About Managing Agents & ARMA

What is a Managing Agent?

A managing agent is a person or firm that is appointed by the freeholder or the legal entity that has control of a property to manage that property on their behalf.

In the case of residential leasehold property (subject to the lease permitting such an appointment) the managing agent contracts with the freeholder or controlling entity to manage the property in accordance with the terms of the lease and statutory requirements. The freeholder may be an outside investor or, indeed, the lessees themselves. To fully understand the relationship between the freeholder, lessees and the managing agent where the lessees jointly own the freehold ARMA's Guidance Note 12 Lessees and Residents' Management Companies is downloadable from the Downloadable Publications page.

It should always be remembered that the managing agent is only the agent of the freeholder or the person/organisation with legal responsibility for the management of the property, thus the ultimate responsibility for the full and proper management of the property will always remain with such a party.

A lease is a contract between the lessee and the freeholder (often referred to as the lessor) to which the managing agent is not normally a party.

What ARMA is

ARMA is the only body in England & Wales to focus exclusively on matters relating to the block management of leasehold property, whether for resident management companies or investor freeholders.

With some 200 corporate members managing some 750,000 leasehold units in an estimated 30,000 blocks (at least 60% of which are lessee-controlled properties), ARMA is committed to reputable practices in the profession, professional codes of practice, consistent levels of service and client satisfaction.

ARMA members comprise selected firms and sole practitioners engaged in the management of residential leasehold blocks of flats in the UK. All members agree to adopt and abide by ARMA's principal objectives and undertake to comply with the codes of practice issued by the Association and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

What ARMA is not

ARMA does not cover lettings management nor retirement housing, although some of its members are also involved in these sectors. Neither does it encompass management in Scotland where there are differing property laws.

If you are involved in block management and are interested in making an application for membership of ARMA, please write in on your company letterhead, and we will post you an application pack. For further information on the requirements of membership call ARMA on 020 7978 2607.