Property management comes with a lot of moving parts, but few things cause leaseholders more anxiety than major works. Whether it’s a full roof replacement, external redecoration, or structural repairs, these projects are expensive, time-consuming, and heavily regulated. At Gena, we do things a little differently than most managing agents. We believe in fairness and transparency, which is why we don’t charge extra fees for administering major works or handling Section 20 noti

Navigating 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. However, as the earliest forms reach their five-year expiry dates, many leaseholders and building owners have been left wondering if they will face further hurdles. Thankfully, joint industry updates in 2025 has provided some much-needed clarity and relief. Why Did EWS1 Fo

If you’ve ever opened a service charge invoice from a brand-new managing agent only to see a bill for the entire year—even though they only took over the building last Tuesday—you’ve likely felt a surge of "billing whiplash." It feels counterintuitive. In almost every other walk of life, you pay the person who did the work for the time they did it. But property management operates on two different, and often clashing, timelines. Here is the breakdown of why your invoice looks

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. Under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act , identity verification is now a hard requirement. Without a Companies House Personal Code , you cannot file your company’s annual Confirmation Statement. If you miss that filing, your company risks being struck off the register—a disaster that can freeze your b

A Leaseholder's Guide to Getting It Right — everything you need to know before carrying out works on your leasehold flat.

If you live in a leasehold flat, you probably know the drill. It’s 11 PM on a Tuesday, the bass is thumping from the floor above, and you are composing an angry email to your managing agent. You expect them to swoop in, enforce the lease, and silence the problem. Instead, you get a generic "reminder letter" sent to all residents. The noise continues. You complain again. The agent seems reluctant, tired, or even "listless" in their response. It’s easy to blame the agent for be

Every lease is different. It’s the most important, and sometimes most frustrating, principle of property ownership in England. Understanding what is your responsibility versus what is communal can save you a world of confusion, disputes, and unexpected costs down the line. The key to unlocking this puzzle lies in two fundamental concepts: the demised premises and the service charge . In simple terms, it's the difference between "what's yours" and "what's ours." The "Demised

Your front door is the first thing you see when you come home and the last thing you secure when you leave. It’s a symbol of your personal space, your security, your sanctuary. But in a block of flats, your front door has another, far more critical role: it's a fire door. And understanding its importance, and your responsibility for it, has never been more vital. For years, the humble flat entrance door was often overlooked. As long as it locked, it was fine. However, in the

For larger blocks, it is not uncommon to have parcels stolen. Many leaseholders opt to get CCTV installed in a bid to find the perpetrators. In practice, this is more difficult than it seems. The main reason is that data protection laws protect the identity of the suspects. When a theft occurs in a residential building, the presence of clear CCTV footage presents a legal dilemma. Despite capturing an incident, property managers are legally restricted from publicly displaying

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. This guide is designed to help leaseholders and flat owners understand the key responsibilities involved in running a residents' management company (RMC) or freehold company. Your Company's Structure: Limited by Guarantee Most RMCs are set up as private companies limited by guarantee .[^1] This structure is designed for non-profit o