St Michaels Road Hitchin (Blocks A, B, C, D & E) Management Company Ltd
The basics
As a leaseholder (flat owner), there are 3 companies you have contractual responsibilities to. Each of these companies employs a managing agent to act on their behalf. The agents may change from time to time, which can make things a little confusing. Here's a breakdown:
The Management Company
St Michaels Road Hitchin Management Company
Their Agent: MMAV Management (that’s us!)
MMAV, on St Michael’s behalf, is responsible for maintaining the communal areas of 9-87 Wedgewood Road, such as the gardens, the communal hallways and the parking areas.
As the agent, MMAV will assist St Michaels with its annual budget budget and collection of service charge payments from all the leaseholders to cover the cost. The annual fee is typically around £1200 per year and you might be paying this in monthly instalments.
Reasons to contact MMAV:
- Raise a maintenance issue if there’s anything wrong in the communal areas of the blocks of flats.
- If you’re selling your property, your solicitors will need to obtain an “LPE1 management pack” from them.
- If you change your contact information, or update your mortgage, you should let them know.
The Residents Association
St Michaels Road Hitchin Residents Association
Their Agent: Proactive Block Management
Responsible for maintaining the parks, trees and fencing around the wider area of St Michaels Estate, incorporating 260 flats and houses.
The agent will budget for and collect payments from all 260 homeowners to cover the costs of these works. The annual fee is typically around £130 per year.
Reasons to contact Proactive:
- Raise a maintenance issue if there’s anything wrong with the parks or roads on the wider St Michaels estate.
- If you’re selling your property, your solicitors may need to obtain a second “LPE1 management pack” from them.
- If you change your contact information, or update your mortgage, you should let them know.
Their email address: info@pbmlimited.co.uk
The Freeholder (building owner)
Fairway Property Investments Ltd
Their Agent: Sinclair Property
They own the building. You may be required to pay them ground rent, though many properties have negotiated a “peppercorn rent” when obtaining a lease extension, which lowers the ground rent payable to £0.
If applicable, the agent will contact you to collect ground typically twice per year. The amount varies from property to property.
Reasons to contact Sinclair:
- To make a Ground Rent payment.
- If you’re selling a property, your solicitor may need to receive confirmation from them of what your Ground Rent balance is, and confirmation whether you are in dispute with them. Whilst Sinclair will sell an “LPE1 management pack” to your solicitor, with our director’s experience in running a conveyancing law firm, he was able to proceed without this cost to his conveyancing clients in this block.