What makes a good managing agent?
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If you are a Director of a resident led building, you are ultimately responsible for decisions that affect its safety, condition, and finances – often alongside a full-time job.
The quality of your Managing Agent doesn’t just affect day-to-day administration; it determines how confident you can feel in those decisions, and how well your building is protected for the long term.
At Burns Hamilton, we regularly work with Directors of Resident Management Companies and Right to Manage Companies who have taken on the role alongside busy professional lives. The responsibility that comes with it can feel significant, particularly when decisions around budgets, compliance, and building safety sit firmly with the board.
One of the most important factors in making that role manageable is the relationship you have with your Managing Agent. In our experience, the difference between a building that runs smoothly and one that feels reactive often comes down to how well that partnership works.
Getting the most from your Managing Agent starts with understanding that their role goes far beyond administration. At Burns Hamilton, our teams bring together expertise in financial management, building safety, contractor oversight, and compliance. While much of this work happens behind the scenes, it is essential to ensuring that decisions are made correctly and that the building is properly protected.
A strong partnership allows that expertise to be fully used. Directors set the direction and priorities, and our role is to guide those decisions with clear advice, practical recommendations, and a full understanding of the risks and implications involved. When that relationship works well, decisions are made earlier, issues are identified sooner, and the building is managed pro actively rather than reactively.
Financial management is a good example of this in practice. At Burns Hamilton, we do not simply issue budgets. We work with our Directors to understand what their building needs, not just this year, but over the next five to ten years, so decisions are made early, costs are controlled, and there are no unnecessary surprises. That might involve planning for major works, managing pressures on costs, or ensuring that funds are in place to maintain standards over the long term. With the right partnership, budgets become a tool for planning, not just a document issued once a year.
The same applies to maintenance and contractor management. Our role is not just to arrange works, but to ensure the right contractors are selected, clear specifications are in place, and standards are maintained throughout. For Directors, this provides reassurance that works are being carried out properly, without the need to manage the detail themselves.
Where relationships can feel challenging, it is often because there is not enough visibility. Directors quite rightly want to understand what is happening, why decisions are being taken, and whether the building is being managed effectively. At Burns Hamilton, we focus on structured, transparent reporting so that our Directors always have a clear picture — what has happened, what is changing, and what decisions need to be made.
When Directors and Managing Agents work in this way, the role becomes significantly easier. Instead of reacting to issues, you are making informed decisions with the right support. Instead of managing individual tasks, you are overseeing a structured, well-managed process.
Ultimately, getting the most from your Managing Agent is about using their expertise fully. When that expertise is combined with clear communication and a shared understanding of responsibilities, the result is a well-managed building, confident Directors, and long-term protection of the asset.
At Burns Hamilton, we work alongside our Directors to provide clarity, reduce risk, and ensure that buildings are managed prudently, pro actively and professionally.
If you’re not sure whether you’re getting the level of support you should from your Managing Agent, we are always happy to have an informal conversation about what an effective partnership looks like in practice.
CONTACT
T. 01202 391663
E. admin@burnshamilton.co.uk
A. Hawthorn House, 1 Lowther Gardens, Bournemouth, BH8 8NF
