
We carry out regular inspections at all of the properties we manage. We have a dedicated property management team who will manage the demands of our clients as well as the expectations of our tenants, seamlessly.
Thinking of changing your Managing Agent?
If you are thinking of taking control of your estate/block from the developer or existing management company under the Right to Manage, or just feel that you’d be happier putting a new company in place of your existing Managing Agent, we are happy to guide you in the process and undertake the management of your property on behalf of the RTM company.
For Developers
We can provide advice on lease content and realistic service charge budgets whilst working with you to inspire confidence in the reputation of your brand as well as ours. Our Property Management team has extensive experience in managing sites of various sizes from the smaller 8 -10 unit sites to larger sites for national developers of 300+ dwellings and mixed use sites. We can manage and advise on the property management of your site from the architect’s design to handover to residents.
Fees
We structure our fees to provide you with a fixed cost, which is usually based on a per dwelling rate for block and estate management.
For commercial rent collection our fee is a percentage of the total rent roll.
For commercial property management our fee will reflect the level of services required for your particular estate.
Our fees are tailored to suit the specific needs of your property and therefore we will always want to discuss the current situation and future plans with you.
Talk to us 01634 294 994
E-mail: asmith@michaelparkes.co.uk
Updated October 2024
