Residents Managed Developments | RMCs

Resident Directors

Becoming a Director of a Residents’ Management Company (RMC) or a Right to Manage Company (RTM) and taking on responsibility for the day-to-day management and maintenance of your development is a significant commitment.

We understand the pressures and complexities that property management places on Resident Directors and we’re here to help. With deep expertise and a proven approach, we support over 1,700 resident-managed developments across the UK.

We care deeply about preserving the value of the homes and developments we manage, and all our specialist resource and expertise is in-house. From health and safety, surveying and procurement through to finance and legal – we’ve got it covered.

We work with RMC and RTM companies across the UK, helping them to deliver a consistent, high-quality service for homeowners and ensuring they meet all management and legal obligations.

Milton Keynes, UK houses and playground by water.

What is a Residents’ Management Company?

A Residents’ Management Company (RMC) is often set up to support the interests of those who share private communal areas with their neighbours and to give residents more say in how their development is cared for.

This is usually set up by the original developer of the building or estate and consists of equal members or shareholders, who are typically homeowners in the development.

What is an RMC responsible for?

The management and maintenance of the building and common areas, as well as compliance with the obligations of the deeds or lease for each home, is the responsibility of the RMC.

They’ll also look after a range of statutory requirements, for example following changes in health and safety legislation.

The Directors of the RMC, who are volunteers and appointed by the homeowners at the development, decide how best to achieve this – either by self-managing or, in most cases, by appointing a professional Property Manager, such as us, to do it for them.

Property Management Explained

What is a Right to Manage Company?

Our approach makes the difference

As a Resident Director, you want peace of mind and regular, proactive communication from your managing agent. Our commitment is to make sure that all the important parts of caring for your development are carried out consistently and to high standards – so that you can just focus on enjoying your community.

The Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002 introduced The Right to Manage (RTM)

It gives leaseholders the statutory right to take over the management of their property from the landlord by setting up a special company – a Right to Manage Company. It’s only available to leaseholders of flats, not houses, and Right to Manage Companies can either manage the building themselves or appoint a professional managing agent to work on their behalf. Before starting the process, it’s important to seek advice from a qualified solicitor. Once you have that in place, we’re here to help you every step of the way.

Health & Safety

After being the first Managing Agent to achieve a five-star rating, we are celebrating our 10th year of holding four or five stars within the industry. 

British Safety Council

Modern residential buildings in London's Paddington Basin.

Great Customer Communication

We aim to communicate with you in a friendly, transparent and proactive way. We take this approach to all aspects of our service, from taking time to understand your plans for your development to ensuring residents can quickly and easily report and track issues. We want to be easy to do business with and provide great service.

Healthy Estate Finances

We take looking after our customers’ money very seriously. We always operate to the highest levels of regulation and integrity. We always consult on major expenditure and are open and transparent about how we manage your development’s budget.

Red miniature house on a stack of British one-pound coins.

How we help Resident Managed Developments

We understand that RMC and RTM Directors are looking for value for money from their managing agent and a service they can trust.

Working in partnership with you, we will:

Conduct regular site visits and assess performance
Ensure health and safety, fire risk assessment and asset compliance
Issue service charge budgets and accounts and collect and process service charge payments
Manage repairs, maintenance and major works
Work with our national network of specialist suppliers
Provide out of hours emergency support
Recruit and manage on-site staff
Ensure appropriate key insurance is in place
Provide financial, maintenance and management information via our online portal
Maintain interest bearing client bank accounts held under statutory trust

We can also act as your Company Secretary and registered office if required.

Frequently asked questions

Good directors are fundamental to the success of a Residents’ Management Company. As a director of a limited company, the UK law states that each RMC director must:
- Follow the Residents’ Management Company’s rules as laid down in its Memorandum and Articles of Association.
- Always make decisions for the benefit of the RMC and its leaseholder members – never for the individual.
- Maintain statutory company records, report any changes and ensure all mandatory returns are filed with Companies House and HMRC.
- Ensure the RMC service charge accounts present an honest and fair picture of the RMC’s finances.
- Ensure compliance with all relevant health and safety and fire risk legislation.
- Arrange the necessary insurance cover to help them fulfil their responsibilities as a director, to ensure both they and the development are adequately protected.
- Ensure that the obligations of the lease are carried out by the managing agent.
- Promote the success of the company for the benefit of its members.
- Inform the other directors and shareholders of any potential conflict of interest or if any director might profit personally from a transaction the RMC makes.
In short, RMC directors must comply with all of the above and carry out specific annual duties, many of which include liaison and agreement with your appointed managing agent. These include:
- Preparing the RMC statutory accounts, signing and submitting to Companies House as well as the Confirmation Statement and all changes (i.e. appointments, resignations, change of registered office, etc.)
- Arranging the signing of all other statutory documents.
- Approving the annual service charge budget.
- Operating on a board with other RMC directors and attending meetings with your appointed managing agent.
- Working with the managing agent on expenditure and major works.
- Providing clear instructions to the managing agent for all other items that may affect the smooth running of your development.
If you’re considering changing your managing agent, here are a few of our top tips for tendering:
- Don’t feel daunted about changing your managing agent. Remember, you’re the customer.
- Make a note of all your requirements in a documented brief.
- Shortlist potential managing agents and interview each of them against your requirements.
- Invite your preferred agents to tender, setting them a clear deadline to submit their proposal.
- Review the submissions before inviting each of them to present their proposals.
- Determine how well each agent matches your requirements and the needs of your development.
- Ensure that your decision criteria is a blend of capability, service, price and personal chemistry.
- Make your choice. Advise the unsuccessful bidders by phone and in writing and be ready to give feedback.
- Appoint your chosen partner by phone and in writing, then work together on the handover timeline.
If your appointed managing agent is a member of a professional or trade association, such as the The Property Institute (TPI), professional indemnity insurance will be an automatic condition of their membership.

However, there are also statutes in UK law that place personal liability for a range of risks on RMC directors themselves. The insurances a Residents’ Management Company will need to consider include:
Appointing a professional managing agent is fundamental to the success of the Residents’ Management Company. It’s a complex role that requires knowledge of landlord and tenant law, building construction, health and safety regulations, basic accounting and more.

The relationship you have with your managing agent should be based on a partnership and you should expect nothing less than the highest standards of property management. Here are some of the key things you should expect when partnering with a professional agent:
- The service charge structure should be clear and transparent.
- Service charge funds should be held in a dedicated account.
- There should be a process in place for setting, collecting and allocating the service charge to guarantee value for money.
- Health and safety considerations for residents, visitors, staff and third-party contractors should be in place, in date and fit for purpose.
- Agents should respond to repairs, scheduled maintenance, inspections, major works and use sub-contractors in a timely manner.
- Personnel assigned to the building should have the relevant qualifications, industry accreditations, and competence in landlord and tenant law, building construction, health and safety regulations, basic accounting, technology, leaseholder communications and customer service.
- Sub-contracted work should follow clear and thorough processes.

Resident managed developments

Resident Directors

What is a Residents’ Management Company?

What is an RMC responsible for?

What is a Right to Manage Company?

Our approach makes the difference

The Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002 introduced The Right to Manage (RTM)

Health & Safety

Great Customer Communication

Healthy Estate Finances

How we help Resident Managed Developments

Free Development Assessment

Frequently asked questions

The Health and Safety risk assessment

The property management company and contractors

Fire safety

Electrical safety

Legionella, hazardous substances and asbestos

Expert property management for RMCs and RTMs