Seeking managing agent but worried as difficult to find ones and change needs to happen

Hi all,

I have been living in my complex for 5 years, was happy at the start how things have been going so didn't think to much of it, but went to the AGMs and got involved etc..

I then put myself forward as a director as they were things annoying me. I have been incredibly dissatisfied with the managing agent. It has been the same one for the last 15 years and the place now has become an absolute state. Nothing is being done, finances are in shocking state.

I am going to the other directors who have been directors for a very long time, and I want to push to at least tender for managing agents. While we might need to pay more, we might get better service. Now they dont respond or anything, but happily add on their fee each month.

Is there a more easy to use list of managing agents as I find the "psr" register difficult to use and equally not much comes up on google. I am also then wondering how contracts work with a new managing agent. I really do want to put the best forward and make this area nice again.

In what area of the country is your complex? I can DM you a recommendation for a managing agent for the Dublin/Meath area.

Ask a few local companies to do quotes

It’ll be a bit of work to get new people but worth it.

Get a couple of other directors to work with you and make sure you record decisions and agreement.

Probably a good idea to find out how long the current contract runs for and when it's up for renewal. Try to persuade the other directors that, when that time comes, the OMC should seek competitive tenders (including from the current manager, if it wants to tender). That's an obviously sensible way of doing things which it will be very hard for the other directors to resist. Research other operators in the market and try to identify those that have a good reputation and that might be interested in tendering. Try to talk to people who live in other similar development in your area about who manages them and how satisfactory they find the service. I see no problem, when the time comes, with saying things like "I hear great things about the ABC Management Company. We should ask them to tender."

Be aware that the problem isn't necessarily that you have a poor management company. When this manager was appointed the OMC board may have been focussed on keeping costs down, and so the management contract may provide for a relatively low level of service and tight control of costs. If so, then you need to make sure that the next contract is not a cut-and-paste of the current one.

I agree with the previous posters. There is a bit of work involved in changing agents but if you do your research right it will definitely be worth the effort. Word of mouth from Directors who deal with other agents in invaluable. Also maintaining control of the bank account for the development is very important as the agent will be unable to spend funds without owners approval.

TomEdison said:

Probably a good idea to find out how long the current contract runs for and when it's up for renewal

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Its coming to the end of the current 3 year contract, but from what I have gathered its just been rolled over from contract to contract for the last 15 years.

TomEdison said:

Be aware that the problem isn't necessarily that you have a poor management company. When this manager was appointed the OMC board may have been focussed on keeping costs down

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Potentially the case, the current directors have been involved too since the start of the OMC, and they are incredibly focused on low costs, but I think to the detriment of everything. 20 Years in there is no sinking fund, nearly 100k in debtors and just about scrapping by. The current managing agent is incredibly poor on engagement, they do things/pay out without any collaboration and I feel the working relationship has ceased to exist now.

Threadser said:

In what area of the country is your complex?

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Ill pop you a message.

Thanks all, it's a hard one. I really do want the best for the area and those living in it. I am happy to put the work in and have been trying the last 2.5 years but feels its a battle.

When it comes to the current managing agent, whenever they are questioned about something, they become quite irate. Or if they are challenged. I have at times had to remind them that they do not live in the development, nor do they pay service charges so do not have a say. There has been numerous times where I have asked them to follow up on items, or to come back with me and then its met with silence for weeks and even with follow up its ignored. It is similar with the current directors. They do not question anything, they dont seek to want to make the complex better. There has been some members (nearly 10% of the members) who haven't paid service charges in 15 years. When I have asked what has been done or legal action I am knocked down and the 2 directors who have been involved for 15 years dont want to get involved with that they say.