Start up a business, and you’re involved in every single decision from day one.  You don’t have the resources to do otherwise, and it’s not immediately operating on a scale which would warrant it anyway, but as time goes on and your business gets bigger, you have to devolve decision making to others with specific professional expertise.

It’s something that’s been happening slowly with Lower Mill Estate, which has grown considerably over the last 13 years.  Two years ago my family took the decision to hand over all day-to-day issues regarding properties, service charges and general management of leaseholder/landlord relationships to Strutt and Parker who became the estate’s managing agents.  We chose them because they’re very long established and an internationally recognised and respected operator in the field.

This brings clarity and focus to the landlord and tenant relationship, and the respective responsibilities of both parties.  Whether it’s about law and practice relating to service charges or any other tenant concerns, it’s important for the security and peace of mind of all parties that we use a company which is fully acquainted with legislation in this complex area.

Of course, there are going to be occasions when issues and concerns on either side of the landlord/tenant relationship need to be resolved through formal legal channels, in which case the managing agents hand matters over to our legal experts Mishcon de Reya who can ensure that there’s proper observance of all the legislative details on both sides.

For example, anyone who was in any way concerned about unfounded stories which were doing the rounds recently alleging that there would be unreasonable increases in service charges due to the recession, can know that there’s no intention of doing anything like this, simply because – as Mischon de Reya make clear – the relationship between a landlord and its tenant is recorded clearly in a contract between the parties known as a lease.  It’s therefore not legally permissible to decide a charge has to be increased without jusitification. Also, as they point out, the service charge is entirely non profit making and independently audited, so all of the checks and balances are in place… This arrangement doesn’t suit everyone though because if tenants are consistently in breach, the solicitors have to take action to protect the honest payers

I guess there will always be gossip but this business about the estate allowing “hoi polloi” into its private environment is a nonsense. The estate is private and we know everyone that has a membership, whether they are a lessee, holiday maker or a member of the facilities on the estate. The same checks are carried out on all and, if anything, we want bigger gates not smaller ones!

What it means for me is that I’m fully confident that tenants at Lower Mill Estate get fair service, and can be clear from the outset about arrangements, which means families can enjoy all the advantages of the estate.  That’s always been the way here because the estate is a place to escape, untroubled, unhurried, and somewhere people can reconnect with the natural environment.