Clear budgets, accurate reporting and year-end accounts that residents and directors can actually understand. Every penny accounted for — always.
Service charge management is at the heart of what a managing agent does — and it is where the sector most commonly fails. Rowan Shaw operates on a principle of absolute transparency. You see everything.
We prepare annual budgets based on realistic forecasting, manage collection, handle arrears professionally, and produce clear year-end accounts that give directors and leaseholders genuine visibility of where their money has been spent.
Our service charge management follows the RICS Service Charge Residential Management Code (4th Edition, 2026) — the current Secretary of State approved code of best practice for the sector, covering budgeting, accounting, procurement, consultation and communication with leaseholders.
The RICS Service Charge Residential Management Code (4th Edition) came into effect on 7 April 2026. Approved by the Secretary of State, it is the definitive standard for residential service charge management in England — covering transparency, budgeting, accounting, leaseholder communication and dispute resolution.
Rowan Shaw commits to operating in accordance with this code across all developments we manage. Many managing agents are not yet aware of the 4th edition. We are — and we apply it.
"No hidden charges. No opaque accounting. No conflicts of interest with contractors. You see exactly where every pound of service charge is spent."
We have no financial arrangements with contractors beyond the contracts we place on your behalf. No referral fees, no kickbacks, no arrangements that create a conflict of interest. This is a requirement of the RICS code — and our own non-negotiable standard.
All significant works are tendered competitively. You see the quotes, we recommend, you decide. This is the only way to be confident that expenditure is justified and priced fairly.
Reserve funds are held properly, reported clearly and drawn on only for the purposes for which they were collected. We maintain a full paper trail that can be audited at any time.
Major works requiring Section 20 consultation are handled in full compliance with the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985. Leaseholders receive proper notice, genuine consultation and clear documentation throughout — including updated LEASE guidance as of March 2026.
We pursue arrears professionally and proportionately — protecting the development's financial position while treating leaseholders with respect. Escalation is always a last resort.
Our year-end accounts are produced in a clear, understandable format in line with the RICS code. We are happy to walk directors through them line by line and welcome scrutiny of every entry.