BUY TO LET Don’tstoptalking


Managing mixed-tenure blocks can be tricky but according to dean Cooper keeping the peace is all down to good communication


WiththeadventoftheEurozone crisis over thelastfew yearsbillionsofpounds have beenfloodingintothe London Property Market,creatinganunprecedented rise in demandwhich out-strips supply. This brings newchallengesfor property


managers workinginthe residentialleasehold market. Themajority of newdevelopments are nowoccupied by a lively mix of both traditionallongtermleaseholders andtenants - both long term renters and, more recently, thosewho simply cannot afford to buy. These tenants are often unfairly stereotyped


as notwanting to adhere to theeverydayrules andregulations of adevelopment. It is alltoo easy to assumethatmost tenants do not have thesameattitude towardsthe blocktheylive in as perhaps a resident ownermay have. Thismaynot be true in allcases,Property managers recognise this stereotyping all too well andthere aremanysimplesteps to be takentohelpinformthese shorttermtenants, enabling themto fit in andfeelthattheytoo are part of a community. Wemanageamoderndevelopmentin


CentralWimbledon,housing 120flats.More than 100ofthese homesare sub-letgiving an overall proportion of 83%let against 16% owner occupied. Over the years the trend has been towardsmoreflatsbeing letout andthis has caused someconcerns for resident owners whoassumethat thedevelopmentwillstart to deterioratedue to thedifference in behaviour of tenantsasopposed to owner-occupiers. To tackle this perceived problem, we are


in regularcommunication with both residentsand tenants, updating, remindingand notifying


themabout specific rules and regulations andproviding informationabout thesite. Our policy is nowtoupdate ourinternal records with any changes of tenancy, so that incoming renters are fully briefed about the way inwhich the block ismanaged. In ourexperience, thereasonwhy rules


arenot followed is usuallydowntolackof awareness. Educatingbothtenants and landlords by way of written communication is a good tool for the successfulmanagement of anydevelopment. Of course,not allresidents will play ball


andthere arestill problemsto be faced. These include anti-social behaviour, and noise nuisance or theperennial problemof


communicationwith both residents and tenants...


‘storing of personal itemswithincommunal areas’. Providing that these are reported to themanagingagent,weare quicklyableto deal with thesituation andcommunicate effectively between those involved. To help ourresidents communicatequickly andeasilyand deal with issueseffectively,


Weareinregular


we have adopted apolicywhereby every development wemanage is set up with theirowninteractivewebsite.Thisdetails everything fromaccountinformation and insurancedocuments rightthrough to moderatedchatforums. Whentakingonanew development,


at JJ Homeswehavealsointroduceda Property Update Form forresidents to complete andreturnand this is proving to be a simple but successful way of keeping informationup-to-date. Another approach wouldbetoenforce theleasehold covenantswithregardto”permissions”or “licenses to sublet”whereby it is required that allcontact detailsfor tenants/agents or occupantsare provided, if notheldon record historically.Following up on this normally prompts quick communication fromleaseholders,most ofwhomare keen to play by the rules. The best way tomanage blocks with a mix


of tenures–and both shortand long-term renters-istobuildstrongrelationships with ourclients.Ensuringthe rightinformation is communicated quicklyand efficiently betweenall partiesisundoubtedly oneof thebiggest contributors to thesuccessful management of anyblock of flats –nomatter what the mix of residentsmay be.●


deanCooperBSc Hons MIRPMCIHM Senior PropertyManager JJHomes


Storingof personal itemsin


communal areasisa


perennial problem


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