Is Peverel OM Rebranding?
By admin | December 16th, 2009 | Category: Past Articles | 42 commentsWe have recently been undertaking research and have a feeling that Peverel OM may be changing their name to OM Property Management, either that - they are starting yet another company!
Those internet savvy users will be interested to know that already ompropertymanagement.co.uk has been registered to Peverel at their Hampshire address.
BUT – the funniest thing about this name change is the fact that they have also registered ‘TheTruthAboutOM.co.uk’, in addition to already having ‘TheTruthAboutPeverel.co.uk’.
They obviously do not want another website, such as TheTruthAboutSolitaire setup to publicise their failings…. oh well, they forgot about ‘TheTruthAboutOMPropertyManagement.co.uk’ which is still available and all the .com versions.
We are incredibly flattered by the fact that they have decided to do this, afterall, if they didn’t take this site seriously, they wouldn’t go to these lengths to prevent similar occurances.
Should it be a case that Peverel OM are changing their name to OM Property Management, it would suggest that the recent publicity of Peverel OM / Peverel – must have damaged it’s reputation and they are trying to distance themselves from it?
Who knows, but if there are any residents that possibly know more about OM Property Management or can confirm whether Peverel OM are changing their name – please keep us informed.
Maybe ‘Andy’ could enlighten us, if he’s allowed too?
So, yet another potential name to add to the list. And if the thinking is that a change of name will distance them from the increasing amounts of bad publicity Peverel OM has been receiving recently, then they are wasting their time, effort & money (sorry, wasting OUR money).
Rather than regular re-branding, new company names etc, how about those at Peverel towers actually get their house in order, rather than just slapping a new name on it…???
But at the end of the day, the name doesn’t matter. We know what they’ll like, whatever they choose to call themselves this month…..
The only course of action to end Peverel’s stranglehold/control of their numerous leasehold properties is to abolish leasehold tenure altogether. We don’t own our flats – only the lease. Vincent Tchenquez, the “playboy/poker player” business entrepreneur, owns the freehold! This ancient law on property tenure dates back to feudal/mediaeval times and those who abuse such a system must be put out of business.
There is no doubt, both TheTruthAboutSolitaire and CARLEX on their websites, are doing an excellent job in highlighting the unscrupulous activities of the Solitaire/Peverel/CBG. But, unfortunately, that is not enough.
There is also another website CARL (Campaign for the Abolition of Residential Leasehold), which has already published a government consultation paper online, setting out potential reform. It follows on from the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002 that gave residents the right to manage their own flats. But not all blocks of flats that decide to self manage go on to own the freehold as well.
If these three campaign groups link together the abolition of all leasehold occupancy could end that much quicker. This struggle will only be fought and won by force of numbers. Criticising is fine but we also need a lasting solution to end the widespread corruption/abuse/exploitation in the property management industry – particularly of the most vulnerable in society. For disabled and older residents, who live in ‘sheltered housing’, special regulations maybe necessary for the employment of a house manager and a careline service to be retained?
I totally agree with Elizabeth. Our power is in our numbers. We must use it. The momentum is growing. The should be afraid. Very afraid!!
When you hear about what kind of antics the Tchenguiz brothers get up to then is it really any wonder that Peverel OM, OM Property Management, Solitaire, E&M and all others that fall under the umbrella of CBG operate in the way they do??? Which leads me to another question that I have already asked? Do we really think that we’ll be able to change the way they operate, their behaviour? Even with Legislation / Regulation that will take time to achieve and I’m sure with their legal teams behind them they’ll be able to circumvent most of the restrictions that should be placed on them in any case!
I fully agree with Elizabeth Joan Wade and CARL in that leasehold contracts as they currently stand are not suitable in this modern age and are ripe for abuse and exploitation that we have seen and all reading this have probably been victim of!
The only way to get the message home to these people is to ‘hit them where it hurts’ and if withholding payment is good enough for the Tchenguiz brothers then why should we not ALL adopt the same approach!?
So, a judge orders the BILLIONAIRE Tchenguiz brothers to return documents to their brother-in-law, and pay his legal fees of over £1m, back at the start of August. Come mid-November, they still haven’t done as ordered, and therefore the same judge orders them to pay an additional £100k in further legal fees. A “further appeal” was then planned by the brothers….. I can’t find anything more recent on the Times Online website to see what the latest is…..
OK, this mainly seems to be a family feud, but it does perhaps give a further insight into how Vincent Tchenguiz (and his brother, who I assume is not involved with CBG??) operates, especially when it comes to money – i.e. he won’t hand it over, even when ordered to by a judge. Surely this is contempt of court…??? Yet his companies can’t get money out of us residents quick enough…!!!
As is often the way, it’s one rule for the rich, and another rule for everyone else.
Perhaps the best plan is to get EVERY SINGLE leaseholder in a CBG-managed property to withhold service charge payments, until the numerous different companies (who, we know, are really all part of the same beast) get their acts together and provide us all with the services were are paying for, but not generally currently getting.
Looking forward to receiving my next service charge bill for the first half of 2010, which is now due…..
Hi Admin / All,
Regarding the post above – I’d be happy to enlighten you!
Peverel has indeed purchased some domains, but this is part of an ongoing review of all brands.
I will of course let you know if there are any significant developments in the future.
Hope that helps,
Andy
Solitaire Online Feedback Manager
Vincent Tchenguiz boasts about being a brilliant poker player/risk taker, but we are all having to balance his books now, after he lost a $61m investment and became a ‘victim’ in the recent Madoff scandal.
Peverel is pulling its belt in too having sent out their ‘Seasonal Greetings’ electronically this year, posted on the noticeboard, saying they will donate the money (our money) saved from the cost of cards and postage to a charity instead – but don’t say which one! Is it Mr Tchenguiz’s charity by any chance?
It doesn’t matter how many brand names CBG/Peverel adopt they will never change so our goal must be to abolish leasehold tenure and make it a thing of the past. Freehold ownership is the only answer to ridding ourselves of this abuse and exploitation.
Had an idea for Andy…..
If he really wants to help, really truly wants to help,wants to prove to all at TTAS&P he really is trying to help then sign the number 10 petition.
Does any one know which main companies are part of CBG , apart from the Solitaire and Peverel companies ?
Does anyone know how many MPs have had complaints from their constituents and have been trying to contact CBG about Peverel problem ?
How many leaseholders have actually sent a written complaint to the Housing Minister ?
Here are some companies I know of, Estates and Management Ltd, Phoenix surveyors Ltd, Centurion Collections, debt collection services, these are just a few, I hope this will help.
1. If you make a thoro’ search on Estates and Management ltd , you may find :
a. Mr V Tchenguiz was a former director of the company some years ago . Check appointments list from records at Companies House.
b. Mr Barry Gardiner MP speaking in Parliament on 8 jan 2002 identified E&M ltd ( together with Simarc, Castle New Tower Holdings, Crompton Group, Helpfavour,Shenstone ) as a ground rent grazers which create ground rent arrears situation and then make threats of forfeiture to extract money.
c. Around 2004 or 2005, Mr Barry Sheerman MP for Hudderfield ? asked Mr K Hill Housing Minister in Parliament to investigate the Consensus Business Group. Mr Sheerman was told to direct his enquiries to the Investigation Branch of Conmpanies House but I don’t know if Investigation Branch followed up. But it seems the Government Minister for Housing and Government Policy changed course and stopped pushing for Commonhold system to replace Leasehold and decided to support the landlords side.
Since then, CBG has bought Solitaire/ Pemberton Group and Peverel Companies group and passed over the leaseholders to Estates and Management to extract money.
So to get a change in the law , leaseholders must (1) keep pressing their local MPs to push Government towards change to Commonhold. and (2) to push Companies Investigation Branch of Companies House to investigate the Consensus Business Group.
Well…………….what an amazing site!!
Well done to the site owner/s.
So……….we are not alone. There are thousands of others all suffering at the greedy & possibly illegal hands of Peverel OM Ltd.
Yep…..you guessed it, I am a leaseholder at the mercy of Peverel OM Ltd. Reading this site has re-gained my sanity.
Same old problems (sorry to sound boring) with gardening, painting, cleaning, general maintenance here in Essex. The service charges jump each year for what??!!
Plus, how many light bulbs/lamps can one development be charged in one year ???!!!
It begs belief at the price they charge for them, if they “actually” replaced them !
Reading your site has given us the courage to look into Right to Manage. But we know it’s going to be a hard slog to do, coupled with huge resistance from Peverel to let us do it. They are NOT going to give up this very lucrative development easily.
Anyone else in Essex suffering with Peverel?
Good luck everyone and lets all sign up on every site we can find to keep the stories alive and kicking at how Peverel etc are con merchants!
RTM is a legal process set up for leaseholders ( subject to 50% or over support ) to take over the administration of the service charge account and admin income such as registration fee for serving Notices of flat transfers and subletting.
Google search chapter 15 of RTM under the “Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002.( download from http://www.opsi.gov.uk )
If you need help with serving RTM Notices , I recommend that you contact SELCHA based in Hastings – see http://www.selcha.com
I can confirm that PeverelOM are rebranding to “OM”, It is on the signature section of a recent email from PeverelOM I received, it states that their name will soon be changing.
So “Peverel OM” are to become simply “OM”. In other words, they’re going all anonymous (apologies to “A N Onymous” who regularly posts on here…!!!).
Is this re-branding a half-hearted attempt to try and get away from the on-going criticism associated with the “Peverel” name…??? If so, they’ll be wasting more of their customer’s money on a re-branding exercise that will fool nobody (apart perhaps from themselves).
Perhaps “Andy” can confirm that this re-branding is indeed happening? And if it is, what exactly are Peverel hoping to gain from it…??? And how much is said re-branding actually costing…???
So, what’s next? “Estates & Management Limited” to be re-branded as “Limited”…??? Or “Consensus Business Group” to become simply “Group”…???
Rather than spending God-knows how much money on re-branding, why don’t they concentrate on doing their jobs correctly…??? Like actually managing & maintaining the developments we live on (“services” we are paying for)…??? Sorry – that’s probably just too radical an idea…..
A new name will not magically sort out the problems over-night…!!! In fact, a new name means precisely nothing – new name, same old s**t…..
Just found this site! what an eye opener, Peverel OM or is it just OM? Just had a demand charging for subletting of £115.50 I paid Peverel same amount 6 months ago, then my Tenent gave notice, so now I must pay again. OR Consent by a Global License for the princely sum of £346.63. presumably one off payment. However a registration fee of £25 to be paid for new tenants. I have owned and let this apartment for 1 years why now after all this time have they decided to charge? Licensed to print money of course.
sally says owned for 11 year sorry mistyped
Reply to Bella:
The Right to Manage is just that – a right. There are only limited grounds to oppose your right, assuming you meet the criteria.
And it’s not down to Peverel or the property management company to make life difficult as the claim notice is served on the freeholder NOT the PMC. Although I accept that Peverel Companies and the freeholders are often linked.
The RTM process involves very tight deadlines once the notice is served on the freeholder. My advice is to not waste your time listing detailed complaints here (it IS an excelent site), just whip up support for RTM among you neighbours.
Despite PPMG’s size, we found it had a very small legal team, so the more claim notices served on them the better.
Our RTM took about nine months – there are loads of solicitors some with fact sheets on the RTM process. Good luck
NEWS FLASH – Peverel Om on rebranding
“Peverel OM Launches New Trading Identity and Customer Website on 3rd February 2010
19/1/2010 –
National property managers Peverel OM, who manage over 1,100 privately owned residential developments will be changing their trading name to OM Property Management and launching a new look corporate identity and customer website on
Wednesday 3rd February 2010.
The new customer website has been designed to meet the needs of all customers living in Peverel OM managed leasehold properties throughout England and Wales. It provides useful information on the OM Property Management team and the services they provide to leaseholders, house builders, developers, housing associations/RSL’s, Right-to-Manage (RTM) and Resident Management Companies (RMC).
Customers will be able to use the ‘What You Need to Know’ section of the website to obtain useful information on how OM Property Managers work to provide customers with a quality, value for money property management service for every development. Detailed explanations on topics such as Service Charge estimates, Reserve Funds and Ground Rents are provided together with many Frequently Asked Questions.
So, why the change?
Prior to the purchase by the Peverel Group in 1998, Peverel OM was known as OM Management Services. Recent customer research had also suggested that there was confusion amongst residents between Peverel OM and the Peverel Retirement Division so by creating a simple name change would help clarify this to customers.
OM Property Management is a trading name for Peverel OM Limited and the business remains a Peverel Group company.
Changing the company name will not affect the services that Peverel OM currently provides to customers.”
Andy please comment
Hi everyone,
Back in mid-December I promised to update you on any significant changes and I can now confirm that from the 3rd February 2010 Peverel OM will have a new trading identity known as OM Property Management – and a new customer website.
Customers living in Peverel OM managed properties will receive a letter explaining the changes from early next week, but we are happy to put everyone in the picture now, including our Solitaire customers.
So, why the change?
Prior to the purchase by the Peverel Group in 1998, Peverel OM was known as OM Management Services; that’s why we have chosen the OM Property Management name. Previous customer research had also suggested that there was confusion amongst residents living in Peverel OM and Peverel Retirement managed leasehold properties.
Creating a simple name change helps to clarify to customers who their managing agent is, and it prevents calls and emails being misdirected to the wrong Customer Services team. In fact, the decision to change the name was taken over a year ago, and we’ve been working hard to get everything ready for the official launch date of 3rd February.
The new OM customer website – http://www.ompropertymanagement.co.uk – is now live for everyone to view. It has useful information on the OM Property Management team and the services we provide to leasehold customers. In addition, the website also gives further information around house builders, housing associations, Right-to-Manage (RTM) and Resident Management Companies (RMC).
The ‘What You Need to Know’ section of the website explains how the OM Property Managers work and gives detailed explanations on topics such as Service Charge estimates and Reserve Funds. There’s also a helpful ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ section that seeks to address many common enquiries.
I should point out that this change only affects customers living in Peverel OM managed properties; customers living in Solitaire developments should continue to contact the Solitaire Customer Services team as detailed on our website – http://www.solitairepm.co.uk.
As I said back in May last year, we are listening, and more importantly, we’re working to make things better. In the Solitaire Customer Services team we’ve made real progress in responding to customer enquiries via email (customerservices@solitairepm.co.uk), but please know that we are far from happy with our response times for telephone calls made to the team.
We are working to implement telephony updates that will allow calls to be handled more effectively by identifying whether it relates to a maintenance issue or accounts enquiry. We hope that this work will be completed next month, but would like to apologise to anyone who has called with a problem and not been able to get through at certain times of the day.
Since the Solitaire team moved to Luton our Solitaire Property Managers are visiting developments more frequently than in the past. We are making further operational changes to the team to ensure that they continue to focus on the issues affecting you, and are able to resolve any problems on your development with greater effectiveness and efficiency.
We receive customer feedback by email, letter, phone and of course via this site; I will continue to respond to constructive comments where I can.
Thanks,
Andy
Solitaire Online Feedback Manager
hi
glad to see there is so much opposition. the change of name is so cynical after the sunday times report into tender rigging in favour of cirrus (a peverel company).
i have uncovered what i consider to be damming evidence of fraud going to the very top of peverel om.
i recommend you all serve REQUEST FOR INSPECTION OF DOCUMENTS UNDER SECTION 22 OF THE LANDLORD AND TENANT ACT 1985 as you will be im sure amazed what you have been charged for. i have found invoices for works not done, other schemes, even a birthday present.
andrew
So pleased to find this site! We are residents in a block in Essex also under Peverel’s managment. We’re so fed up we’re starting a Residents Association so that Peverel (hopefully) will answer our questions. We have been excessively charged for work done by our very own concierges, or not done at all; and we also have a recurring problem with one lift which keeps dropping between floors and residents are having to prise the doors open to get out.
We’re having our next meeting next week so I shall print this off and share with the group. Great work guys!
Hi all whilst i am glad to see peverel running scared and being shown to be the con merchants they are .. but all this bad publicity doesnt help those of us trying to sell our property ..weve been on the market for 3 years now since mum died and its costing us a fortune to keep the place running in maintenance costs money we cant really afford and if we dont pay we stand to forfeit the place …lose lose lose
Andy, I really feel for you when you are dealing / grieving for the loss of your mom and at the same time made to part with cash further to pay for service charge with threats or may lose the inheritance is horrific. Just coming to the site has highlighted your problem and many others in your position. The truth is the leaseholders, who can ill afford rip off service charge or can sell their property are suffering just like you nad me.
In my opinion TTAS contribution is double edge sword which helps many but also can harm at a small level. Knowingly, I will still contribute without shadow of doubt, otherwise people like me will have no voice. Even now PMC “position” remains the same and I am made to lose more and more. They pick answers from the air, cannot back their own contractor’s actions or reports then bully (as per dictionary meaning) to accept their inaccurate conclusion to blame the victim. It is wrong morally, ethically and unprofessional to make the very people suffer and lose who are paying their living and high life style.
I cannot live my in fear for loss of my life or money, threats or bow to bullies, so Andy I have no choice in the matter but to endure and challenge to bring changes. 3 years is a long time to lose when your and mine money tied in.
Here are some of my links to see what I have endured:
http://www.thetruthaboutsolitaire.co.uk/2009/09/18/the-times-newspaper-coverage/
http://www.thetruthaboutsolitaire.co.uk/2010/01/21/the-story-of-nicky-vogg-part-ii/
http://www.thetruthaboutsolitaire.co.uk/2009/12/11/the-story-of-nicky-vogg/
http://www.thetruthaboutsolitaire.co.uk/2009/08/06/peverel-solitaires-md-lee-middleburgh/
http://www.thetruthaboutsolitaire.co.uk/2010/02/17/response-to-andys-comment-from-yesterday/
I wish both of us luck to be free from the clutches of PMC sooner than later by selling our property.
Has anyone tried to purchase their leasehold from peverel. If so are ther any pointers? We know we have to have 50% or more share in the building and we have 75% interested in the 4 flat compound. We wrote to Peveral/OM Estates (recorded delivery but no reply) If anyone has any info/websites please let me know.
Choose a solicitor and surveyor from ALEP http://www.alep.org.uk/ as they ought to know what they are doing. Try to make sure the surveyor has an office near your property as they will then have more credibility when it comes to arguing about the market price. Before appointing both make sure that they have experience relevant to your requirements.
You are holding your flat under ” leasehold title” and you are the “leaseholder ” ( = long term tenant , probably under 99 years lease or 125 years lease). Every year you pay ground rent to the freeholder ( the freehold company name is shown on the annual ground rent demand. You can buy a copy of the freehold title from Land Registry online for 4 pds by credit card to check the name of your freeholder.
So you own the leasehold title and now with 50%+ other leaseholders , you collectively wish to buy the freehold title. You need to download the free guide to “freehold enfranchisement ” from http://www.lease-advice.org
Peverel /OM won’t reply if you are asking for something which you already own. You need to get clued up about the procedures first.
L Cartledge,
I can fully understand why you want to buy your freehold, in order to rid yourself of Peverel.
May I advise you though to be patient. Do not take any action for another 12 weeks. I wish I could but I can’t say why at present.
And during that 12 weeks you may like to read:
http://www.lease-advice.org/publications/documents/document.asp?item=11
…or subject to what M Epstein is imlying, this may be more appropriate
http://www.lease-advice.org/publications/documents/document.asp?item=16
..oops…sorry Michael Epstein….that should read ‘implying’!
Hi
I take it that we have just 12 weeks before the administrator has to administrate .. that is close the whole ‘orrible mess down …
and offer everyone the right to buy their free holds …
so then you will need to choose a new managing agent ..
happy days
This makes for an interesting read – will Peverel/OM be run out of Scotland?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/property/article-2087283/MARKET-WATCH-Follow-Scots-license-property-managers.html
There’s two things wrong with the scenario that is being developed here about the possibility of an ‘accident’ befalling our lovely friends in OM.
1) With a few exceptions our freeholds are not owned by OM or one of its related companies in Administration. Most are owned by Fairhold or what used to be called Peverel Properties and is now called GR Proxima. Although the latter is in receipt of a jumbo loan from Merrill Lynch, which has no hope of being repaid, it is not due for another couple of years.
2) My lease, and probably many others, states that the freeholder appoints the managing agent. So even if an accident befalls OM GR Proxima simply appoints another pet company. You will NOT need to choose a new managing agent–Daddy knows best.
Not very happy days.
Neil,
You are of course right.That said, were the unfortunate to happen, by not having OM the value of the freeholds decreases to Proxima. Indeed without OM, the income needed to service loans such as to Merril Lynch is taken away.
Though the head loans fall due in 2015, i am of the belief that due to the very complicated loan structures between the holding and operating companies, a default by the operating company can trigger a default by the holding company, as the loans would become payable on demand.
Since it is far from certain the holding company loans can be satisfied in 2015, why would any bank want to take further risks, when they know, their best chance to recover money is to act sooner rather than later.
Right of First Refusal
This link to a LEASE case study sounds almost to good to be true
http://www.lease-advice.org/publications/documents/document.asp?item=62
But it certainly proves the point that thorough research and advice-seeking pays off
The Registered Office for GR Proxima, Retirement Care (BH) Ltd – another landlord group – is Molenta House, so now part of Consensus/Tchenguiz Family Trust.
That’s Molteno House.
A ‘typo no doubt, but oops – if you change the letter ‘n’ in Jane’s spelling of the name of the House and substitute the letter that holds the position in the alphabet of tomorow’s date…!
Archangel,
If Proxima to raise cash wanted to sell their freehold interest in my development, I would have right of first refusal. If on the other hand a company bought Proxima, then I would not have the right of first refusal, as it is the company that has been sold not the freeholds. However this could only apply if Proxima as a whole was sold. Should the company be wound up, or be sold in parts then the right of first refusal applies.
This is why the administrator has been so desperate to keep Proxima via OM trading.
The freeholders, ie the owners of the head lease only have value if the company can be sold in a single entity.
Either a management buyout was planned, or someone was in mind as Peverel collapsed into administration.
It is my understanding that the administration was only meant to last a few weeks, that the debts would be “parked” and the banks and new owners would carry on free of debts, and all would eventually get their money back, at the residents expense!
This plan has gone completely wrong.
A chiropodist friend of mine tells me for Peverel “DE FEET” is inevitable!
Looking at the sad situation regarding Peacocks, it should be noted that they were trading profitably. Indeed last year they earned £77m. RBS decided to withdraw support because Peacocks had debts of some £700m,
in a large part due to borrowings to buy the company.
Right or wrong RBS decided that there was no prospect of Peacocks earning enough to clear the debt. As such it was deemed to be best for RBS to pull ther plug on Peacocks.
Compare the situation Peverel find themselves in.
Peverel’s debts are far higher than Peacocks. Peverel’s earnings are far less than Peacocks.
Peacocks, as far as I know did not have an enforced customer base dedicated to leaving them, as do Peverel.
Nor, as far as I know did Peacocks hold thousands of pounds of client money that could not be accounted for, as is the case with Peverel.
Nor, as far as I know did Peacocks fail to file accounts as is the case with Peverel.
For the sake of their staff, I do hope that a way can be found to save Peacocks, can’t say the same about Peverel though!
No
Michael,
Like you I’ve followed the ‘Peacocks’ story with surprise and interest.
Yesterday’s ‘Times’ states that they have ‘won some beathing space in which to seek a new buyer’.
By contrast I would think that Peverel’s oxygen supplies have virtually run out?
Michael
Of course you are right … “selling” requires effort to buy product, to store and distribute it, and finally actually sell it. all of which takes lots of people, and there is huge competition. britain is grossly “over shopped”. so no need to build any more mega stores, so construction is knackered, etc etc
a landlord however has NO competition – the tenants cannot go any where else for their lease. its a GOTCHA !
and with virtually no running costs, no stock to buy, so its a highly “profitable” IF and it is a big IF you can get the money to buy a few …
if on the other hand, you are the Duke of Westminster, you ALREADY own all these leases, so no borrowing .. just a nice little earner….
and he has lots of happy days as a result …