Control and prevent damp… Condensation is your enemy! Here’s how to reduce it!

One of the most common causes of damp – is;

Poor ventilation!

However, it may be caused by other factors… such as poor insulation, the use of bottled gas fires and paraffin heaters – which can bring large amounts of water vapour into the air. Leaving empty homes closed up and unheated also attracts damp.

But you can avoid this by;

– Properly ventilating your home by ensuring that air bricks are not papered over internally or being blocked up outside. A simple look around should determine whether this is the problem and can be easily resolved by fitting a decorative grill!

-Giving your home the proper insulation it needs by injecting cavity wall insulation or using thin polystyrene lining that can be put up like wallpaper and then papered over! Preventing the walls from going cold and stops condensation forming is key!

-Extractor fans in the kitchen and bathroom can also increase ventilation and lessen excess moisture. Dehumidifiers can also be used if you want to go that extra mile during the winter months!

-Try to air your clothes outside after washing… as this stops any excess moisture from being trapped when you air them inside!

-When cooking food make sure you open a window and keep the kitchen door closed, the moisture from your steaming pots can build up moisture in cooler rooms causing condensation when it touches a cold window for example! The same goes for taking a shower and putting the kettle on… so keep your doors closed and windows open!

Tips on keeping warm this winter……

How to save on heating bills!

With the temperatures dropping, everyone immediately turns the thermostat up, but that means higher bills…

To avoid sky high heating bills this winter here are some simple no cost to low cost tips and tricks to help keep your home warm:

• Move furniture away from vents to help heat circulate the room
• If you have a ceiling fan, set the rotation to a clockwise direction to help push heat down from the ceiling
• Roll up a towel to use as a make shift draught excluder and place at the bottom of doors and by windows to keep drafts at bay – other homemade draft excluders can be- an old pair of tights stuffed with old socks or newspaper, you can also use old trousers and sew up the legs, old curtains – the possibilities are endless… and cheap!
• Close the door in the room you’re in to trap in the heat and close doors to unused rooms. Think of all that wasted heat that’s travelling through those empty rooms… it just doesn’t make sense! Use your head and keep those doors shut!
• Purchase weather strips and use them on your windows; they seal in the heat and stop air escaping. These are fairly cheap to buy and easy to apply, making them cost efficient and effective at keeping those bills low…
• Keep your radiators clear; don’t block them with furniture as it will absorb the heat. So yes that may mean moving your favourite chair from in front of the radiator as really it was stealing all that radiator heat!
• Set a timer for your heating to come on when you’re in the house and to go off when you’re out or when you go to bed – it’s not necessarily true that you should keep it on all day – especially when nobody is at home. Think of the money you could be saving!
• Invest in some thick curtains and they trap in the heat, but make sure to open them during the day to let the sunlight in –  use as much as all of that natural heat from the sun! then close them once dusk hits to make sure that your home retains as much heat as possible.

Theresa May has now formally triggered Article 50 and the countdown to leave the EU has started.

We were contacted by a director from a block of apartments where the residents had purchased the freehold. The had self-managed the site for several years but due to ill health and retirement they decided to look to appoint an agent to look after the running of the apartment blocks and grounds, freeing up their valuable time.

We initially asked to be sent the lease; this will establish if there are provisions to allow a managing agent to act on behalf of the company (the site).

Once we established the terms of the lease we arranged to meet the directors at the block, for us to see what is involved but also to introduce ourselves and pass over information on KT-Management and the services we provide and discuss the future plans of the site.

We received feedback from the directors after the meeting and we were told that they would like to use KT-Managements services.

Then we produced a contract between us and the directors (the site management company). The contract highlights what services are provided and the frequency. We also drew up specifications for gardeners and cleaners for each individual site and discuss these with the directors to make sure they are happy with the specifications put in place. The directors were able to give us their input on whether they wanted to continue using their current contractors or if they wanted us to obtain new quotes for new gardeners and window cleaners.

The final stages of the process was for us to set up new site bank accounts in line with the Landlords and Tenants Act and look at the accounts. Then we send out our welcome packs to residents with information of the handover along with contact numbers and our information. We also held a residents meeting so the residents could meet us and discuss the needs of the site where they live.

Some initial work and communication is needed when a site wants to appoint a managing agent like KT-Management but now the site in question are free from property management stress and they have more time to themselves whilst having the amount of involvement that they desire.

 We are pleased to announce that KT-Management have been ARMA-Q accredited.

Posted by ARMA-

We’re proud to announce more successful members to achieve ARMA-Q accreditation.

Congratulations to:

• KT Management Co (UK) Ltd

These members have successfully demonstrated that they meet the best industry standards through ARMA-Q – a powerful quality assurance to their current and potential clients that will give them a competitive edge.

In the UK at present there is no statutory regulation for property management companies to follow, which can lead to lots of inconsistences. This is why we became members of ARMA (Association of Residential Managing Agents).

ARMA-Q is the new self-regulatory regime for ARMA members. The Q stands for quality. By signing up to ARMA-Q we have shown that we are committed to providing the best service when managing your estate.

http://arma.org.uk/regulation/arma-q

When you live in a leasehold apartment it’s important the communal areas are well managed, so that they are safe and clean. Not only can it cause stress if the area that you live is badly kept it can also prevent you from trying to sell your property if you choose to do so.

We are often approached by leaseholders who are unhappy with their current managing agent or from site’s who self manage who want to free up their time from management.

Here are some tips of what to look for in a managing agent-

Response Time- How long did it take for your initial enquiry to be responded too? If you feel you had to wait too long this can be a bad sign.

Communication- Is there a good level of communication, so that you understand the process and all of your questions are answered.

ARMA- Are the managing agent’s members of ARMA (Association of Residential Managing Agents), the industry is currently unregulated and companies who are members of ARMA are showing a commitment to high standards. ARMA vet all members and promote excellent standards.

Experience- What experience do the managing agents have? How long have they been operating and what types of developments do they have experience managing?

Arrange a meeting- Can you arrange a meeting to meet the managing agents. This is a great way to get to know the company, the staff and discuss the site needs.

References- Ask for references from residents living on sites the managing agent manage and discuss their experience with using the managing agent.

Visit a site- Visit a site the managing agents manage and see for yourself the standards.

Finding the right management company is vital for the future of your site and your current happiness. Here at KT-Management we know communication is key, working together for a nice, safe and clean environment to live.

If you feel KT-Management could help you contact Kailee

kailee.hurdiss@kt-management.co.uk

01384 573637

The services we provide to residents and owners is in a nutshell is making sure the communal areas are clean, tidy and in a good state of repair, helping to keep the estate a nice place to live. Communicating well with residents and managing cash flow for the best interests of the site for today and for the future.

We also work in accordance to the lease which can impact the services we provide. For example we have come across leases that state the owners themselves are to clean the windows and not the management company.

We like to take the proactive approach, here is some of what’s involved in property management;

Daily Management

• Communication with residents informing of site visits and AGMs
• Manage suppliers and contractors
• Make sure appropriate insurance is in place
• Regular site visits with a 30 point check list
• Annual fire and health and safety risk assessments
• Site meetings

Financial Management

• Produce budgets for the year ahead for the sites needs
• Lease reviews to make sure our service is compliant
• Work with an independent professionals to prepare a long term maintenance plan
• In addition to a current client account we set up a second account for the reserve fund
• We collect and hold service charges in clients accounts in accordance with section 42 of the Landlord and Tenants Act 1987
• We can also collect ground rent
• We secure all records in accordance to data protection
• We prepare financial accounts each year to ensure every penny is accounted for

Purchasing a property is often the biggest financial commitment we make and we work hard to make sure your investment is well looked after.

 KT-Management have been looking after apartment sites for nearly 10 years. Our priority is for residents to be safe and happy within their homes.

Living in an apartment residents have to follow the terms of the lease, as do we at KT-Management. A lease will state that you are not permitted to store items in the communal area and there are various reasons why.

Safety– In the event of a fire we need to know all escape routes are clear for an easy exit

Hazardous– Items in the hall way can become a trip hazard.

Disabled access– Making sure there is amble room for disabled users to manoeuvre.

Unsightly–  Not only can it make the area look unsightly but bikes can often mark the wall.

Emergency Access– knowing emergency services can access each apartment easily .

This also means no storing in communal electrical cupboards. If a fire was to break out the items could set alight making the fire more intense also releasing toxins.

As part of our property management our property manager visits sites regularly to ensure all communal areas are clutter free.

Thank you in advance for keeping your communal area clutter free

KT-Management working together to provide a nice, safe, clean environment to live

 When buying a leasehold apartment you are agreeing to the terms of the lease. Within the lease and plans it will state which car parking space is for you to use.

It can be frustrating for residents when they come home to find their space is occupied by someone else.

Please all make sure you are using your correct car parking space, if you are a landlord please inform your agent/tenant and if you have visitors please inform them where to park.

KT-Management-Working together to provide a nice, clean and safe environment to live.

When living in an apartment it’s important to consider those living around you.

If you are subject to noise nuisance it can become very stressful, you can lose sleep and feel frustrated in your home. If you are disturbed by a noisy neighbour make sure you politely speak to them regarding the noise, as they may not be aware they are making any. If you have spoken to your neighbour but the noise continues please feel free to contact us if we are your management company and if they let the property we could inform the landlord who may be able to help. If noise continues-keep a log of the days and times that you are being disturbed and contacting the local council environmental health department can also help.

Living in a leasehold property there will be certain terms of the lease which will help protect you from noise nuisance such as

-No noise after 11pm or before 7am

-No pets

-No instruments

Any one breaking the terms of their lease could be at risk of losing their home

Please all be considerate to each other for a nice environment to live