OM Property Management

Schneider

Hi Everyone,


I am looking at buying a leasehold apartment under the management of OM Property Management. I have read numerous 'horror stories' (including on this forum) relating to OM Property Management. However, these negative reviews were published some years ago. I have not been able to find any reviews of OM Property Management (neither positive nor negative) published within the past few years or indeed, within the present day.


Are you a leaseholder under the management of OM Property Management? If so, what is your opinion of OM Property Management? Are service charges fair? Are other charges (e.g. for subletting, alterations) fair? Is service work conducted to a high standard? Any other thoughts regarding OM Property Management?


Any input from those of you with direct 'first hand' experience would be much appreciated.


Thank you very much indeed,
Kind regards,
Schneider

kBHX

I live in a development managed by OM. It was originally Solitaire / Preverel when I moved in but changed to OM. I may be wrong but I believe its the same company. Solitaire had a bad reputation and it worried me when I brought the property.

My experience of OM has been good. I've been reasonably happy with the service provided. The service charge hasn't increased in the 4 years I've lived here, when they've underspent the service is re-adjusted. Although the customer care team via email are slow to respond. The property manager is always helpful, has dealt with any issues promptly if reported directly to him. He does regular visits to the development.

walby1993

I have generally been happy with them until recently - I reported a leak in the communal hallway and I am still waiting for someone to come and fix it (I reported it 3 weeks ago).
However, a friend of mine who lives on another large estate that OM manage has nothing but bad to say about them. To be fair, they don't sound like they have been doing much for their money where she lives http://www.yourthurrock.com/2014/01/09/angry-bridgland-road-residents-confront-om-property-management-at-stormy-meeting/

bylromarha

We started with Peveral, then it changed to Solitaire, then it changed to Om, then it became Hazelvine Jan 2013. I don't know if Om are the same company as Hazelvine in the same way Om was just Solitaire rebranded.

Honestly, I would avoid with a barge pole. You are completely at the mercy of whatever they decide to fix/not fix. We were paying £300 for a keypad car park gate, lighting in the car park and the car park space and Om, then Hazelvine, did nothing to fix broken things despite reporting again and again. When we bought the house from new in 2006, our solicitor told us it was an annual charge of £80per yr and was very unlikely to increase according to the solitaire documents. We said we didn't want to pay and would be happy to give up our allocated parking space - the only thing we had to pay for. We were told that we had to have the space, or we didn't buy the house.

2007 the charge went up to £200 per year and hit £386 per year one year.

Hazelvine decided to replace the keypad gate to a remote fob system - they "consulted" us at a meeting they didn't tell anyone about and, as no one turned up, they went ahead with their plans to replace the gate at a cost of £250 per resident. The fobs they sent us didn't work for months and months, so the secure gates were jammed open. Did we get a refund and reduction in charges? Of course not.

I rung trading standards/CAB and all they could suggest was to keep a record of when I contacted them about broken items and how long it took to fix. That way I could show them evidence to try to get a refund in charges.

Sorry - long post, but we sold that house last month and feel so free of the feeling of being fleeced! And don't advise anyone else to get in that situation, however nice/cheap the house is.

propertyman

OM property and its associated companies are the main linchpin "villain" here

http://www.leaseholdknowledge.com/

While the former owners had no real choice to sell up to a part MBO part private equity group, the freeholds, and therefore the landlord of the building, for whom OM et al act, are still the various, as described in Court by the Judge " biblical..complexity" of the tchenguiz brothers trusts and companies and groups.

Those are associated with not property management but asset management where they will take every penny they can through notice and consent fees, often where none are legally or contractually due, and inflating costs through owning the insurance brokers that place the buildings insurance, often the biggest single expense in a service charge.

When buying a flat read this first
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4754355

Schneider

Thank you everyone for your responses.


kBHX - Indeed, I also believe that Solitaire/Preverel/OM are all under the same ownership. I'm glad you have had a good experience.


Walby1993 - thank you for your contrasting stories. It seems that in the latter case, it was a rather extreme situation due to the weather damage. I hope it is/or will be sorted.


bylromarha - thank you very much for your extremely informative post. It would seem to me, following the contrasting responses, that it greatly depends on development rather than management company (i.e. certain developments are managed fairly, while others are not, even if the management company is the same for each development). I'm happy to hear your nightmare is finally over now. Thank you again for your post.


propertyman - thank you very much for your interesting post.


In summary, it would appear to be a lucky dip as to whether or not you get fair treatment from the management company. Certain developments appear to be managed fairly, while others are not. Moreover, true enough, I have read on OM's website of the numerous charges they may attach for 'consents' and 'added services' such as permission to sell/transfer the property, permission to sublet, permission to make alterations etc. (at least they are transparent in this respect, but charges for these 'services' do seem rather ridiculous for the minimal work involved).


Thank you again to everyone who has contributed so far. It is much appreciated.


Any further input from others is highly welcome