Delegation to a trustworthy property management company, authorising them to act in the capacity as managing agent, capable of removing the hassle from the lessees' apartment/flat management company, is an excellent option for many lessee directors. The problem is identifying which property management company offers a safe pair of hands for the directors to entrust the management of their property to, and who can help them run their management company.
If such a property management company is found and appointed, all lessees, especially the lessee directors, will benefit - more lessees will be prepared to be appointed as directors, lessees will be proud that their property is being managed correctly, and a general sense of well-being permeates the atmosphere within the property. Should an unfortunate event occur, such as a lessee not paying a service charge, the action that will need to be taken is not personal because it will be the appointed property management company that undertakes all contact with the non-compliant lessee.
Many directors may have had unfortunate experiences with property management companies purporting to be a Managing Agent but failing to provide the service that was promised. Service may have appeared non-existent, keys may have been lost, phone calls not returned, service standards not put in place, property inspections not carried out... and yet fees are taken from the apartment/flat management company account without the directors' express permission. Despite all of this, the directors remain responsible for all aspects of the property including the potential action or non-action by the appointed managing agent.