As we move towards 2018, I am minded to look back as 2017 slips over the horizon into 2018.
2017 has been in many regards one of the most eventful periods in the property management history. Implications of fast moving political events such as Brexit has left uncertainly and bred a degree of fear and panic every time a hastily arranged visit to Brussels is made. Clarity and vision is required in 2018.
Worries over the implications of Grenfell and how this will change the landscape for property management hangs like a dark cloud over us all. I suspect this will remain the case for many years to come.
News on the abolition of ground rents in December and the regulation of Letting – most particularly the call for evidence for regulation of managing agents – leaves many to regard 2017 as a year to forget.
I can only wish to see the back of 2017 and look forward to 2018. For MLM it will be another very busy year.
As a full member of the ARMA Governing Council, I am now heavily involved with the Chief Exc on the question of regulation. Rather than a barrier, I personally see the introduction of regulation as a must in our industry. Those who are already regulated by one of the main governing bodies, need not fear regulation, but should embrace it. Those that are not regulated by a governing body should look to raise their standards by joining an approved governing body which will help to stamp out bad practice in our industry and drive up standards benefiting the consumer.
We hope to complete round 1 of our investors in People program, the international standard for people management. This will crown off a very successful relaunch of our core values and engagement with our staff, without whom MLM would not exist and in whom we are all very proud.
We also welcome several new key members of staff into the MLM family in January. They will strengthen both our accounts and management departments and we wish them every success in their roles.
This year will also herald some significant upgrades to our management platforms allowing for a great leap forward in our service delivery and the ability of our staff to engage and perform at a higher level of efficiency, a win win for all parties.
We also look forward to the launch of a number of new and exciting residential developments coming in under our stewardship and look forward to engaging with new clients in 2018.
So, whilst 2017 has been a difficult year and one in many respects many would like to forget, we wish everyone a happy new year and good luck for what we hope will be a prosperous 2018.