News AppointmEnt


Keithhill Appointed AsARMA’s independent RegulAtoR


more than 550


delegates attended the 2012 conference


EvEnt


ARMAcoMesofAgeAt sell-outconfeRence


TheAssociation of Residential Managing Agents (ARMA) seventeenthannualconference washeldinOctober at theQueen Elizabeth11conferenceCentre in London.Soldout in three weeks, the event was attended by morethan550 delegates includingpropertymanagers, RMC Directors, solicitors and accountants. Avariedprogrammeof


presentations on the theme of Success in a consumer-focused future was followed by a champagne reception to celebrate ARMA’s twenty-first anniversary. Speakers included a number of well-known leaseholdexperts including lawyer Justin Bates, LEASEchief


consultAtion


publicconsultAtionon RegulAtionofMAnAgingAgents


Membersofthe public are beinggiven theopportunity to shape the way thatmanaging agents areregulated.A public consultation has been launched by ARMAon anew self-regulatoryregimefor its members, knownasARMA-Q. This will set stringentstandards of serviceformanaging agents who aremembers of ARMA, with theaim of significantly improving the lives of people living inmanaged blocks of flats. ARMA-Q will address issues


around corporate conduct of managing agents,how service chargemoney is dealtwithand


10


transparencyoverinsurance premiums andassociated companies. It will also set out clearlywhatconsumers can expectfrom theirmanaging agent via a newConsumer Charter. Significant changes are


also proposed to the way that standardsare enforced,withthe appointment of an independent regulatorand paneltooversee the newscheme. ARMA members will be scrutinised both by industry expertsand by representatives of people living inmanaged blocks –a first for the sector and a welcome


improvementinprotection forleaseholders.The Rt Hon Keith Hill, former Minister forHousing&Planning,isthe newly-appointed Independent Regulator for ARMAand will overseethe newscheme. Viewsare beingsoughtby


ARMAon itsnewself-regulation arrangements notonlyfrom peoplelivinginmanaged blocks butfrom allthose involved in the leaseholdsector. This includes landlords, estateagents, surveyors, solicitors andaccountantsaswell as propertymanagers andflat owners.The deadline forresponses was 31 January.


executive Tony Essien, chair of ARMA’s technicalcommittee Martin Perryand past chairman AndrewMcKeer.Topics ranged fromtechnical issues such as the right tomanage and Section


20 notices to the softer skills needed by propertymanagers such as conflictmanagement and customer communicationvia social networking. DuringtheconferenceARMA


chiefexecutiveMichelle Banks introduced the proposed framework forthe newARMA-Qself-regulation regimeaswell asunveilingthe organisation’s newlogo. Otherhighlightsofthe


conference included the welcome fromnewARMAchairman BenJordon,the announcement of Keith Hill’s appointment as ARMA’s newIndependent Regulatorand theannouncement of thewinnerofthe 2012 ARMA-Q Award.


The RtHonKeithHill,Minister forHousing&Planningunder TonyBlairandtheformerMPfor Streatham,will lead anewself- regulatory regimefor residential managingagents. Itwill be the first timethatmanagingagents have beensubject to independent regulationandmarksawelcome improvement in protectionfor leaseholders. Due to be introduced fromMay


this year,ARMA-Qaimsto set highstandards of serviceamong ARMAmembers.This includes commitmenttoanewConsumer CharterandStandardswhichare specific to themanagingagent sector.Memberswill be required to followthebest practiceandethics setout in the Standardsandwill be scrutinisedbyanindependent regulatory panel. TheannouncementofKeith


Hill’s appointmentwaswelcomed byARMAmembers at the 2012 AnnualConferencewhereincoming Chairman,BenJordansaid: “KeithHill bringsawealthof


knowledge abouthousingand leaseholdissues to thisimportant newrole. His commitment to improving standards in the sector togetherwith hisunquestionable skillsandlong-standingexperience asapolicymakermake himthe ideal personfor the job.” KeithHill is along-standing


advocate of tighterregulationinthe sectorandsaidhewas “delighted”to be takingonhisnewrole. “Itwillbemyjob as theregulator


to beanadvocate fortheresponsible managingagentandavocal opponent ofwrongdoers.Iwant leaseholdersandthepublic to knowthat this isanorganisation where themajority ofmembers are doing the right thingandthatwe are determined to crackdownon thosewho bring the industry into disrepute,”hesaid.


Keith Hill: advocates tighterregulation


Issue 13, Winter Flat Living


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