Merritt can provide comprehensive surveying services using our experienced, qualified surveyors.
Services include:
• Preparation of ‘Planned Maintenance Programmes’, providing essential guidance for long-term financial planning.
• Maintenance Surveying – specification of works and contract administration for major redecoration and repair projects.
• Building Surveying- Refurbishment projects, defects analysis, building pathology and condition surveys
We also undertake full administration duties and consultation with qualifying leaseholders as required under Section 20 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 (as amended) for qualifying works (i.e. works costing more than £250.00 per any one lessee).
In addition, we offer a comprehensive development service to clients who are considering developing part of their property. This work can range from the conversion of the basement in a block of flats to the redevelopment of an entire site. Services associated with this kind of work that we can offer include:
• Planning Co-ordinator services for clients requiring the appointment under the Health and Safety- CDM Regulations
• Party Wall Matters
• Planning and Building Regulation Applications.
• Project Management.
• Architectural Design Feasibilities for Development Opportunities.
Our surveying service is also available to individual lessees and we are happy to meet you on site to discuss your needs.
FREEHOLD PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT
Merritt have a team of dedicated staff with expertise in property management, customer service, major works, accounts and administration all purely focused on the portfolios of our freehold Investor clients.
In order to protect your investment financially and legally, our ‘Freehold Investor Team’:
• Provide a first point of contact for individual lessee enquiries
• Cover all the day-to-day management issues
• Ensure all areas of the lease are complied with
• Keep up to date with current property legislation
• Customise the level of communication you require with us
• Liaise directly with your chosen professionals (solicitors, brokers etc.) or offer to use those from our own pool of tried and tested companies
And in the vast majority of cases the lease allows for our fee to be recovered from the service charges – so the above is included at no cost to the freeholder.
INSURANCE
Merritt has forged close links with a small number of selected brokers who have access to all major insurance companies. We are confident that we can obtain the best possible terms and service levels for our clients.
It must be noted that some leases restrict who can arrange insurance cover. Where the client is a freeholder, the lease may entitle them to arrange the insurance themselves.
We use the range of our expertise to ensure that our clients have the correct level of cover for their properties. This expertise extends further in the event of a claim where we liaise with residents and clients to ensure that the paperwork is processed quickly and that repairs are carried out promptly.
Where properties have lifts, communal boilers or other such equipment it is essential that there is an Engineering Insurance policy in place. Not only will this cover any accidental damage but these policies also include specialist inspections of the equipment at regular intervals. Statutory inspection is required for lifts, certain boilers and pumps and other lifting equipment.
Some of our clients have areas that are not covered by any buildings insurance policy. These could include private roadways, pavements and other areas. In these cases, we arrange a ‘public liability and material damage policy’ to cover the client’s liability to and for any damage caused by any third party using the area.
The vast majority of our clients now require ‘Directors and Officers’ Insurance to cover the liabilities of the elected Officers of their company and we can easily arrange this via one of our brokers.
We care about the insurance needs of our clients and we will ensure that they receive the right cover, whatever the circumstances.
For more details on our products and services, please feel free to visit us at residential block management, Leasehold management companies, estate management services, apartment block management, leasehold property management