The Block Insure News on the Block property Management awards 2010-11 introducing the winners...

Many of the biggest names in UK property management attended the sold-out event.

London Property Management Company of the Year

Sponsored by: SLC Solicitors

WINNER: Ringley

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Crabtree Property Management and Granville & Co.

FINALISTS: Granville and Co, Rendall and Rittner, Crabtree, Chainbow, Mainstay and RingleyEstablished in 1997, Ringley is a property services company that provides consumers and business clients alike with a comprehensive range of property solutions including surveys, valuations, property/facilities management and sales and lettings. With a head-office in Camden Town, London NW1, Ringley’s managed portfolio covers 250 blocks in England. Ringley manages just under 10,000 properties and spends over £7 million each year on maintenance and refurbishment, preferring to restore than replace. Ringley particularly impressed the judges by their commitment to the end user, their innovation (particularly their simplification of the lease) and their user friendly website.

Regional Property Management Company of the Year, sponsored by Deacon Insurance

WINNER: Premier Estates

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Cotswold Property Management Services and RMG.

FINALISTS: Cotswold Property Management Services, Premier Estates, Amax Estates, Regalty Estates, Curry & Partners and RMG.

Premier Estates was established in 1998 as a result of a management buyout of a private property management department of a small housing association. Since then, the company has grown organically and are now managing 275 developments comprising approximately 11,000 properties. Premier Estates particularly impressed the judges by their proactive transparency in avoiding conflicts of interest. One RMC director commented: “they are made to feel confident that all issues are in the hands of professionals” and another complimented their good communication: “you respond to voice mails/emails promptly, politely, and with a sensible degree of common sense”.

London Property Manager of the Year, sponsored by Shared Dish Systems

WINNER: Maxine Fothergill of AMAX Estates

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Christopher Burbridge of Pembertons and Richard Engel of Brickman Yale

FINALISTS: Maxine Fothergill of AMAX Estates, Christopher Burbridge of Pembertons, Richard Engel of Brickman Yale, Gail Preston of Chainbow and Richard Marnell of Consort

Maxine Forthergill is the Managing Director of AMAX Estates, an independently owned company specializing in block management and other property services in Kent and the Greater London Area. Previously, Maxine has received public recognition by the police and the local council by being presented with the “Keeping Bexley Safe” Award in 2009. In 2010, she was elected a local ward councillor. Maxine is an experienced and well qualified property manager who impressed the judges as a problem solver and by her resilience in combating anti social behaviour using limited resources and making best use of statutory bodies and other organisations.

Regional Property Manager of the Year, sponsored by SLC Solicitors

WINNER: Elizabeth McDougall of Cotswold Property Management Services

HIGHLY COMMENDED: William Marshall of Adair Paxton and Ian Lawson of Grainger Plc.

FINALISTS: Maxine Fothergill of Amax Estates, Elizabeth McDougall of Cotswold Property Management Services, William Marshall of Adair Paxton, Alan Williamson of Regalty Estates, Louise Mullis of RMG Group and Ian Lawson of Grainger Plc.

Gloucestershire based Cotswold Property Management Services deal with residential and commercial property management, from apartment blocks or private residential estates where the management of communal areas is required and a service charge applicable, to managing all types of commercial property. Elizabeth McDougall pipped her rivals to the post by impressing the judges with her ability to work with RMC directors and involve them in agreeing planned maintenance and management of reserves. She also demonstrated a real commitment to getting the best insurance deals, and was praised by her customers for demonstrating “...a high level of professionalism and competence.”

Block Insurer of the Year, sponsored by JJ Homes

WINNER: 1st Sure

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Deacon

FINALISTS: 1st Sure, Deacon and Kingsborough Insurance

Niche flats insurance specialist 1st Sure is aiming to raise the bar for the insurance rights of flat owners and treat them as home owners, whilst recognising the contractual complexity of the flats insurance market. Although relatively new to the flats insurance market, their parent company, Midway Insurance Services, is well known in the sector with significant market share and can boast six insurance industry awards. Their outstanding reputation for excellent customer service has been embedded in the 1st Sure business culture such that the judges were very impressed with the way 1st Sure tailor made their policies to specifically suit RMC policy holders.

Contractor of the Year, sponsored by RMG

WINNER: Sitex Orbis

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Ground Level

FINALISTS: The GOL Group, Contract Management Services (Northern), Ground Level, Garden Renaissance Services, and Sitex Orbis

With 11 branches spread across 40 locations, SitexOrbis is the UK’s leading provider of integrated property security services. The company spends a lot of time working with social housing and private property management companies, helping them keep their void properties safe and secure. The Judges were particularly impressed by the way SitexOrbis worked hard to implement a new business plan and to turn the company around following a restructureand feedback from clients. Their commitment to the “mould challenge” (eradicating mould and bacteria from vacant flats) particularly resonated with the judges.

Professional Services, sponsored by Brothers Services

WINNER: Adiuvo

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Landmark Leasehold Advisory Services

FINALISTS: Adiuvo, Clarke Wilmott LLP, Landmark Leasehold Advisory Services Ltd, Qube Global Software and SLC Solicitors

Adiuvo is a unique company which provides out of hours call handling and assistance for managing agents with the aim of giving lessees the same level of assistance out of hours as they would recieve in hours. The company is now responsible for in excess of 120,000 units out of hours. Adiuvo impressed the judges by the way they had filled a definite gap in the market and by their innovative bespoke IT system. There are also not many companies who can claim to have not lost a client in four years.

Young Property Manager of the Year, sponsored by Qube Global Software

WINNER: Gail Preston of Chainbow

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Victoria Beadle and Jacob Benouaich

FINALISTS: Victoria Beadle of OM Property Management, Gail Preston of Chainbow, Jacob Benouaich of Brickman Yale, Louise Mullis of RMG Group, Dan Steer of Mainstay and Aisha Jehangi of Chainbow

Gail Preston is New Business Manager at managing agents Chainbow, where she has worked for almost three years. She is responsible for integrating developments that appoint Chainbow as managing agents into the company’s systems and processes. Chainbow currently manages 114 developments with more than 4,800 units throughout London and surrounding counties. Gail received consistently high praise from customers and particularly impressed the judges with her forensic eye for detail in driving through savings for leaseholders. She showed that she is mindful of the financial “bottom line”, at the same time as being customer focused.