Raising the Standard: Why Professionalism is the New Benchmark in Block Management
For years, block and estate management has quietly existed on the periphery of the property industry - important, yet often overlooked. Now, the spotlight is firmly on the sector, and with it, a demand for better. Clearer communication. More transparency. Higher professional standards.
At Glide, we believe this shift is long overdue.
A Sector Under Scrutiny
The introduction of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 has marked a significant turning point. Leaseholders now benefit from relaxed eligibility for lease extensions, greater rights to manage their buildings, and soon, potentially, the end of forfeiture and leasehold ownership altogether.
These reforms are reshaping the expectations placed on managing agents. No longer is it enough to simply deliver the basics. Managing agents must now demonstrate transparency, responsiveness, and a genuine commitment to resident satisfaction.
At UKREiiF 2025, Rosie-May Flamson from Glide captured the mood perfectly:
“The pendulum is swinging. Leaseholders have more power than they’ve ever had.”
And with power comes pressure - for agents to raise their game.
A Crisis of Confidence
Despite their growing influence, many leaseholders still feel underserved. Poor communication, unclear service charges, and inconsistent service have eroded trust. The block management sector has historically lacked the regulatory oversight found in other parts of the property world, leaving too much room for variation in quality.
That’s why leading voices in the industry are calling for change. As Matt Lewis from the FPRA put it:
“There are companies out there – LRG is one of them – that are leaning into the reforms, looking at the consumer and adapting the way they behave accordingly.”
This isn’t just about meeting new legislative requirements. It’s about earning trust-through better behaviour, higher standards and genuine accountability.
How Glide is Raising the Bar
At Glide, we’ve never seen regulation as a finish line. We see it as the starting point.
Our teams are trained not just to deliver a service, but to deliver it with clarity, empathy and care. We believe managing a development means managing a community, and that requires more than operational efficiency-it requires professionalism.
That means being transparent about costs. It means listening and responding quickly when residents raise concerns. It means working in partnership with developers and freeholders to protect the long-term value of their assets. And it means putting people-not just processes-at the centre of what we do.
We don’t wait to be told what “good” looks like. We aim to define it.
Ready for Reform
The pace of change in block management is only accelerating. For developers, landlords, and leaseholders alike, that creates both uncertainty and opportunity.
At Glide, we’re ready. We’ve already built our services around the expectations of a more empowered, informed leaseholder-and we’re continually evolving.
If you’re looking for a managing agent who isn’t just responding to reform but leading the way, we’d love to start a conversation.
Get in touch to find out how Glide can support your development, estate or residents’ group.