The Managing Agents

Who are Fowler & Spenceley Property Management?

Fowler & Spenceley Property Management (FSPM) is a firm of Chartered Surveyors and Property Managers who specialise in the management of residential leasehold, freehold and mixed use developments.

As a firm of Chartered Surveyors, we are entitled to use the "Regulated by RICS" designation. In a world where more and more people are demanding greater certainty of professional standards and ethics, attaining RICS status is the recognised mark of property professionalism. We fully support and abide by the Management Codes issued by the RICS.

We are based locally in Rochford and attend the Garrison at least once per week to carry out routine inspections, meet with contractors to review the services being provided and to discuss day to day matters with residents.

Our instructions come from our client, the Shoebury Garrison Management Company Ltd (SGMCL), which is the company ultimately responsible for the maintenance of the common parts of the Garrison. As agents, all actions we take are for and on behalf of our client. These will include ensuring our client meets its obligations under the terms of the leases in place and, in the case of freehold houses, the Transfer of Part of a Registered Title document (TP1). We also work closely with the GRA and its representatives to ensure that the actions taken are ultimately in the best interests of the residents of the Garrison.

At the Garrison, our role includes:

• Preparing an annual budget to provide an estimate of the anticipated estate and service charge expenditure
• Collecting Estate and Service charges from the freehold and leasehold owners
• Arranging routine maintenance and ad-hoc repairs to the external common areas and to the structure and common parts of the apartment blocks for which SGMCL is responsible, including cleaning and lighting Arranging the gardening and upkeep of the grounds
• Arranging the upkeep of communal apparatus and machinery, including pumps and lifts, etc.
• Undertaking regular inspections of the development for the purposes of day to day management

Whilst we will arrange the maintenance and repair of the estate’s common parts as well as the structure of those apartment blocks for which SGMCL is responsible, the owners of freehold houses are responsible for the maintenance of both the inside and outside of their own property and the leasehold owners are responsible for the maintenance of the interior of their property and the arrangement of any services which solely serve their property.

Not all of the communal areas are the responsibility of our client to maintain, much of the surrounding land falls under the control of the Essex Wildlife Trust, whilst the cricket pitch, parkland and tennis courts are the responsibility of Southend Council. Similarly, a number of the blocks of apartments are the responsibility of Moat Housing or the leasehold owners have joined together to acquire the freehold of the property and arrange the management services themselves. If you are unsure who may be responsible for a particular property or piece of land then please feel free to ask us.

FAQs

What are Estate & Service Charges?

These are the costs incurred in providing the services required at the Garrison and are funded by the individual leasehold and freehold property owners by way of their estate charges or service charges. On-account payments are collected every 6 months, in advance, on or around the 1st January and 1st July. These on account charges are determined by reference to the annual budget which we prepare to give an indication of anticipated expenditure for the coming year. The monies collected are held on trust, in a separately designated client bank account. As all expenditure incurred has to be paid from these accounts, the provision of the services is totally dependent on there being sufficient funds available which, in turn, can only be achieved by prompt settlement of the charges which we raise.

I have inconsiderate neighbours, what can you do?

There is something of a myth that as the managing agent we are able to resolve all neighbour disputes. The leases and estate covenants do deal with issues such as noise and other forms of anti-social behaviour and where possible we will seek our client’s instructions to enforce where practicable. Unfortunately this can be quite a long winded and potentially costly process, with a requirement for the person making the complaint to indemnify our client against all costs incurred in any enforcement action. Rather than taking such an approach it is often far better to try and get to know your neighbours. By doing so you will generally find that the majority of disputes can be resolved more simply if and when they arise.

My neighbours are keeping me awake by playing loud music into the night.

Excessive noise accounts for the majority of neighbour disputes. It is important that you are respectful to your neighbours by avoiding playing loud music, particularly late into the night and notifying them in advance when there will be additional noise, for example from workmen in your property. Where there is a history of noise nuisance, and where informal approaches have perhaps been ignored, you are advised to maintain a record of times and dates as to the occurrences and to contact either the Police or the Environmental Health Department at Southend Council. They are able to deal with the matter far more effectively than us as Managing Agents, having the power to issue abatement notices, fines and, in extreme cases, seize the equipment responsible for creating the noise.

I have noticed one of the streetlights out in my road, who shall I report it to?

If you live on one of the roads that have been adopted by the local authority you should report the problem to the Southend Council. This can be done by telephone on 01702 215003 or via the on online reporting form at www.southend.gov.uk. If you live on one of the unadopted and privately owned roads then please let us know and we will arrange for the matter to be dealt with.

How do I contact you?

If you have any questions concerning the management of the estate and what, as a leasehold or freehold owner, you should or shouldn’t do, then please do not hesitate to contact us: Fowler & Spenceley Property Management

Suite 5 Market Square Chambers
4 West Street
Rochford
Essex
SS4 1AL

Tel: 01702 808287
Email: info@fspm.co.uk 
Web: www.fspm.co.uk 

We also offer a “out of hours” emergency helpline for serious incidents which affect the structure of the property and/or common areas (as opposed to those issues affecting your property only). If the matter cannot wait until the next working day, the number to call, from 5:30pm until 9:00am or anytime at weekends or during public holidays, is 0843 659 7037.

We would remind you that acting for the SGMCL our remit only extends to the areas within their control. This will include the unadopted roadways and common spaces, as well as the structure and communal areas of the various blocks of apartments who have not acquired their freehold or are not under the ownership of Moat Homes.