Residential Property Management

Seriously, how hard is it to collect rent, sign leases and touch up paintwork? Well… Residential property management is a bit more than that. It’s dealing with day-to-day residential issues; knowing the rules and regulations; and, ultimately, managing people’s homes and investments.

It’s a huge responsibility – we repeat: these are people’s homes and investments – and that’s why residential property management is needed.

But which residential property management team?

The 80%.

Yes, most companies will look after the basics: routine and emergency maintenance & repair; preventative maintenance and major works planning; financial management and budgeting; routine inspections; approved contractors/service contracts; health & safety and fire risk compliance; insurance arrangement…

All the good stuff. Which we do.

If you’re looking for extra, though…

The 20%.

Integrity at work

At Wishtower, our experienced team has in-depth knowledge and experience of all aspects of residential property management — employing a level of care, expertise, transparency and integrity that is often missing elsewhere.

Our 20% on routine inspections is they’re more than routine: we don’t just do the four inspections specified in your contract and formally report on those; we’re far more frequently on site and carry out inspections often.

And our insurance arrangements aren’t just insurance arrangements: they’re teamwork (liaising with the necessary parties plus a panel of brokers we use) and subsequent monitoring and assessments (of fire safety standards, of health & safety requirements, of electrical installations…) to ensure the cover is correct and the building is continuously protected.

Answerable to many

We’re not only morally obligated by our professional memberships – we are associates of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and the Institute of Residential Property Managers – but we personally seek to serve our clients’ interests and provide customer services to leaseholders, too.

Reliable and responsive

For routine and emergency maintenance & repair, our 20% stand out is we have a wide network of skilled and vetted tradespeople — and we are always available. We don’t use a call centre, so if there’s an issue, night or day, you can call us or report the issue via our online portal.

With approved contractors/service contracts, we proudly employ a great network of skilled, approved and reliable tradespeople — and with health & safety and fire risk compliance, we use super-competent, super-knowledgeable contractors who make sure the buildings are fully-compliant with the latest regulations.

Budgeting considerations

For preventative maintenance and major works planning, it’s savvy forward-thinking and financing. This is so important because some of those works are so expensive! You really need to bring all the leaseholders along with you; so they clearly know when bills will be coming up. A reserve fund is vital, too. As are the little complimentary touches: when we provide a Section 20 Notice of Consultation, we do that gratis.

With financial management and budgeting, our 20% is a simple goal: that we never have to issue someone with a giant bill. We plan so everyone knows when the roof needs to be replaced and they have time to save for it.

Your protection is key

As associates of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), the Institute of Residential Property Managers (IRPM) and the Association of Residential Managing Agents (ARMA), we act on all requirements determined by our professional memberships. These include: regular ARMA audits; an annual Chartered Accountants Certificate proving our financial management procedures have been carried out in accordance with the ARMA Customer Charter Standards; annual certification that our Professional Indemnity Insurance is suitable; plus Money Protection schemes — because we understand people want to trust they can trust their managing agent to protect such substantial sums.

(We will, of course, also touch up your paintwork.)

Email us

‘It means making sure the call is returned before going home at night’

‘It means respecting all the parties needed to make a property tick over’

‘It means clean, simple agreements. No “charging fees on fees” from us’

‘It means giving clients and end users the highest level of service at all times’

‘It means great organisation and great communication’

#Extra20

Happy Clients

Don’t just take our word for it.

"Earlier this year the directors of our block of flats in central Eastbourne instructed Wishtower. The enthusiasm and knowledge that they applied in tackling the numerous problems left by the previous agents was eye opening. There’s still some way to go to resolving all our problems, but I personally have no doubt our block, of 26 flats, is in the best hands possible."

Mr R. HopkinsRTM director

“The Wishtower team are a step up. Very friendly, very easy to deal with and very knowledgeable. I accept property management will feel like herding cats sometimes, however Wishtower are incredibly efficient and helpful under some pretty difficult circumstances. I would happily recommend them to other residential blocks looking for good quality management companies.”

Mr & Mrs A. WilliamsRTM directors

“Wishtower took on a portfolio of commercial properties for the Trustees. They are transforming the offering – leases have been regeared, maintenance plans have been established, complaints from tenants have all but stopped. They obviously have the structure in place to deal with whatever issues are thrown at them. Not only have they increased income but they have secured the underlying asset and protected value.”

Trustees of the J. Mann Portfolio

“What a lovely team. It’s never nice to receive a huge and unexpected bill from managing agents but at least they spared the time to liaise with all of the leaseholders. All of the questions we had were answered fully and effectively. Whilst it was a bitter pill to swallow, hats off to them for their personable approach.”

Mrs P. BartlettLeaseholder

We have found Wishtower to be efficient and helpful with every aspect of running our flats. Any problem, however small, has been dealt with quickly and pleasantly. These are the absolute best agents that we have had. We would rather pay an agent that we can trust to put our interests first and maintain the property to a high standard. There is no comparison to the previous agents we have had. Wishtower are the best agents that we could wish for.

Mr & Mrs R NeishLeaseholders

I just wanted to drop you a line to say thank you so much for all your help with the sale of my flat. I understand that you were bombarded with enquiries and responded to all of them quickly and reliably, and I really do appreciate that. I'm also sorry that it was made so difficult! We have exchanged today, and you played a big part in making that happen. So thank you again, you've been great!

Ms J KrayLeaseholder

FAQ

Need to know more?

Does experience count in residential property management?

Very much so! Experience removes much of the potential for nasty surprises. And it pays off in the confidence a client gains when they see that every effort has been taken on their behalf to try to mitigate liabilities, protect valuable relationships with tenants, and project future financial impacts.

How can you reassure me of your capability?

Having a team of Chartered Surveyors and qualified IRPM managers provides our clients with assurance of the high standards set out by our professional bodies.

Can you help us with sourcing local tradespeople?

We’ve built up a comprehensive register of approved and vetted tradespeople and contractors which makes us well placed to find the right person for the job. That’s not to say that we’re not open to new relationships if our clients have had positive experiences elsewhere. What we won’t budge on is lowering our expectations of those contractors delivering a good job, communicating well, being sufficiently insured, and showing us that they adhere to all relevant health and safety legislation.

Why do you place such emphasis on relationships?

Everything is made better by a good relationship, and we have found that is particularly true in property management. And good relationships can’t be made in the heat of a problem. They have to be created on the strength of earned respect – following through on promises, making yourself available for questions, being considerate of the personal impact on a domestic setting, being clear and honest …. Just some of the required elements. As a people-oriented team, it’s second nature for us.

In what ways do you think you can bring value?

We want to go the extra mile. We don’t think it’s ok to do ‘just enough’. We want to make ourselves available, to offer advice based on experience, to protect all the involved parties and to broker strong, last-lasting relationships.

Blog

The #Extra20 Blogs

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The recent Valencia fire has sent shockwaves through not only communities worldwide, but once again ...

The Importance of Directors and Officers Liability Insurance

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As the director of a Freehold Company, Residents’ Management Company (RMC) or Right to Manage (RTM) ...

Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs)

Paul Henry2024-01-14T17:53:50+00:0014th January|

As part of ensuring a building is as safe as possible, there may be a requirement for Personal Emerg ...