In times of economic uncertainty, it is of incredible importance to the modern leaseholder that they are able to monitor how their properties are being managed and then, in turn be able to control their own destiny and where they live. Understanding that only through transparency and communication can this
Now celebrating its 50th anniversary, One Housing can trace its origins all the way back to 1966 when it was originally founded as a housing association – a point from which the company has grown and developed over the years. Unique to the evolution of One Housing’s infrastructure, however, is
In times of economic uncertainty, it is of incredible importance to the modern leaseholder that they are able to monitor how their properties are being managed and then, in turn be able to control their own destiny and where they live. Understanding that only through transparency and communication can this degree of confidence be assured to leaseholders, this is where the Ringley Group enters, offering a service which revolves around the core principal of 100% transparency and the development of clear and achievable property ambitions. Originally established in 1997, the Ringley Group is one of the UK’s leading providers of property solutions, maintaining a diverse service portfolio which includes, but is not limited to: surveys, valuations, legal services, property and facilities management, and sales and lettings. Based in Camden Town, Ringley manages circa 10,000 properties and is nationally recognised for its responsible and green approach to business. Preferring to restore rather than replace, a sustainable business approach maintains a solid position within the Ringley ethos, alongside that of its notable dedication to transparency. “See what we do. Understand what we do, and then, we’ll help you to build a strategy,” explains Mary-Anne Bowring, Director & Owner of Ringley Group. Through the collation, management, analysis and feedback of a vast wealth of property data, Ringley covers all the bases to keep owners informed help them understand both the position of their property today, and what needs to be achieved tomorrow. Then, by engaging Clients in intelligent discussion the right strategy for the block Ringley works to build common purpose for the benefit of all, Ringley is placed not only as a responsible manager of property assets, but also as an innovative company one keen to partner with owners as an incredibly important, but sometimes overlooked, stakeholder in the future of the property. In facilitating this partnership it is undeniably essential, however, that Ringley is able to maintain a clear view of the challenges and opportunities which leaseholders must have an understanding of to develop these strategies. As Bowring furthers: “We believe that the problem in our industry is that a lot of the problems are intangible. If the customers aren’t seeing what’s going wrong, or what’s happening every day then they might think that not much is going on. However, if you’ve got a block of 500 leaseholders, you’ve got a lot of people you will be interacting with, yet you still have that one who doesn’t know what you do. We have a lot of strategies to make what we do more transparent, for example: every time we go to site we email everybody to say we’re coming, primarily to open a channel of communication where they can ask us to look at things specific to them, and we send them our report afterwards.” Providing clear connections on all contractor works orders, checking, visual inspection, and before and after photos represents just one customer wish implemented. As such, Ringley’s approach to keeping the leaseholder informed is notable, however, this isn’t the only way in which Ringley inspires an informed approach to business. Being one of the most well established and innovative agents within the property services arena, Ringley also participates at industry events and round table forums so is definitely abreast of the latest changes and developments, in addition to being an influencer of these too. Consequently, the company professes expertise beyond the bricks and mortar of a single property, and can develop client strategies after also taking into consideration the industry developments most relevant to them. Nodding to the company’s position at the forefront of the industry, Bowring furthers: “We are involved in high-level arenas, which underpins our kudos in terms of being a thought-leader. People would rather work with a progressive company; our industry participation serves as a sign that we’re up to date with best practices. Most consumers, however, are possibly unaware of enough of what goes on in the industry due to the diversity of our remit – one day you’re a politician, the next day you’re a company law expert, the next you’re a building pathologist, then you’re an accountant; it’s the sheer range of what we actually do that is quite confusing for some consumers. “Part of our core mission is 100% transparency, because we believe a Managing Agent can only be fully valued and appreciated when people actually understand what we do. It’s not just about doing, but also helping people to see and understand the what, the why and the when of all aspects of our role.” Positioned as one of the most well-equipped agents in the sector, Ringley is one of the few providers of property services both willing and able to tackle many of the most interesting and difficult challenges which the modern leaseholder has to deal with. Seeing each and every new client as an opportunity to overcome these challenges and develop a leaseholder’s ambition into reality, the group is one with a clear capacity and willingness to work across projects of all shapes, sizes and archetypes. For those with property ambitions, yet bereft the technical know-how to reach them effectively, there’s the Ringley Group. Then looking to the future, Ringley has it’s own clear and decisive plans for growth and, through expansion into brand new extra office space and associated capabilities, the company looks to take the next natural step to grow, expand upon its service portfolio and adapt to the changes in the market itself.
Now celebrating its 50th anniversary, One Housing can trace its origins all the way back to 1966 when it was originally founded as a housing association – a point from which the company has grown and developed over the years. Unique to the evolution of One Housing’s infrastructure, however, is that the organisation has not only solidified its position as a leading housing association, with a reputation to suit, but also branched out into a multivarious raft of associated property offerings, the most prominent of which are Citystyle and One Direct. With over 15,000 units across London and the South East, One Housing is positioned as a modern social enterprise dedicated to the provision of high quality homes able to facilitate a better standard of life. Its well established housing care and support arm is, a keen provider of care and support projects as well as senior living accommodation and the current development of high-end care homes is a prime example of this. In recent years it has developed specialist service offerings, including Citystyle and One Direct , which offer comprehensive property management and in-house maintenance respectively. “Like any property company we see our position as managing people’s homes, but we also take a broader view in terms of the well-being of a community as a whole. This means takinglong-term decisions that will benefit them. We also have a more comprehensive offer than many of our competitors due to the wide range of expertise within our control. This is where One Direct comes in.” explains Matthew Saye, Director of Citystyle. Serving as a core area for the organisation’s future progress, One Direct signifies an integration of further in-house services to support the daily operations of the wider company and provide a far more proficient end-to-end service to residents and clients alike. Undertaking a wide assortment of works, the One Direct service portfolio includes: day-to-day responsive repairs, gas servicing, mechanical and electrical works, all the way through to planned work, decorating and more. Though a relatively new arm to the business, One Direct has operatives on the ground and represents the opportunity to be a driving force for the business in times to come. Noting the importance of One Direct in supporting the ambitions, goals and ethos of the wider One Housing Group, Saye illustrates further: “It’s important for a number of reasons. Quality is one of the main drivers in terms of our customer service and what we can offer. We think that people’s expectations around how their properties are managed, the way that services are provided and the quality of competencies of workers, have come on a long way. We need to continually anticipate our customers needs and respond to them – that’s very much the initial focus in this year where we’re rolling One Direct out.” Yet, in addition to supporting the group’s historic position as a housing association, One Direct is also regarded as a means by which the company can expand its property management capability, bringing more of the associated, yet essential services in-house. Now able to offer a far more complete service, it is effectively One Direct that will allow Citystyle to spread its wings and target a growing number of external clients whilst simultaneously ensuring a high degree of quality across all elements of the service. As a managing agent, One Housing, through Citystyle, offers a flexible service to cover a wide range of properties, including multi-use and multi-tenure properties of varying scheme sizes. Yet where the company’s unique capabilities come into the fold are in the way in which this service is provided, and the company’s understanding of people’s needs and wants from a housing perspective, attributed to the company’s history of operation. As Saye further says: “We understand how to engage and involve our residents, as well as how to overcome some of the more challenging issues that a managing agent might not be used to looking at. When you have a large mixed-tenure development in the centre of London, we’re well equipped to deal with some of problems that could arise such as anti social behaviour. We have the skills already to deal with this and, part of what makes CityStyle a strong offer is that we can be the one point of contact to deal with any issue that happens to occur.” But of course, plans for expansion and diversification don’t stop with One Direct and Citystyle, as the organisation looks to develop an increasing raft of associated property services, notably including a complete gas service. Looking to the future, we can only see this integration of in-house services growing further and, combined with the organisation’s approach to resident care and handling, the company’s stability, integrity and prospects surely look good. Say’s final comments are clear: “We’re not going anywhere. We’re incredibly financially robust and when it comes down to a residents level, the service they get is absolute. We are always there, we are always capable and we are a unique contractor, always available, always a presence which other competitors can’t always match. Property management is all about being a reactive issue and letting the resident know that if something goes wrong that they can get hold of someone and it will simply be resolved. They can always engage with us, and in a meaningful way.”
