"It is a comfort knowing they will deal with the contractors providing maintenance, facilities and services at our block of flats, together with any problems that arise.... They are professional, approachable and helpful and we are most grateful for the service they provide"

Trudy Kosky

For and on behalf of Avondale Court Residents Management Co Ltd

Services

Block Management

Residential block management is in our blood. Since the firm’s inception almost thirty years ago we have specialised in residential block management across the UK. When establishing the business, the family took the strategic decision not to offer letting or commercial management services. This policy has allowed us to focus on block management and perfect our service for lessees and clients alike.

Capstone manages buildings throughout London and the South East, along the South Coast and across England into Wales.

We carry out regular inspections on all properties wherever they are located and meet with our clients at agreed intervals. We have built up a network of trusted, fairly priced contractors to carry out work from the smallest of repairs to full scale refurbishment. Whilst our clients are those with responsibility for the management functions set out in the lease such as Investor Freeholders, Developers, Residents Management Companies and Right to Manage Companies, we see the role of the managing agent as bridging the gap between lessee and freeholder and making sure that the interests of both sides are met and protected.

We believe that there are companies out there who really care about the quality of the service they provide and we are one of them.

Emergency Service – We offer full emergency assistance 24/365

Service Charges

The service charge is administered with full transparency and the client has full control over the make-up of the budget (although we will propose an appropriate budget for the client to consider).

We send all the lessees a budget at the outset of the accounting years which details the items of expenditure for which we collect money on account. Among the items your service charge might cover, if required, are:

Gardening
Cleaning
Window Cleaning
Electricity for the communal areas of the block
Water for the block
General repairs
Health and safety Audit
Fire Risk Review (if there are internal communal areas)
A sum to put aside in a reserve fund (which is a gradual collection of funds to pay for major works carried out every few years such as refurbishment).
Our management fee.

Unlike many managing agents we complete the service charges accounts in-house and do not use an external accountant (unless full company accounts are required).

Our services enable lessees to enjoy their homes, avoid lessees becoming involved directly with disputes with neighbours and reduce the personal time that lessees would otherwise have to give in managing the property themselves

Major Works Management

We comply with leasehold legislation in respect of all work costing more than £250 per flat by means of the required statutory process known as “Section 20” legislation.

Full details of the statutory process for dealing with major works are given to each lessee when the first Notice of Intention to Carry Out Work is issued.

Where the scope of work requires it we instruct an independent chartered surveyor to prepare the specification of work. The surveyor’s charges are notified to the lessees at the beginning of the statutory process and the surveyor is bound by the code of conduct of The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.

Capstone charges for dealing with major works projects and again the fees are notified to lessees in advance.

For a more detailed explanation of how our block management service operates please download our brochure.

Portfolio Analysis for Investor Freeholders

Do you have responsibility for a portfolio of freeholds?

Have you reviewed all the leases relating to the properties in question?
Are you aware of all management obligations you have which may be specified in the lease?
Do you know which leaseholders should soon be looking to extend their leases?

If you would like us to go through all your leases and provide you with a schedule – including all of the above information – free of charge (conditions apply – please contact the office for details) then please be in touch.

Once you are in possession of this schedule you will rest easy in the knowledge that you are meeting your legal obligations in respect of your maintenance and health and fire safety obligations. You will also be reassured to know that you are collecting any income due to you.

Find out more

Lease Extensions

Capstone’s in-house lease specialist can advise and guide you towards the best solution to your short lease. Where necessary we work with specialists valuers and solicitors.

Enfranchisement

Are you looking to purchase your freehold or have you already done so?

We can manage the process of enfranchisement on behalf of groups of lessees. Where we are to be instructed in the management, our fees charged for managing the freehold purchase are nominal.

Insurance

We work with a trusted insurance broker with the buying power to ensure that the most comprehensive buildings insurance cover is achieved at the most reasonable price.. Over the last thirty years we have worked with various insurers to tweak cover so that the policy we arrange is tailored to blocks of flats living and experience has shown that the policy can be depended upon when required.

We assist fully with claims handling and since we maintain a block policy we have come to expect efficient claims handling from the insurer.

We also arrange for insurance revaluations at regular intervals in line with recommendations from the Association of British Insurers.

We only place cover with insurers of AAA financial strength.

Company Secretarial Services

SC Stone FCA & Co is our in-house accountancy firm and they offer the following services to RTM’s and RMC’s with the result that all the administration in relation to maintaining these companies is taken off the clients head.

Acting as company secretary
Administering the register of directors and shareholders
Filing annual return and accounts
Liaising with statutory authorities.

This service is offered at relatively low cost to our clients when compared to an outside accountant.

Health & Safety Management

Unlike many firms we maintain a dedicated department which deals with health, safety and fire risk management across our portfolio. We believe that through maintaining a specialist department we can be sure to keep up to date with evolving health and safety law, ensure that any previous recommendations are implemented and that any health and safety or fire equipment is regularly maintained.

Each year we complete a health and safety audit for each property. This acts as the roadmap for that year’s health and safety compliance and ensures that both our clients and their properties are always in compliance with current legislation.