Overview
CPBigwood are independent experts specialising in managing flats/apartments, sheltered/retirement schemes and mixed use developments in established buildings or new build sites on behalf of house builders/developers, freehold investors and resident management companies.
We operate nationally from our Head Office in Birmingham with Property Managers also based at our London, Loughborough and Stratford upon Avon offices and currently manage around16,500 individual units in developments ranging from small individual blocks to large estates, comprising many hundreds of homes.
We are members of ARMA [the Association of Residential Managing Agents] with one of our Partners being a past Chairman of this body. We are also members of the RICS [Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors] and our trained and experienced staff include qualified members of both RICS and IRPM [Institute of Residential Property Management].
Our team is Partner led and consists of highly focused individuals each with their own specialist role and offering a friendly, efficient service. We have a wealth of experience and knowledge and are constantly looking for ways in which to improve the services that we offer. Communication is key to successful property management and as such each site has a named Property Management Team.
Developers
We are able to offer a professional and cost effective service to Developers, assisting in setting up the service charge arrangements for a proposed scheme.
We act throughout the country for most of the National House Builders as well as smaller independent developers from small schemes including the management of private roads and areas of shared land, small apartment buildings to large estates including mixed [residential, retail and commercial] use and mixed tenure [freehold, leasehold and rented] developments.
We tailor our service to meet the needs of the developer to include:
- Advice on initial service charge budgets.
- Advice on lease terms/convenants
- Health & Safety advice/ Risk management
- Designing-out future maintenance problems
- Collection of ground rents
The majority of our new instructions are from personal recommendations from existing clients and their advisors. Please get in touch if you need any property management advice and we will be happy to have a no-obligation discussion.
Resident Management Companies
We act for a range of clients including over 250 resident management companies. The majority of our new instructions are from personal recommendations from existing customers and their advisors.
The majority of our new instructions are from recommendations, so if you are a resident management company Director and are not satisfied with the service you are receiving from your current managing agent or if you are currently self-managing, contact us to find out the services that we can provide to you. Each resident management client will have a named Property Manager with a team of staff to deliver a professional service to include:
- Operating individual bank accounts for you along with credit control and arrears collection
- Maintenance using independent contractors
- Statutory consultation for major works
- Managing Health & Safety requirements
- Long term maintenance planning
- Regular planned site visits
- Lease Compliance
- Management Company Administration/Secretarial services
- Arranging the provision of building and other insurances
Right To Manage
Historically there have been two ways for a group of Lessees to take over the management of their building. the first was to prove poor management and have the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal appoint a manager; the second was to purchase the freehold. Both are lengthy and the later can be very costly.
The Commonhold & Leasehold Reform Act 2002 introduced the Right to Manage- often shortened to RTM and commonly called the "no fault" Right to Manage. Subject to meeting various requirements and the service of formal notices a group of Lessees can take over the management of their building without having to prove poor management or purchase the freehold.
We fully understand the qualifying criteria and formal procedures for exercising this right and can help Lessees take control of their management. There are many pitfalls for the unwary and many existing freeholders and managing agents deal with such claims very aggressively. It is also possible for us to work with Lessees to arrange for the management to transfer CPBigwood as their preferred Managing Agent by us discussing the options the current freeholder.
Initial general advice is available without charge and with no obligation.
Ground Rent & Lease Extension/Enfranchisement
CPBigwood manage a substantial portfolio of Freehold and Leasehold ground rents on behalf of a wide range of Clients including corporate Clients, developers, charities and private individuals.
The service provided includes the collection of ground rents and accounting to Clients on a quarterly basis or as required. Notices of Assignment and Charge are also dealt with together with applications for consent for Improvements and Sub-letting.
A key part of the work of the department is Leasehold Enfranchisement. CPBigwood are members of the Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners (ALEP).With reference to houses sales of Freehold and Head Leasehold Interests are negotiated by us on behalf of Clients under the terms of the Leasehold Reform Act 1967 and in respect of flats and apartments Lease Extensions and Collective Enfranchisements are negotiated under the terms of the Leasehold Reform Housing & Urban Development Act 1993.
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