Being there when you need us most.

Our research suggests that residents most need their managing agent between the hours of 7 and 9 in the evening. This is when the average resident returns home and is likely to find a leak from the flat above or tries to run a bath when there is no hot water.

Unfortunately this is also the time when most managing agents are at home. They leave their offices manned by answering machines which perhaps quotes the number of some emergency contractor who may be able to assist.

Parkgate Aspen clients who call after hours can be patched through to a 24-hour operator who will assess your requirements and then alert one of our management surveyors on their mobile or home phone. Operating this voluntary rota system for so many years it is likely that our managers have dealt personally with more emergencies later in the night than any other firm of managing agents.

[Whilst we encourage all our managers to keep their mobile phones switched on whenever they are awake, even they have to sleep sometime! Only then will our operator refer the call to our emergency all-night contractor.]

Being there when you need us is what good service is all about. In property management it’s what makes us so very different from the rest.

Being on your side

We mentioned earlier the problems that can arise with major works projects. When things go wrong and a managing agent has handled the job in-house for his 10% fee he is very likely to take up a defensive position against his own client. There is never any shortage of excuses.

More often than not, the manager failed to supervise the job or was not sufficiently qualified or experienced to write up the proper specification. So, there you are, faced with a major cost overrun or peeling paintwork and your own agent is fighting in the opposite corner.

It is obvious that no agent has in-house staff who are expert in all facets of building maintenance. External repairs and decoration are best entrusted to qualified building surveyors with experience in timber or concrete repairs on properties of a given type and period. Subsidence cracks are best referred to structural surveyors and engineers with a track record in accurate diagnosis, insurance claims and underpinning that stands the test of time. Similarly lift and boiler refurbishment, asbestos removal and the renewal of mains services are best handled by specialist consultants who can write a tight specification, know the going rate for the job, and have the depth of experience to anticipate the likely pitfalls.

Parkgate Aspen seek out the surveyors, engineers and consultants ideally suited to each project and negotiate their fees. We expect them to write up the specification suggest suitable contractors and invite our clients to the opening of sealed bids. They will provide an analysis of the tenders and raise any arithmetical or other inconsistencies with the recommended contractor. Thereafter they will administer the contract and certify stage payments and the ultimate release of the retention when all snags have been rectified.
Our own charges are limited to our part in the selection of surveyors, handling of the statutory notices and consultation procedure, attendance at site meetings, billing and collection of works levies, payment handling and all tenant liaison.

In the specification and planning of major works we have shown time and again that an ounce of prevention is worth a tonne of cure.

Being on site

Regular site visits are all important, particularly at larger properties. Not all maintenance problems and insurance claims are successfully handled in correspondence. Apart from normal property visits, our management surveyors often hold a monthly ‘surgery’ when they can meet residents to discuss or view a particular problem. We think this is time well spent as opposed to acrimonious correspondence that often leads to costly litigation.

Being imaginative

More and more resident owning & management companies are facing increasing problems with arrears. Having campaigned hard against landlord abuses in forfeiture proceedings, leaseholders have now found the new legislation working against them as the new owners of their blocks. Vexatious leaseholders are increasingly abusing the LVT appeals system to avoid or delay payment of their service charges and slow the progress of necessary or desirable works.

At Parkgate Aspen, we do not deal with arrears on a straight-line system. Wherever possible we try to think ‘out of the box’ for imaginative ways of short-circuiting the course of problem cases before they run into major fees and the costly process of discovery and the hiring of expert witnesses. Obviously we cannot give away all our secrets on this website. Suffice it to say that new clients have found our approach particularly refreshing.

Being in touch

You won’t find many managing agents who take the trouble to prepare newsletters like we do. You can see an example of one of our newsletters here.
To view more newsletters, follow the links to "Keeping Residents Informed" on the Home Page.

Being aware

Subletting is probably the source of more complaints than ever before. The average block now has 40% of its flats sublet at any one time. The complaints are mainly of noise nuisance, overcrowding, damage to common parts and water damage through improper use of shower curtains and poor maintenance of bath seals.

We try to keep tabs on sublet flats by licensing and registration. Parking permits will only be issued to bona fide tenants who have gone through this registration process. Where the lease is particularly lax, we have a special form for subtenants to complete with all their relevant details and contact numbers for emergency use

Being totally committed

Sounds like a cliché, huh? In fact it's probably the most crucial factor.

Unlike most other agents, Parkgate Aspen does not indulge in lettings or sales. Always ask prospective agents of they are involved in these areas. This is because such firms will often lowball their management quotation in hopes of getting their negotiators’ feet through the door and to generate lucrative sales and lettings leads with the help of porterage staff under their control.

With a captive crop of flats and motivated porters, such commissions represent 'money for old rope' and become far more attractive to agents than management fees which are heavily weighed down with staff overheads. All too often this results in the most junior or poorly trained staff being assigned to the ‘Cinderella function’ of your property's management.

Parkgate Aspen’s sole activity is the management of flats and blocks. We therefore commit the best of our resources and most experienced staff to the core business of service to leaseholders and tenants.

Being qualified

As you navigate this website and are introduced to some of our staff, you will note one common factor: experience. Our team of managers has an average track record of 15 years in the management of blocks of flats. This best qualifies them to handle your management needs responsibly and professionally.

Our low turnover of blocks evidences the length of management service to residents’ associations and resident management companies that have re-appointed us for as many as 20 years and more.

Beyond this is our membership of the Association of Residential Managing Agents (ARMA), our ISO 9001 accreditation, our appointment by the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal as receivers and managers in proceedings brought by residents and, not least, our experience of over 25 years in the management of blocks of flats.These then are the differences between us and other managing agents you may have heard from or who may indeed be managing your block right now.

If these differences strike a chord with you, it’s time you spoke to us. Or, better still, it’s time you spoke to some of the clients who will speak for us. References will be provided upon request.