Frustrations with managing agents

Until now, homeowners have used managing agents to 'manage' their block to take away the hassle of administration. But for the most part, managing agents' service falls way short of expectations:

• Managing Agents can be unhelpful and unresponsive, acting as if they have total control and not listening or taking direction from the homeowner.
• Services, especially insurance, can cost more through a managing agent as they commonly take sales commissions at the homeowners' expense.
• Without active involvement from homeowners, managing agents can sanction works that are unnecessary.
• The managing agent, positioned between homeowners and contractors, can actually complicate the process of organising works; homeowners often spend more time managing the agent than the contractors.

Challenges of self-management

In an attempt to save money and avoid the frustrations managing agents, some homeowners attempt to self-manage their block, but this approach also has its drawbacks:

• While self-management puts homeowners in control, it also leaves them responsible for carrying out the administration for their block.
• Without professional guidance, self-managing homeowners risk violating legal and regulatory block management requirements.
• The task of self-management generally ends up falling upon just one or two of the homeowners, who can quickly become out of their depth.

We stand in a unique position with an innovative solution, offering homeowners the chance to take control and make informed management decisions using our web-based block management tools whilst we do as much of the administration as you like, and ensure that you comply with legal and regulatory requirements.

Unique features of block administration services

1. With our Block Administration Services, we take direction from the homeowners, giving them full control of how their block is managed.



Whichever block management package you choose with Urban Owners, from Full Admin to Self Serve, you're in control. You agree the budget for each year, approve invoices for payment and decide what works are carried out on your block, by whom and at what cost to you and your fellow homeowners.

2. Flexible packages - homeowners can do as much or as little as they want



With our packages, homeowners can do as much or as little as they want. From our managing agent equivalent service Full Admin, to Self Serve, which provides homeowners with tools and support for self-management, you decide the degree of assistance you need - and how much you pay.

Regardless of the package you opt for, you'll always have us on hand to provide expert advice. We can step in at any point if you do not have the time, inclination or competence to carry out certain block management tasks, ensuring you always have a fallback option.

3. Homeowners have total visibility of all financial activity and correspondence
   relating to their block through their private Block Website



Through your block's online portal, you've access to ALL documentation concerning block management, wherever you are, whenever you want it - so you'll avoid the frustrations of unproductive calls to a managing agent and the struggle and cost of getting your hands on information.

Accessible by all homeowners, block information is updated automatically as the block's finances are processed, and there is even a voting facility to help you make collective decisions across your block.

4. We never take sales commissions from contractors, and don't impose contractors
   on our clients - giving them the opportunity to make substantial savings



We commonly find our clients' insurance premium is reduced by 50% as a result of using an independent insurance broker and consequently avoiding the hidden sales commissions usually taken by managing agents.

We also let you choose your own contractors if you'd prefer - most managing agents are reluctant to give clients such freedom, since it prevents them from appointing their favoured contractors on the basis of the slice of sales commission the contractor is willing to offer. Our approach saves you money on contractors.

5. We have experts in every block management field, with dedicated teams ready to
   deal with all of your legal, financial and maintenance queries



Rather than using generalist property managers, we have finance and legal experts in our head office tackling the relevant issues, and complement them with local building surveyors who assist with building maintenance issues.

You'll only ever deal with experienced professionals, so you get satisfactory issue resolution more quickly than dealing with generalist property managers through a traditional managing agent.

Benefits

The bottom line...

• On average, our clients save 25% on the total annual block expenditure
• Since we cut out sales commissions, our clients save on average 30% on their insurance premium, or £900 across the block
• We charge a flat rate block management fee, not based on a percentage of your expenditure - our clients save 30% on average on managing agent fees.
• We let you choose contractors, and you can even do jobs yourselves - we save our clients 30% on general repairs and maintenance