Further Onboarding FAQs

These FAQs are grouped into the following sections to help you quickly find the information you need:

General FAQs

Please do not arrange for boxes of historic paperwork to be sent to Prime unless this has been agreed with us in advance, as we do not have facilities for storing physical archives.

  • Q1.1: What happens after we’ve signed the Property Management Agreement?

    We’ll send you your onboarding forms, assign your Property Manager, and begin transition planning immediately. We’ll arrange the first site meeting before or shortly after handover from the outgoing managing agent

  • Q1.2: What if our previous managing agent is slow to send documents?

  • Q1.3: When will we meet our dedicated Property Manager?

  • Q1.4: When will leaseholders be notified?

  • Q1.5: Will service charge dates change?

  • Q1.6: What happens to existing balances?

  • Q1.7: What if someone pays the previous agent by mistake?

  • Q1.8: What if we want to change the budget mid-year on appointment?

  • Q1.9: What happens with insurance?

  • Q.1.10: What happens with utilities

  • Q1.11: How often will our Directors receive updates?

  • Q1.12: What if we’re unhappy with something?

  • Q1.13: Are you a paperless managing agent?

  • Q1.14: What should we do with paper correspondence received for the block?

  • Q1.15: Can Prime scan documents for us?

  • Q1.16: What about historical paper files held by the outgoing agent?

Major Works FAQs

  • Q2.1: What happens to ongoing to major works when you take over management (Section 20)?

    As soon as we take over, we’ll immediately review all live major works projects, including contracts, Section 20 consultation status, budgets, funding position, specifications and contractor performance. We’ll liaise with directors, contractors and consultants to confirm status and next steps, and we’ll contact leaseholders to introduce ourselves and confirm continuity arrangements.

  • Q2.2: Does a new Section 20 consultation need to be started?

  • Q2.3: What information will you need from our outgoing agent?

  • Q2.4: Will the existing contractor remain in place?

  • Q2.5: How will you tell leaseholders about the transfer?

  • Q2.6: Will estimated costs change following transfer?

  • Q2.7: What happens to reserve funds or funds already demanded?

  • Q2.8: How are contractor payments handled during the transition?

  • Q2.9: Who manages defects and warranties if works are near completion?

Funded Projects FAQs

  • Q3.1: How are non-Section 20 major works projects as warranty or funded schemes managed on transfer?

    In addition to Section 20 major works, sites may transfer with ongoing projects funded through warranties, latent defect policies, developers, insurers or government schemes such as CSS or BSF. As soon as we start working with you, we’ll  review the full funding or warranty documentation, approved scope of works, contractor appointments, programme and any policy excess or funding gap. Where works are fully funded and no costs are recharged to leaseholders, Section 20 consultation isn’t normally required, however we do assess any uninsured or excess element to make sure it’s compliant.

  • Q3.2: What happens if the works are being carried out under a building warranty or latent defects policy?

  • Q3.3: Does a Section 20 consultation apply to warranty or insurance funded works?

  • Q3.4: How are costs managed where there’s an insurance excess or partial funding gap?

  • Q3.5: What is needed for handover for warranty or claim based projects?

  • Q3.6: How will you manage CSS, BSF or other government or developer funded remediation schemes on transfer?

  • Q3.7: What happens to reserve funds or funds already demanded?

  • Q3.8: How are reporting obligations managed under funded schemes?

  • Q3.9: What if work relates to fire safety remediation or building safety funding?

  • Q3.10: How are develop-led or defect liability works handled?

  • Q3.11: What happens if there’s a dispute with an insurer, developer or funding body?