Developers
Supporting the success of your new development
Any new build – whether you’re building a residential, commercial or mixed-use development – benefits from employing an estate management company early on in the process.
Having worked with property developers for over 20 years, the team at Houston Lawrence is well placed to play a key role in all aspects of your build, from site configuration and sustainability to setting service charges and formatting the lease.
What’s more, this advice is delivered free of charge, if you sign up for a five-year estate management contract with Houston Lawrence on completion of the build.
See our services below:
Service Charge Budget and Cost Assessments
Service Charge Budget and Cost Assessments
Assessing potential maintenance costs and establishing an annual service charge, even before your development is completed, will help you sell your units off plan.
At Houston Lawrence, we have extensive experience when it comes to budgeting and managing service charges for new developments. Working with you, we will produce an annual service charge budget, taking into account the likely expenses for the year. Services such as cleaning, gardening and lift maintenance are put to tender to ensure you get the best value for money. And we produce transparent and concise breakdowns of service charge expenditure for each unit. This way, potential buyers know exactly what they’re going to pay in the future.
Staffing and Security Strategies
Staffing and Security Strategies
To deliver a high level of customer service to your leaseholders and freeholders, it’s important to put the right team in place, both during the build and after completion of the development.
We have the resources to recruit estate management teams, concierge services, security staff, and caretakers, and will work with you to develop a security strategy that will protect your development.
Utilities and Energy efficiency
Utilities and Energy efficiency
Organising the utilities is the most common cause of delays in construction projects, which means homes are not supplied to the market as quickly as they should be and retail units are unable to open on time. In addition, there’s also a desire, and often a local authority requirement, for energy efficient developments. These can be challenging, and consideration must be given to renewable energy, solar panels and low carbon units early on in the process.
Because of our experience, the team at Houston Lawrence can give you practical and professional advice around landlords’ metering, utility supplies and connection, energy efficient options, refuse collection and recycling.
Legal Compliance
Legal Compliance
From formatting the lease agreement correctly to ensuring your development meets current health and safety legislation: there are numerous legal requirements associated with property development.
We work with your solicitors to draw up a lease agreement that clearly sets out ground rent, percentage owned, the leaseholder’s obligations and any conditions (like keeping pets). We also review and advise on all health and safety and fire safety matters for the building to ensure the development is compliant.