Page 4 - 8_PBC to Begg OCR_8-4-16 (38pp)

Your somewhat derogatory reference to me as simply a Graphic Designer is [I think] implying that that is the full extent of my talents, experience and ability.
Were the Prime Minister to retire and decide to move to Mitre House and take the reins, I doubt you would make the same comment. If he can run a country, he can certainly run a small block of flats – and Mitre House is a very very small block of flats – using mainly his intelligence and education and common sense, relying on those abilities to either learn the ropes or get advice when needed. He might also be a very competent and fully qualified by experience and various apprenticeships over the years DIY enthusiast, a talented and experienced painter and decorator, a gifted carpenter, an artisan, and well versed in project management.
The reason Lessees are paying [Mitre House Management Limited] fees is for the services we as a company provide on a day-today basis 24/7, none of which require any qualification over and above experience, ability and common sense. Those services at present consist of:
On site 24/7 with dedicated direct landline telephone and mobile contact.
Arranging [and attending] all required statutory Health & Safety checks (Fire/Electrics/Water/Asbestos etc) with admittedly hours of research educating ourselves
Arranging [and attending] all regular visits for Gas/Electrics/Cleaning/Lift/Insurance etc Preparation, forwarding and collecting Quarterly Demands and bookkeeping same
Contracting, booking, negotiating with and paying suppliers and bookkeeping same Cleaners/Lift/Entryphone/Insurance etc
Miscellaneous:
Sorting mail, accepting mail or large items when requested by postman/couriers who contact me [as known to be on site almost 24/7] to gain entry if certain lessees are unavailable. Doing anything that requires doing, be that emptying dustbins, cleaning up intermittent flooding during bad weather, maintaining common area artefacts and generally keeping an eye on the building for anything untoward, neighbour’s worries and concerns, intruders [even to Mrs Hillgarth when she was a resident at Mitre House years ago and troubled by an intruder in the early hours, whom I ejected whilst her boyfriend looked on...] and anything else a house proud resident would do in their own house or residence for good housekeeping etc.
I would propose that none of the above need be covered by one, if indeed any professional qualification, over and above those that I have indicated above plus common sense and brute force if and when required.
I would be the first to admit that were we managing [or purporting to manage as you refer] other properties as opposed to basically simply taking over from our previous Resident’s Association duties, we would indeed be required to have more quailed, more formal arrangements in place. We did not purchase our Head Lease to run a Managing Agents business per se, but to run Mitre House as economically, sensibly and competently as