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Frequently Asked Questions
What is block management?
Block management refers to the professional management of multi-occupancy residential or commercial properties within a range of different management models. Block management services include the management of maintenance of communal space, finance, tenant relations and legal compliance.
What services do block management companies provide?
Block management services typically include:
- Planned property maintenance (cleaning, repairs, landscaping)
- Reactive property maintenance
- H+S and compliance
- Financial management
- The handling of insurance claims and arranging building insurance
- Resident and leaseholder engagement
- Managing contractors and suppliers
- Reporting, AGM’s and surgery meetings
- Energy saving techniques
How are service charges calculated?
Service charges are an estimation of the expenditure of the building on a yearly basis. The services cover all aspects of the building and take into consideration the complexities. The service charge is separated into sections of the building’s needs, the manager will liaise with contractors for the planned maintenance costs and provide the costings to retain the management of the building taking into consideration the costs of utilities, insurance, account preparation and any other costs associated with the management of the specific building.
The difference between block management and property management?
Block management focus is to manage the muti-occupancy buildings, this is the communal space and surrounding areas of the building. Property management focuses on the demise itself. Block management and property managers often collaborate to ensure the management of the building is kept to a high standard.
How does a block management company communicate with residents?
Effective communication with owners and residents creates the smooth running of the block. Block managers use a multitude of tools to communicate with both owners and residents, these include letters, emails, telephone contact, online portals, face to face, newsletters and signage. The block managers will often stipulate their preferred way to communicate when commencing their management.
What happens if something needs repairing in the communal areas OOH?
The management company has provisions in place to ensure that residents and owners can report any issues 24/7, usually the OOH team will only attend/ repair OOH if this is deemed an emergency. If the reported issue is safe and can wait for the next working day, then this will be the process. This is to ensure value for money is achieved for the paying customer.
What is deemed an emergency attendance?
- Damage to assets
- Loss of basic amenities
- Structural safety issues
- Security failures
How do you handle disputes between tenants or residents?
Our goal is to create communities across our portfolio, but inevitably some disputes may occur. In the event a dispute between residents we will act as the mediator between both parties and come to a fair resolution promptly to prevent the issue escalation. We urge residents to contact us immediately if a dispute does occur.
Will I receive updates about my property?
Yes, the management company will contact you with any relevant updates to your property, this may include regulatory checks and maintenance. Offering our financial reporting and service charge statements. We will also stay in contact in relation to communal works, major repairs or any changes that may affect you directly.
How do you ensure compliance with health and safety regulations?
When initiating the management of your building the block manager will attend the property and undertake a report on the compliance needs of the buildings along with utilising the handover information. A schedule will be put together for the overseeing of a manager. The schedule will detail all compliance related tests and dates such tests should be undertaken. The reports are saved and centralised and presented to the relevant parties. These may include, solicitors, fire wardens, leaseholders or residents or any governing body.
Can you manage my property if it is part of a mixed-use development (residential/commercial)?
We have years of experience managing muti schedule service charges, this means when residential and commercial units are included within the makeup of the building, we use our expertise to ensure the complexities are understood and managed correctly. Mixed use developments are recently more prominent; therefore, we ensure we can offer a comprehensive solution for your building. Please reach out for any advice on such set ups.
Do you offer Build to Rent support?
Unlike other block management company, we can offer an end-to-end solution for the Build to Rent Schemes. Jaba can offer the complete management solutions from the block to letting management. We specialise within this model and believe we can offer the best solution for all services under of 15 years of expertise.
How do I get started with your block management services?
To get started with our company, simply get in touch and request engagement with our block management team. We liaise with you on how we can utilise our expertise to create the best management style for your building .
What is a reserve fund?
A reserve fund is a pot of client moneys put a side for any repairs that may either fit outside of the service charge budget or any major/ emergency work that has been unaccounted for. This allows repairs to be made effectively without delays and without causing the demand of additional funds or preventing planned maintenance from going ahead.
Who do I contact?
Communication from the block manager will often be with the leaseholder direct, weather this be to an owner occupier or an investor. Communication with the tenant will often come direct from the letting agent. With an increased expectation from the management company to ensure the safety across all residents; block managers are more commonly holding information of leaseholders and residents to ensure the best safety within the building.
Common issues – All common issues should be reported to the block manager to ensure the issue is resolved quickly and effectively.
Demises issues – All demised issues should be reported to the letting agent where they will undertake their own maintenance, if the letting agent, then feels they need to progress the issue to the managing agent, then contact will be made and both block manager and letting agent will ensure the issuer is resolved for peace of mind and safety.
