Software for self-service freehold management

[owenking]

Hello all,

My company is looking to develop online services for landlords and leaseholders and I would really appreciate your feedback on our ideas.

One area I feel is not well provided for is freehold management (i.e. where there are multiple leasehold flats in a freehold property) and my understanding is that where leaseholders jointly own the freehold they will either:

(a) Run their own freehold management company (usually setup by a solicitor)
(b) Appoint a managing agent

Research so far suggests that people who do (a), especially for the first time, find this complicated and onerous and those who do (b) often feel ripped off!

Our initial thoughts are that we could provide an online service that automates many aspects of running a freehold management company, removing the need for a managing agent. This would really be most suitable for small blocks/converted houses and could perhaps do the following:

Interface automatically to Companies House to appoint directors/secretaries and file annual returns
Arrange and produce minutes for "virtual" company meetings by email, recording resolutions
Request and track payments from leaseholders
Prepare annual accounts

Do you feel that this would be a useful/valuable service?

Many thanks,

Owen.

[Gazou]

Our initial thoughts are that we could provide [2] an online service that automates many aspects of running a freehold management company, removing the need for a managing agent. This would really be most suitable for small blocks/converted houses and could perhaps do the following:


Interface automatically to Companies House to appoint directors/secretaries and file annual returns
Arrange and produce minutes for "virtual" company meetings by email, recording resolutions
Request and track payments from leaseholders
Prepare annual accounts

Do you feel that this would be a useful/valuable service?

Many thanks,

Owen.

I doubt it would be of much value but even if it were: -

(1) the value in providing it (per your list above) would seem likely very modest to the provider.

If a block is small, its accounts are not going to be complex, nor are procedures for requesting and tracking payments. Anyone able to find their way around a spreadsheet ought to be able to cope, especially if they have a prior year example to follow.

The minutes etc. might help some people out - but the charge would have to be small or else they could dispense with your services and just copy what you did for them the last year, changing the dates.

(2) the worth of managing agents is, surely, not in performing the tasks on your list, rather in arranging and overseeing and quality-controlling maintenance and repairs. The items on your list they probably do for the most part only as it is less convenient to them to see those task performed by others.