BUSTING PROPERTY MANAGER/MANAGING AGENT MYTHS
Category Advice
Being a property manager can be a thankless task with constant multi-tasking and dealing with numerous schemes and their respective demands. Understanding the nuances of each scheme is one aspect, but often more challenging for a property manager, is getting the communication aspect right, given that each member on a board of trustees / directors has their own personality.
Community scheme property managers are often targeted as being the cause of approval / information delays, where the reality is that the source of the delay is generally the trustee / director, often understandably so given their "day job" commitments. Bearing in mind that trustees / directors are appointed on a voluntary basis, in most cases juggling their "day job" with scheme matters, they generally only attend to these matters after-hours. It is important for scheme owners to be cognisant of this when requesting permissions / information requiring trustee / director input, which the property manager needs to wait for. Expecting an almost instant turnaround for information is unreasonable, and an area in which we try to set realistic expectations through clear communication with our community scheme owners.
Owners / trustees / directors in many cases are under the misconception that the managing agent / property manager is empowered to make community scheme-related decisions. Managing Agents are appointed to take care of the administration, finances, and secretarial duties within a scheme per the signed management agreement. Important to note is that the managing agent takes / follows instructions from the trustees / directors. The managing agent / property manager's role is to provide professional insight to trustees and directors in terms of the Sectional Title Schemes Management Act or the Articles of Association of the respective body corporate or property owners' association. The importance of managing agents / property managers keeping trustees / directors informed of the latest industry developments is integral in allowing them to make informed decisions affecting their community scheme.
Owners sometimes perceive the managing agent / property manager's role is limited to the sending of levy statements, taking of minutes, control of resident behaviour, parking and pet control, where the real value in pairing with an effective managing agent / property manager, lies in owners having access to their knowledge and professional guidance, often honed over a number of years. By doing their absolute best to ensure the smooth and optimal operation of a community scheme, the managing agent / property manager plays an integral role in maintaining (and possibly adding to) an owner's prized property asset value. These professional skills can include expertise in financial information, administration, asset management, facilities management, human resources, conflict management, and legislative input allowing the guiding of trustees / directors in decision making. Access to these crucial skills shouldn't be overlooked by owners in community schemes.
Many of our respected colleagues within the industry have recently written about and held webinars on the need for the management of community schemes to be recognised as a profession within the wider property industry. Evidence of this recognition is that the Property Practitioners Regulatory Authority (PPRA) has now recognised Managing Agents as a separate registration category to the traditional Estate Agent category, given the separate skill set required to be a Managing Agent. This can only improve the quality of Managing Agents within the property industry, allowing for wider access to education, which is a vital aspect of this profession.
The managing agent industry within South Africa is by no means an insignificant sector, with more than 60 000 community schemes registered, most of which have appointed a Managing Agent.
Changing the perception of managing agents / property managers is an ongoing process of good communication and education, for which the industry as a collective, is responsible.
Let's communicate - let's educate
Author: Colin Fisher