News

Walton - on - the - naze seafront apartment exterior back

Michael embarks on first major project to renovate luxury seafront apartments at Walton-on-the-Naze

One of our newest Property Managers, Michael Buchan, took the challenge head-on when he was allocated the luxury seafront apartments in the former Walton-on-the-Naze railway station in his portfolio.

Converted to apartments more than 20 years ago, with some parts of the development now 100-years-old, the older buildings had started to suffer from the effects of the salty sea air and some of the original timber, plaster and render needed repairs and replacement.

Michael, who joined PMS in 2021 after gaining a Masters’ degree in Real Estate, explained: “It was quite daunting and a challenge. This was my first project involving such vast sums of money for a building of this type.

“The building has such character and there is a lovely courtyard and garden area. We wanted to ensure the building received the attention it deserved.”

When Michael took over managing the property, the reserve fund for long-term maintenance stood at close to £70,000, but the recommended work was going to cost more than £100,000.

Grant Sutton (left) and Michael Poole at Nicholsons Grove, where the timber cladding is in the process of being replaced. The black boarded section is the new cement-based replacement cladding.

Colchester leaseholders act to reduce fire risk from timber cladding

PMS helps flat owners in Colchester to act to reduce fire risks from decorative wooden cladding on their two and three-storey buildings by replacing it with Hardieplank©

The Burrows housing development in Earls Colne, Essex, managed by PMS Managing Estates

PMS Managing Estates secures new contracts despite Covid-19 challenges

We’re delighted to have secured a number of new contracts across Essex despite a challenging year interrupted by Covid-19 restrictions.

Tabor House Right To Manage Case Study for PMS Managing Estates Managing Agents in Essex

How PMS has helped us to exercise our Right to Manage our historic building

When the historic former grammar school building in Braintree was converted to 19 luxury one and two-bedroomed apartments, they proved popular with first-time buyers and people looking to downsize, including some former pupils.

ARMA advice on mortgages

Fire safety in blocks of flats and the current effects on the mortgage market

Advice from PMS Managing Estates for leaseholders about recent updates to fire safety and how this can effect leaseholders selling their properties including cladding

Spa Heights in Clerkenwell, Managed by PMS Managing Estates

Managing a major portfolio of East London properties

Working with the Magri Group and leaseholders, the PMS team has scheduled essential work and planned maintenance for the five-storey Spa Heights premises in Clerkenwell which needed major remedial works.

ARMA Ace Awards 2019

PMS shortlisted for two prestigious national awards

PMS Managing Estates - Managing Agents in Essex were finalists in the ARMA ACE AWARDS 2019

PMS Managing Estates, which manages a portfolio of nearly 6,500 homes across East Anglia, London and the Southeast was a finalist in two categories of the Association of Residential Managing Agents (ARMA) ACE Awards.

Following a rigorous shortlisting process by a panel of independent judges, PMS was shortlisted for Employer of the Year, and a Property Manager was shortlisted for Property Personality of the Year.

The Awards achieved a record number of high-quality entries this year. They recognise exceptional achievement by the UK’s leading residential managing agents and the work of their staff in improving the lives of over one million leaseholders across the country.

In 2018 PMS won the Larger Managing Agent of the Year award at the ARMA Ace awards. In 2017 long-serving Property Services Manager Sue Harness was highly commended for the Unsung Hero Award.

PMS Managing Director Daniel Malone said:

“Winning Large Managing Agent of the Year in 2018 was confirmation of our pledge to grow in an industry that will soon become regulated;

chesterwell housing estate by merseahomes

PMS Managing Estates chosen to support the Chesterwell development

When it comes to managing communal spaces on any large development, ensuring the funds are in place to carry out the work is vital.

It’s one of the important roles we undertake at PMS Managing Estates – and we’re particularly proud to be working with two of the most prestigious housebuilders in the Eastern region who are currently building more than 1600 homes on the Chesterwell development in north Colchester.

We were appointed to manage the amenity charge in 2018 by Mersea Homes and Countryside Properties, who were impressed by the services that we have built up as a Colchester-based managing agent over the past 32 years.

We are responsible for ensuring that all residents, whether in freehold houses or leasehold properties at Chesterwell, pay the annual amenity charge, which we hold in a special trust fund, from which contractors are paid for the work they undertake.

This includes managing each phase as it is built; Chesterwell will consist of woodland spaces,

Promotions and appointments as award-winning PMS expands portfolio

Promotions and appointments as award-winning PMS expands

We’re delighted to announce we’ve appointed new staff to support our expanding portfolio of properties across East Anglia, London and the South East of England, plus we’re celebrating exam successes!

Winners! Larger Managing Agent of the Year at ARMA Ace awards

PMS wins national Managing Agent of the Year award

The team at Colchester-based PMS Managing Estates have been celebrating success at the annual Association of Residential Managing Agents (ARMA) ACE Awards where they won Larger Managing Agent of the Year 2018.

arma ace awards PMS team photo

PMS shortlisted for two national awards

Colchester-based PMS Managing Estates has been shortlisted for two prestigious national awards, including one for a property manager who is shortlisted for Property Personality of the Year.

Colchester-based residential property managers, PMS Managing Estates, proved how quickly they respond when a group of South London leaseholders asked for help in taking over the right to manage (RTM) their building.

PMS seizes RTM opportunity

PMS Managing Estates, leading Colchester-based residential property managers proved how quickly they respond when a group of South London leaseholders asked for help in taking over the right to manage (RTM) their building.

blog of flats pms cover photo

Can I manage my own block of flats using RTM legislation?

Right to Manage (RTM) legislation allows leaseholders to take over management of their block of flats without having to prove fault on the Freeholder’s part. We highlight seven key things you need to consider before entering into RTM.

Will Parrick from Boydens (left) and Liam Furr, Director of PMS, stand together to warn against unregulated managing agents

Awards prove Colchester leads the way in property management

PMS Managing Estates and Boydens, two Essex property management companies, are leading the way in delivering award-winning services, proving Colchester is at the forefront of the nation for Property Management.

Sue Harness of PMS Managing Estates working as a property troubleshooter at the leading Leasehold management company in Essex

PMS shortlisted for three prestigious awards

PMS Managing Estates has been shortlisted for three prestigious national awards and is a finalist in the Regional Property Management Company of the Year category at the upcoming Property Management Awards

PMS has promoted two experienced employees to key leadership positions. Daniel Malone, who joined PMS Group eight years ago, is promoted to Managing Director and Liam Furr, who has worked for PMS for nine years, becomes Director of Property Management.

Promotions for property management experts

PMS has promoted two experienced employees to key leadership positions. Daniel Malone, who joined PMS Group eight years ago, is promoted to Managing Director and Liam Furr, who has worked for PMS for nine years, becomes Director of Property Management.

Will Parrick from Boydens (left) and Liam Furr, Director of PMS, stand together to warn against unregulated managing agents

PMS Managing Estates join forces with rival to drive up standards

PMS Managing Estates and Boydens are working together to warn against unregulated managing agents. The two are leading a campaign to request parliament regulated the managing agent business to raise standards of service to leaseholders.

Sue Harness of PMS Managing Estates working as a property troubleshooter at the leading Leasehold management company in Essex

Recognition for PMS at ARMA ACE Awards 2017

Our dedicated staff have been recognised at the inaugural Association of Residential Managing Agents (ARMA) ACE Awards which celebrate excellence and exceptional achievements of the UK’s residential managing agents.

PMS is proud to be a main sponsor of the award following a long-standing association through our Chairman Terry Sutton, who was on the original board and helped to set up the first awards in 2005.

PMS praises young award winners at Colchester Youth Awards 2017

Congratulations to Anna Trafford from University Centre Colchester for winning the Employee of the Year Award at the 2017 Colchester Youth Awards, held on 13 July.

Liam Furr, Marketing & New Business Coordinator at PMS Managing Estates

Q&A with our Director Liam Furr

In this Q&A session with members of the PMS Managing Estates team we find out just how easy it is to change your managing agent to us and the benefits you will see when you do so.

Two staff at Colchester-based PMS Managing Estates shortlisted for inaugural ARMA ACE Awards

PMS staff shortlisted for prestigious awards

Dedicated staff at Colchester-based PMS Managing Estates have been shortlisted in two categories of the inaugural Association of Residential Managing Agents (ARMA) ACE Awards.

Helping clients secure massive energy savings

PMS has teamed up with a specialist consultant The Archant Partnership to help clients secure savings of more than £38,700 on their energy-supply deals.

Budding Olympic gymnast Alice Kinsella has been given a helping hand on the road to Tokyo 2020 with sponsorship from Colchester-based PMS Managing Estates.

PMS supports Alice’s Olympic dream for Tokyo 2020

Budding Olympic gymnast Alice Kinsella has been given a helping hand on the road to Tokyo 2020 with sponsorship from Colchester-based PMS Managing Estates.

PMS Managing Estates saves leaseholders money on buildings insurance for their block in Walton-on-the-naze

PMS’ tenacity secures stunning savings

A tenacious PMS Property Manager was determined to tackle a huge insurance hike facing her clients following a revaluation. The Leaseholders at Great Eastern Court, the converted railway station at Walton-on-the-Naze, were facing a block insurance price rise of nearly £1,800 in two years.

PMS Managing Estates provide leasehold management services to blocks of flats in Hertfordshire

PMS goes flat out for new business across Essex & Suffolk

Colchester-based PMS Managing Estates, which looks after almost 160 developments across East Anglia, Crawley, London and Hertfordshire, has just secured two new contracts involving 105 flats.

How to buy your freehold

Why buy your freehold? Will it make my flat more saleable and if so what is the evidence for this? If you buy your own freehold, or a share of it, you don’t ever have to deal with a third party freeholder (and in some cases freeholders are absent). If you don’t own a share of your freehold you will be paying, typically in the Essex region anything from £150-£250 annually for ground rent.

Dean Everett - Associate Director at PMS Managing Estates - the leading property management company in the East of England

Dean’s delight at promotion to Associate Director

Dean Everett, a loyal and hardworking member of respected property management company PMS Managing Estates, is celebrating his recent promotion to Associate Director. He has been in the property industry for 19 years and with the Colchester-based firm since 2010.

Sue Harness of PMS Managing Estates working as a property troubleshooter at the leading Leasehold management company in Essex

Property troubleshooter Sue lifts the lid on her role

Leaks, lockouts, and parking issues are all in a day’s work for mother-of-two Sue Harness who works for us as our Senior Property Services Manager, or property troubleshooter. The unflappable 62-year-old’s soothing voice is the sound landlords in crisis first hear when they call for a property troubleshooter and dial our out-of-hours hotline if something goes wrong with one of the buildings or flats the firm manages.

Company restructure sparks fresh new look for PMS

Long-established Colchester property firm PMS Leasehold Management has split its business in two and rebranded giving its website a makeover in the process. The award-winning company has created a new division called PMS Managing Estates Limited, which represents the property management part of the business.

PMS founder meets region’s MPs to urge law reform

Respected Colchester businessman Terry Sutton has met with MPs Will Quince and Bernard Jenkin at Parliament to affect a legal change to make it harder for rogue property managing agents to mismanage leaseholders’ money and property. Terry, Chairman and founder of PMS Leasehold Management, along with Dr Nigel Glen, who runs the industry’s Association of Residential Managing Agents (ARMA), are spearheading a campaign for better regulation of the industry.

What does Right To Manage (RTM) mean?

Did you know that as a leaseholder you have the Right to Manage your own property in tandem with the other leaseholders in your block without your landlord’s permission? Since the introduction of the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act of 2002, leaseholders can take control by setting up a Right To Manage company (RTM).