© 2025 News On The Block. All rights reserved.
News on the Block is a trading name of Premier Property Media Ltd.
© 2025 News On The Block. All rights reserved.
News on the Block is a trading name of Premier Property Media Ltd.
One of the key ingredients for harmony in a residential development is to ensure that everyone gets on. It follows therefore that harmony among residents, will improve the chances of establishing a successful relationship with their managing agent.
One of the main drivers for commonhold when it was introduced in 2002 was that it enabled residents to have more control and a greater influence over the management of their block or development. However what use is this, if there is continual discord among the owners who make up the community? Whilst commonhold is still relatively untested, leasehold tenure remains and suffers from all the underlying frailties that a landlord/tenant relationship can create. Enfranchisement has reduced this to an extent. However despite ownership of the freehold transferring to the leaseholders, good relations between directors, residents and managing agent are still crucial, if the majority of residents are to be happy with the cost and quality of services provided.
All is not lost however, whilst we wait for commonhold to save us from those intractable arguments and disputes there is always mediation. Mediators believe that an argument, dispute or just plain animosity between individuals can be resolved by the very persons who are directly affected. However they often need a little help. The Oxford English Dictionary defi nes a mediator as a peacemaker between opposing sides with the aim of bringing about a settlement. Mediation aims to find a way of allowing individuals to find a mutually beneficial solution, which they may have been unlikely to do without the help of an impartial mediator. Mediators do not take sides or make judgements. They are simply responsible for developing eff ective communication and for achieving consensus between parties. The mediation process is voluntary, so a party cannot be forced to take part and can choose to withdraw from the process at any time. So, if you or your residents are encountering problems which you feel maybe resolved by mediation. Most areas will have a Mediation Service which you can contact- give it a go. Don’t forget, no problem is too great to be resolved!