The Power of a Great Team and Resident Engagement for Block Management in London
Selecting the right team is imperative for effective property management; a skilled and receptive team can affect the operation of a development significantly. However, for us, it’s not just about finding individuals with the right skillsets, but also those who embody our POD values: being supportive, meticulous, dedicated, and smart.
But what exactly does such a team look like? In this post we explore one of our recent sites, The Verdean, and the impact of our strategic candidate hiring process.
The Verdean
The Verdean is a New Build, ongoing phased development with 295 (and growing) units managed by POD since March 2024. Located south of London’s largest regeneration projects, this expansive site benefits from our comprehensive block management services, which includes a dedicated 24/7 concierge team with our Development Manager, Edgar, present Monday-Friday.
POD officially took over the handover of The Verdean’s property management on March 22, 2024, and we immediately faced a situation requiring temporary staff.
Pictured: The Verdean is under phased development.
Temporary staff were issued used when an unforeseen circumstance arose, and with each having to undertake training and time to get accustomed to POD procedures, this negatively affected how long routine tasks took. In turn, this led to slower response times for the residents and extra tasks for our Development Manager.
Because of this, an opportunity to form a robust, curated team specifically for the Verdean’s block management emerged.
Building a Dynamic Team
Our Development Manager, Edgar Damaska, built a strong, reliable team fit for The Verdean’s unique needs. He worked alongside POD’s Talent Team and Chris Pass - our Associate Director - to handpick the right candidate during the hiring process. At POD, one of our values is being supportive, something our employees demonstrate consistently across our property management services, and this was reflected here. Edgar’s opinions were respected, valued, and listened to – all important factors that directly led to the dependent and helpful team that work at The Verdean today.
As a result of this, temporary staff are no longer present, and on-site staff are ready to assist residents and colleagues.
Resident Engagement Through Exemplary Leadership
At The Verdean, the Development Manager has even taken it upon himself to host resident forums and a new monthly ‘coffee talk’ to ensure residents feel heard and valued. This also doubles to inform residents and develop the trust that their residential service charge is being utilised to its fullest.
Pictured: POD’s concierge desk at The Verdean.
In addition, Edgar organised weekly meetings to continually monitor and chart the best course of action for concerns that arise. POD’s bespoke analytics and systems have been a key success component here, especially with customer response times. These were used and presented to our client, Mount Anvil, and were optimised to make informative, data-led decisions in the handling of the development.
The Results
Throughout our time working at The Verdean, we’ve created an agile and dependable team that could face the needs of an ongoing, expanding phased development.
As we look into POD’s management of The Verdean, some key reasons that were responsible for our success were:
Fantastically appointed Development Manager
Streamlined mobilisation process
POD’s supportive culture – actively listening and respectful culture led to a dependable team
Addressing residents’ opinions in an upcoming open forum with topics decided by them, making them feel valued and heard
Going Forward
Being a phased development with a total of 1,228 residential homes planned, POD’s approach to this case of block management in London focused on building a long-lasting and positive relationship with our client and the residents.
The development requires a flexible, unwavering team that can continually adapt to The Verdean’s phases. In particular, the amenities will need careful consideration and a future expanded staff presence. When finalised, the amenities will include:
Gym and cycle hub powered by Peloton
A business lounge
Screening room and multi-purpose entertainment space
Two podium gardens
Two rooftop gardens
An eco-walk
For instance, the planned entertainment spaces will need a booking system for residents and regular maintenance to ensure residents have reliable access to high-quality amenities.
The Verdean has been a complex, multi-faceted building to manage, and with new residents and amenities on the horizon, we look forward to providing them with the award-winning block management services in London that we’re known for.
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