It’s vital that service charge fees are collected regularly, so funds are available to carry out planned works throughout the year.

At Edgefield, we manage every aspect of service charge collection, from sending out invoices and statements to chasing arrears. In addition to the collection of service charges, we can also collect ground rent, on behalf of the Freeholder, from leaseholders in accordance with the terms of your lease.

It’s your responsibility to ensure year-end accounts are prepared and certified but it’s a time consuming and stressful task if you choose to do it yourself.

Our company secretary service ensures your company complies with all legal and financial requirements, including filing your annual return on time, updating records regarding any change of company directors or officers, and acting as a service address for the company.

Having the appropriate buildings insurance in place ensures you meet the requirements of your lease, and, of course, gives you and the residents of the property peace of mind if the worst were to happen.

At Edgefield Estates, we appoint the services of a surveyor to assess the rebuild value of a property and to ensure your block is not underinsured

We can then introduce you to an insurance intermediary with access to a panel of insurance providers offering a range of cost-effective and comprehensive cover options. These may include blocks of flats building insurance, public liability, terrorism cover, and, where relevant, directors’ and officers’ insurance and engineering insurance for properties with lifts. Should you need to make a claim, the intermediary will be available to provide guidance and support throughout the process.

It’s important that your building is safe and secure for the people that live in it, and that it meets all the requirements of current health and safety legislation.

As part of the property management process, our experienced team reviews all health and safety, fire safety and compliance matters for your building. Then we advise on what actions need to be taken, if any, to make your building complaint.

One of the first things we do when taking on a new client is to send our Health & Safety Consultant to the property to conduct a full audit.

It’s important to have regularly scheduled site visits to ensure work is being carried out to the high standard we expect. This applies to everything from cleaning, gardening, ongoing maintenance and major works.

At Edgefield, we have an in-house maintenance surveyor who carries out regular inspections of developments and assesses any health, safety and security risks too. These visits are followed by a detailed electronic report.

Very often, a large residential development can have on-site staff such as a porter, concierge, gardener, cleaning team or security staff.

We ensure the work of all on-site staff is monitored and managed, any issues are dealt with quickly, and regular performance reviews are held. Our aim is to ensure all on-site staff members work to a high level and deliver an exceptional service for residents.

Regular meetings are an important part of block and estate management. Of course, there is at least one meeting a year – the Annual General Meeting (AGM) where all owners are invited. On top of this, if the development is run by an RMC or RTM, you will also need to have regular meetings between the Directors to make important decisions on repairs and maintenance and ensure that the finances are in good order.

It’s always useful to have a third party manage any meetings where all residents are invited, such as the AGM. We can draw up an agenda, organise, attend, take meeting minutes, and ensure accurate records are kept and matters actioned. We will also ensure service charge and company accounts are prepared for review before the AGM.

All our clients are assigned a dedicated Property Manager who will be available to also attend any meetings of the Directors. Tailored client reports on expenditure versus budget, arrears, maintenance and major works can be compiled prior to these meetings, depending on each client’s specific requirements.

When it comes to ongoing maintenance or major works, it’s crucial to choose the right contractors for the job.

At Edgefield, we have a comprehensive list of contractors we work with, who are all highly skilled, work to a high standard, and are up to date with their health & safety and insurance documentation. What’s more, because of the large amount of work we carry out, we can offer competitive prices across a range of services, from exterior decorating to lift maintenance.

Our commitment to prompt and transparent communication regarding issues, our personal and friendly approach to client service, optional 24/7 emergency helpline, and also our detailed client reports – including financial, maintenance and day-to-day management information – are what set Edgefield apart from other property management firms.

In addition to the emergency helpline and online form, we respond to all telephone calls and emails within 24 hours and provide leaseholders and freeholders with copies of requested documentation within 48 hours.