Services for Property Developers
We can work with ethical property developers at the start of a new build to ensure the design, construction and legal framework create the lowest possible service charge.
When working with developers and new builds, we appreciate that keeping service charges as low as possible makes the properties more marketable, but it is also important that they are realistic. We can advise at all stages to help you create a development that will ensure a low but realistic service charge. We will work with you to decide exactly what services you need and develop a tailored management handover. We can:
Advise on the design, construction and legal framework of the development
Set up and implement residents’ management companies
Help you set up and manage service charges, budgets and reserve funds
Recruit maintenance contractors, porters and other maintenance staff
Help you work with groups of private leaseholders
Collect ground rent on your behalf
Code of Ethics
We always regard the leaseholder as our primary client and this only works if there are no conflicts of interest between Common Ground and its developer clients. As such, we require all developer clients to agree to the following code of ethics:
If selling the freehold, grant leases for a minimum of 125 years
Create an honest and realistic budget from day 1 to include contributions to reserves to cover at least the first re-decoration cycle and any items that may need to be renewed within the 1st ten years
Include snagging beyond the first 2 years, ideally up to 5 years
Rectify any building non-compliances or faults at your cost (never the leaseholders)
Do not sign long term “rental” agreements, where the rent of such equipment is added to the service charge. All too common with access control systems
Prevent the installation of equipment tying leaseholders to a single maintenance contractor
Create a leaseholder-run residents management company that has responsibility for the management (or appointment of managing agent)
Do not sub-contract the issuing of the final building compliance certificate to the same organisation that provides buildings warranties/insurance
Peppercorn ground rents (Now a requirement of The Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Act 2022)
Not to offer capped service charges to parts of a development (meaning other parts have to cover potential shortfalls)
Ensure the management company has responsibility for both selecting and arranging insurances
Sign up to this code of ethics and include it in their sales packs
Our services
“Having experienced a block managing agent that seemed to have no control over spending, it's refreshing to work with a managing agent that is 100% transparent. Their portal system enables tracking of maintenance tasks and their use of the Xero accounts systems means that directors can keep track of all expenditure. Highly recommneded.
Daniel
I very highly recommend Common Ground. Their conscientious team is highly professional, experienced and efficient, which is extremely reassuring to Directors and responsible owners of properties. They are pro-active, helping to plan ahead and to anticipate problems, which they can deal with firmly but sensitively. They are a pleasure to work with.
Clive
We moved to Common Ground from one of the large national agents. The list of maintenance items that required attention was growing longer and longer as we were moved from one property manager to the next. Common Ground stood out from the day the MD came to assess the site and fixed two of the outstanding maintenance items during that visit.
Common Ground worked through the maintenance items which we were able to track through their portal system. It’s also been a pleasure to have the same property manager and accountant throughout. The continuity is important, so it is good to work with an agent that retains its staff.
Hila
Our relatively small development was rescued by Common Ground after a disastrous initial situation caused by the inefficiency of the managing agents appointed by the developer. After examining the situation Common Ground came up with a first rate transparent management system which gave directors full and instant access to accounts and other matters, such as legal advice and rights of leaseholders. They make managing easy for directors and attend to everyday problems promptly.
Eddie
New clients
Would you like to discuss our services in more detail? Looking for greater financial transparency? We’d be happy to hear from you. Call us on 01491 525 940 or drop us a message…
Existing clients
Our portal is the best way to communicate with us regarding your property. It offers convenient access to important information about your property and allows you to report any issues you may have.