Block & Estate Management FAQs

Our team oversee the day-to-day running of your building and/or estate. Among our many duties, we collect service charges, arrange insurance, pay contractors and generally oversee all communal aspects of the building or the estate for the benefit of the residents. We can also provide experience and expertise in financial planning, routine maintenance and the setting of the service charge budget, as well as ensuring that all safety and compliance laws are followed.

Our block and estate management services benefit you, the property owner, and the residents. Not only do we ensure that all safety and compliance laws are adhered to but we also take responsibility for all estate administration and maintenance, making life easier for all involved. Plus, we act as a professional go-between, ensuring that all matters between the property owner and residents are dealt with quickly, effectively, and sensitively.

Block management is concerned with the maintenance of residential buildings with multiple dwellings, like flats and apartments and their communal spaces. A property manager, however, works across all types of buildings, including residential and commercial units. Block managers are in effect property managers, but with a particular focus on the requirements and challenges that shared buildings present.

In the UK, block and estate management is regulated by The Property Ombudsman. With a comprehensive understanding of Landlord and Tenant legislation, we can help you to understand your rights and obligations. Our block managers are highly knowledgeable, committed to best practices and always comply with relevant standards. We are transparent, we are able to provide full accounting details on request, and we are always open about connections with service providers and any commissions.

The freeholder is usually responsible for all building repairs, such as the roof and all supporting structures and shared parts, like communal hallways, stairs and lifts. However, many leases will have terms included that allow the freeholder to recover these costs from residents through the service charge. Commonly, the freeholders’ responsibilities for maintenance and repair are handed to the resident’s management company, which gives residents control over when work is carried out, who is used to complete the work, and transparency on the final costs. Unfortunately, though, there is no getting away from the final bill.

No, you don’t. But we highly recommend that you do. The on-going involvement of a reliable and personable professional agent can help you navigate a wide variety of challenges and potential pitfalls. From ever-changing legislation to contentious disputes between neighbours, the need for long-term financial planning & accounting to comprehensive construction and building knowledge – the expertise required to effectively manage shared buildings can be overwhelming. That’s where we come in.

Yes. We take great pride in our high-quality, quick-response service. With real people only a call away, and a dedicated account manager assigned to every property, it’s what sets us apart. Too often, we hear about property owners not being able to reach their block and estate management agents. At Easton Bevins, we do things differently.

Depending on the lease, you may have a board of volunteer directors that you can approach as an owner or resident to discuss your concerns and encourage them to look for a new managing agent. If the freeholder manages the building directly, as a resident, you may have rights under the lease to request a new agent but failing that you have rights under law to take control of the management of your home (known as the right to manage). Should you need to do this you should speak with a specialist solicitor. If you are a freeholder or director and looking for a new agent, simply give us a call – we can work with you to make any transition seamless.