Case Study

Imagine living in a housing estate that started out with a modest service charge of £50 a year. But by 2023, those charges had ballooned to over £180 per year. Frustration and annoyance were rife among the 174 property owners, each a member of the estate management company, which was being run by a large national managing agent.

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Enter our team. We rolled up our sleeves and dove into the legal documentation. We embarked on a mission to empower the residents, pushing for a crucial vote to elect two of their own as directors of the estate management company. Victory was ours, and the two residents took the reins.

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These newly appointed directors didn’t waste any time. They gathered vital information about the estate’s management, identifying the specific services provided, tracking unpaid charges, and accounting for the money held on behalf of the company. Armed with this knowledge, they were ready for the next step.

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We then joined forces with the local Parish Council, holding presentations to win their support. The goal? To negotiate an agreement for the Parish Council to take over all responsibilities of the estate management company, ultimately leading to its closure.

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An agreement was struck. Property owners would settle any unpaid charges and make one final payment of £100 each. Considering they were already due to pay at least £90 for the next six months, this was a win-win.

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From that point forward, property owners on the estate would never again pay estate management charges. But the benefits didn’t stop there. By changing suppliers, we were able to slash the costs for the Parish Council to maintain the estate.

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When the estate management company is fully closed, all remaining funds will transfer to the Parish Council, providing enough to cover the cost of managing the estate for the next 5-7 years. After this period, the cost will be absorbed into the Parish Council’s budget, resulting in only a minor increase.

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Thanks to this collaborative effort, the estate is being transferred into the capable hands of the Parish Council, ensuring a bright, cost-effective future for all its residents.