Agent's growth plans boosted by Right to Manage

Block manager Urban Bubble is planning to grow its portfolio this year, increase staff and almost triple revenue after benefiting from Right to Manage.

The Manchester-based firm already manages 60 blocks with 2,700 apartments, but is planning to take on a further 11 with 1,465 flats between them.

The business had sales of £375,000 last year, but founder Michael Howard expects revenues to rise to £1.1m in the year to next March.

Staff numbers, now at 25, are set to double in the next 18 months.


Howard said his business has grown by securing management contracts from leasehold owners of apartments unhappy with their previous block managers.

He said recommendations had come through word of mouth.

Howard said: “Leaseholders approach us and say ‘Our agent is not performing well – service charges are going up, the agent hasn’t listened’.

“What we want to do is attract business by setting the bar at a much higher standard than our competitors, and have those who want a better service, or the best for their buildings, come to us.”

* Could a recent court case have implications for managing agents? See today’s blog