We are pleased to have been featured in The Negotiator, one of the most widely read publications in the UK property and estate agency industry. The feature covers our preparations for the launch of a dedicated Block Management division, the appointment of two senior members of staff, and our recent membership of Propertymark.
For a family-run agency founded in 2007 and now managing more than 500 properties across Birmingham, Solihull and the wider West Midlands, being recognised at a national industry level is something we are genuinely proud of.
Why We Are Launching a Block Management Division
The decision did not happen overnight. Over the past few years, we have received a steady stream of enquiries from freeholders, developers and resident management companies asking whether Partridge Homes would consider moving into block management. The consistent message was that finding a reliable, proactive managing agent in Birmingham and Solihull is far harder than it should be.
That experience matches what the data shows. Research suggests that around 50% of people living in flats report difficulty finding dependable block management companies, with slow response times and neglected maintenance among the most common frustrations. Communication and accountability consistently rank as the qualities residents most want — and most often feel they are missing.
Rather than responding quickly to that gap, we chose to respond properly. That meant taking the time to put the right people, systems and standards in place before committing to a launch date.
Our Managing Director, Charlotte Partridge, put it directly:
“Launching Block Management has been something we’ve carefully planned for some time. We wanted to ensure we entered the sector properly, with experienced people and the right infrastructure from day one. Our clients deserve nothing less.”
Our Block Management division is set to launch in Q1 2027. You can read more about what that service will look like in our complete guide to block management for leaseholders, freeholders and landlords in Birmingham and Solihull.
Two Senior Appointments
The Negotiator feature draws attention to two key hires that underpin this expansion.
Nicola Hall
Nicola joins us after 21 years at Scanlans Property Management, where she built deep, specialist expertise in block management. This is not someone stepping into a new area — this is someone who has spent two decades working through the full range of challenges that come with managing residential blocks: service charge disputes, major works programmes, leaseholder communications, contractor management, compliance, and more.
Her appointment is the single most important signal of how seriously we are approaching this. You can read more about Nicola’s appointment and background here.
Sarah Bannister
Sarah joins us from Martin and Co Solihull and further strengthens our lettings department as the business continues to grow. January to April 2026 was the strongest opening four months for new lettings in our history — so bringing in experienced people to support that growth is just as important as the block management expansion itself.
Together, these two appointments reflect where Partridge Homes is heading: a wider, more capable agency that still operates with the hands-on approach we have always been known for.
The Broader Market Context
The timing of our launch sits against a significant shift in the block management sector nationally.
The UK residential block management market is estimated at around £3 billion and is growing at approximately 10% per year. There are 4.8 million leasehold properties across the UK, with roughly 49,000 new leasehold homes completed every year. Build-to-rent completions reached a record 22,300 in 2024 alone. Demand for professional managing agents is not slowing.
At the same time, the regulatory landscape is changing substantially:
- A draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill was published in January 2026, setting out proposals including a cap on ground rents at £250 per year, reducing to a peppercorn after 40 years
- The government has consulted on mandatory professional qualifications for managing agents in England
- A major consultation on service charge transparency and leaseholder protections ran through summer and autumn 2025
- The long-term direction of government policy is to make commonhold the default tenure for new-build flats, gradually moving away from traditional leasehold
For anyone managing blocks — or considering who should manage theirs — these changes make the quality and compliance standards of a managing agent more important than ever.
Self-management of blocks is also projected to become increasingly rare. As regulatory requirements grow more complex, covering everything from insurance revaluation to legal compliance, fewer resident groups will have the time or expertise to manage buildings themselves. Estimates suggest self-management could fall below 10% of the market by 2030.
What Our Approach Will Look Like
We have been clear from the start about what kind of block management company we intend to be. We are not looking to take on hundreds of buildings and operate at volume. Our focus will be on a smaller number of buildings where we can genuinely maintain standards, keep communication clear and manage properties properly — rather than reactively.
The same approach that has shaped our lettings and sales work since 2007 will apply here: local knowledge, direct relationships, and a willingness to be accountable.
Propertymark Membership
Alongside the block management launch preparations, Partridge Homes has become a member of Propertymark — one of the most respected professional bodies in the UK property industry. This brings with it a commitment to ongoing training, regulatory compliance and professional standards. You can read more about what our Propertymark membership means for our clients.
A Milestone Worth Marking
Being featured in The Negotiator is a reflection of the work that has gone into building Partridge Homes over nearly two decades — and of the investment we are making in its next chapter. We are grateful to the publication for covering our story, and we are looking forward to bringing our block management service to leaseholders, freeholders, developers and resident management companies across Birmingham, Solihull and the West Midlands.
If you are a freeholder, developer or leaseholder thinking ahead about block management, or if you simply want to find out more about what our new division will offer, we would be glad to hear from you. Get in touch with the Partridge Homes team and we can start the conversation.
