Statement from the RTM Directors

Due to dissatisfaction with both the cost and service level provided by our current managing agents, we have established an RTM company named Cheshire and Hare RTM Company Ltd.

The Right to Manage (RTM) is a legal framework that allows leaseholders to take control of the management of their property, shifting from the current setup where the managing agent and building management are beyond our control. You can learn more about RTMs here.

Acquiring the RTM will empower us to appoint and direct any managing agent of our choosing. They will be accountable to us as a collective body of leaseholders represented by the RTM members and directors.

As part of this process, we have evaluated several alternative managing agents and have determined that HAUS Block Management is the ideal choice for us. They are local, boast excellent Trustpilot reviews, and have already showcased significant potential savings for us, including management fees. Their user-friendly and efficient issue-logging system promises streamlined and responsive communication.

They will also help us with the legal and practical steps required to acquire the RTM. 

If we are unhappy with their performance, the RTM structure would allow us to remove them and appoint another company.

While the three of us are directors for the initial setup and establishment of the RTM, once the RTM is acquired, the opportunity will be open for others to become RTM Directors. These directors will be responsible for managing the day-to-day relationships with the managing agent, leaseholders, and the freeholder.

Director appointments will be subject to a vote by RTM members. 

We are optimistic that this initiative will significantly improve the management of our building, and we strongly encourage you to join the RTM Company. We need at least 50% of leaseholders to join Cheshire and Hare RTM Company to acquire the RTM.

We have been diligently working on this for several months and aim to complete it before the end of 2024. The process is quite extensive and involves detailed steps.

Please join us in taking action! Talk to landlords and neighbours to emphasise the importance of collective effort. Together, we're excited about achieving better management for our home!

If you have any questions, please email  cheshirestreetharemarsh@gmail.com


Meet the RTM Directors

  • Lissy Lovett

    I have lived in the development since late 2017. I'm originally from Norwich but have now lived in London for more than 25 years. I love living on Cheshire Street, especially because I can walk to my work in Hoxton where I co-run a contemporary circus company. I'm interested in initiating the Right To Manage process because I want the managing agent that the leaseholders pay to be answerable to the leaseholders.

    photo credit: Pamela Raith (www.pamelaraith.com)

  • Denise Dunne

    I have lived here since I bought my apartment 13 years ago. I became involved in this process at the introduction of the EWS1 when I was concerned about the lack of clarity and huge sums of money involved. I really value the resident community on WhatsApp that we have built since then, and I feel passionate about maintaining a safe, fair and happy environment for us all to live in and about having a say in how that is done.

    I am an adult psychotherapist and supervisor (consultant) and have run my own practice for nearly ten years. Before that I worked in Dublin, New York, Palo Alto and London in strategy, business development, change and communications roles in technology and corporate real estate. I like to work collaboratively and towards consensus, working in the best interests of the community rather than pushing my own perspective. I hope this process creates a forum where we can all live this way.

  • Rebecca Bradley

    I've lived in London since I was 19. Fourteen years ago, I bought a new flat in Hare Marsh.

    I acquired my flat through a part-ownership scheme, and I have been frustrated with block management since the beginning.

    I found it extremely difficult when I began the EWS1 process for remortgaging. The building's management deteriorated further, and as residents discussed potential solutions, I was eager to get involved.

    The WhatsApp communication and community for Hare Marsh have been excellent, motivating me to take action and resolve issues rather than merely discussing them. I've consistently challenged the management company when necessary, often with success.

    I believe fair and efficient management is our right.

    I have been a Director of my fashion company for over 20 years, and I'm also a Personal Trainer and Nutrition Coach.

    My goal is to make Hare Marsh a safe and desirable place to live.

Did you establish this company and website independently?

No, we've received initial assistance from a company called HAUS; they assist owners with acquiring the right to manage. They are carrying out this work without charge, with the understanding that they can compete for the management contract once the process is complete. Currently, we have no legal obligation to Haus.


How are you planning to fund the RTM?

If successful, the costs will be shared among RTM members. In the event of an unsuccessful attempt, HAUS has committed to covering these costs. Leaseholders who choose not to join Cheshire and Hare RTM Company will not be obligated to contribute. However, we will invite them to consider contributing, as it aligns with their interests.

If the RTM process progresses smoothly, we anticipate a one-time cost of around £95. If complications arise, the cost may be slightly higher, but we do not foresee it exceeding the initial savings we expect from gaining control over the building management.

I would like more information about what you will do about any shortfall from non-member leaseholders who choose not to pay. It could be a lot.

Ultimately, the responsibility lies with Cheshire and Hare RTM Company to cover these costs. Once we have determined how many leaseholders will join the RTM, we will have a clearer understanding of the total expenses involved. Any potential shortfall can then be discussed collectively.

This is the first I’m reading about this - what led up to it?

Several months ago, a different leaseholder initiated the process by reaching out on a building WhatsApp group, calling for volunteers. The three of us responded to that call and, through a series of events, found ourselves here today.

We welcome your comments and questions (our email address is provided on this page). The three of us took on this initiative because we felt it was important to take the lead and drive the process forward.

How do I know you’re competent and trustworthy?

The three of us successfully run our own businesses and have served or are currently active as directors elsewhere. We want to emphasise that we have no personal interests in this initiative; we are volunteering our time because we believe it is in the best interest of all leaseholders.

Once Cheshire and Hare RTM Company is established, members will have the authority to vote out any director who is not performing adequately. Similarly, if we become dissatisfied with HAUS or any other managing agent, we have the flexibility to change them.

Members of Cheshire and Hare RTM Company will always retain ultimate control, which underscores the importance of your involvement.

Assuming that the RTM process goes ahead smoothly, what’s going to happen after that? What’s your plan?

Please take a look at the FAQ page for detailed answers on standard practices. After completing the RTM process, we propose that company members vote on who should serve as directors. We are open to stepping down if others express interest in serving as directors. Alternatively, we will continue in our roles and diligently fulfil our duties.

Similarly, we anticipate seeking feedback or conducting a vote among members to decide on the management company for the block. Typically, contracts are annual, allowing us the flexibility to change management companies if necessary.

Once established, we look forward to empowering our building community to make decisions through majority voting and to have greater control over our collective future.

What about the live/work units and 76 Cheshire Street units?

There are five units designated as live/work spaces. These units are intended to function both as residences and as bases for running a business. To join the RTM Company, the owners of these units must have either obtained a change of use certificate from the local authority, converting them to residential use only, or provide a written statement confirming that the units are being used exclusively for residential purposes.

All sixteen flats within Block 76 are owned by Notting Hill Housing, and each flat has a corresponding qualifying lease registered with the Land Registry. As a result, all of these flats are eligible for membership of the RTM Company.


If anything on this page or the FAQ page isn't clear enough, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us for clarification or discussion. We are committed to ensuring that this process proceeds as smoothly as possible, and we welcome your questions and feedback. Your understanding and participation are crucial to our collective success.