Author
Stewart Tan.
Stewart Tan writes Gena Property Management’s plain-English guides to leasehold living, service charges and residential block management — written for leaseholders and directors, not lawyers. Gena manages residential blocks across Greater London and into Surrey.
20 articles · info@genapm.com
Where’s My Package? The “Delivered” Myth Under the Consumer Rights Act
A courier dropping a package wherever they feel like it does not constitute a legal delivery. Section 29 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015, the three scenarios that count, and a template to send the retailer.
ReadWhere Did All the Extinguishers Go? Why London Fire Brigade Doesn't Want Them in Your Block's Corridors
Ever taken a walk down the communal hallway of your apartment building and wondered, Where are the fire extinguishers?
ReadMajor Works & Section 20: When Is a Managing Agent Not Enough?
Property management comes with a lot of moving parts, but few things cause leaseholders more anxiety than major works.
ReadNavigating the 5-Year EWS1 Deadline: What Leaseholders Need to Know
For many flat owners, the EWS1 form has been a crucial key to selling or remortgaging their homes since its introduction in December 2019.
ReadThe Great Billing Mystery: Why Is My New Agent Charging Me for a Full Year?
If you've ever opened a service charge invoice from a brand-new managing agent only to see a bill for the entire year, you've likely felt a surge of "billing whiplash." But property management operates on two different, and often clashing, timelines.
ReadThe Financial Roadmap: Understanding Your Block's Budget and Reserves
Managing a residential block is, in many ways, like running a small business. To keep the building safe, clean, and well-maintained, we need a clear financial roadmap.
ReadWhy we charge a one-off Set-Up Fee
When a new management company takes over a block, it's rarely a "plug-and-play" situation. More often than not, it's a rescue mission.
ReadCompanies House Director Personal Code
If you are a director of a Residential Management Company (RMC) or a Right to Manage (RTM) company, the clock has already run out on the old way of doing things.
ReadMajor Works: Navigating the Section 20 Framework
In the realm of block management, the term "Major Works" is often met with trepidation.
ReadPlanning Renovations in Your Flat?
Renovating your home is exciting — whether you're refreshing a tired kitchen, opening up a living space, or replacing your bathroom suite.
ReadWhy Fire Safety Rules Ban Items in Communal Areas (Even When They're 'Out of the Way')
You've just moved into a sleek new flat.
ReadThe Power of Precision: Why Accurate Fault Reporting Saves Time and Money
When something goes wrong in your building—whether it's a flickering light in the hallway or a mysterious leak—your first instinct is likely to get it fixed as fast as possible.
ReadThe Property Insurance Maze: What You Actually Need (and What You're Double-Paying For)
If you own a property, the paperwork can be overwhelming. You likely have a stack of policy documents that all sound vaguely similar.
ReadWhy Your Managing Agent Seems Powerless Against Noise Nuisance (And What to Do Instead)
If you live in a leasehold flat, you probably know the drill.
ReadWhose Wall Is It Anyway? A Leaseholder's Guide to Your Demise and the Service Charge
Understanding what is your responsibility versus what is communal can save you a world of confusion, disputes, and unexpected costs.
ReadDecoding Your Service Charge: Why Costs for Leaseholders Are on the Rise
For millions of leaseholders across the country, the arrival of the annual service charge demand can be a moment of genuine anxiety.
ReadIs Your Front Door Just an Entrance? Think Again – It's a Lifesaver
Your front door is the first thing you see when you come home. But in a block of flats, your front door has another, far more critical role: it's a fire door.
ReadCaught on camera, protected by the law
For larger blocks, it is not uncommon to have parcels stolen. Many leaseholders opt to get CCTV installed to find the perpetrators.
ReadA Guide to Running Your Residents' Management Company
When you own a property in the building, you typically become a member of the company, which gives you a say in how your building is managed.
ReadWhy are energy standing charges so high since the Russian invasion of Ukraine?
The Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 resulted in a huge spike in energy prices which has settled down in recent years.
ReadLet’s talk
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