Lower Costs, Better Service

Odyssey House residents are currently paying £2438 per year in service charges while basic security and fire safety infrastructure remains broken. Under the 2002 Reform Act, we have the legal right to fire Southern Housing and appoint our own independent management. We need only 8 out of 15 flats to sign this non-binding mandate to begin the legal takeover. It costs nothing to sign, and historic data shows resident-managed blocks save 30-50% on management fees.

What does it mean for us?

The problem

Don't take our word for it. We've compiled every invoice, ignored email, and broken promise into an open-source archive. Enter the Data Room →

The 2-Step Escape Plan

The law is on our side. We do not have to ask Southern Housing for permission to do this. We just need to organise. And as of last year, those under shared ownership finally have a vote. You retain the laddering agreement with Southern but are free to choose your own management firm.

Step 1: Right to Manage (RTM)

• What happens: We form a resident-run RTM Company. We hire an independent, locally accountable managing agent of our choosing. Southern Housing must legally hand over our unspent reserve funds, and we are free to pick based on price and performance rather than a monopolistic default.
• The benefit: We slash inflated management fees, tender our own competitive contracts, and ensure a broken door gets fixed on day one, not day one hundred.

Step 2: Commonhold Conversion

• What happens: We collectively buy the freehold, and take ownership of the shell of the building. The resident-run company owns the shell of the building
• The benefit: No more arbitrary landlord rules, no property devaluation as the lease goes down, and permanent control over our property assets. We operate under a common rulebook (CCS) that makes buying / selling easier, improves the value of our homes, and inverts control. We vote on budgets rather than having them set for us. And, abolish forfeiture in favour of a more equitable system.

Costs & Savings

Here is a rough breakdown of expected costs and savings.

For RTM legal fees, savings estimates, and cost details, see our comprehensive breakdowns in the data room.

For more, please see the Service Charges and the Data Room.

What We Need From You

To trigger Step 3 (Right to Manage), the law requires 8 out of 15 (50%) to participate. Once we exercise our right to management and set up our own RTM Company, we can then re-evaluate every maintenance contract we have.

This is not a legal signature, that will come later.

Right to Manage carries zero upfront cost to you, but it requires us to stand together. We need your signature to legally force Southern Housing's hand. Please read this document to understand the implications and consider pledging support.

What if I am in a shared ownership agreement?

You do not have to own your flat outright to exercise your right. In fact, it entirely inverts the control, and Southern becomes a tenent of ours. Please read the guide to your rights here: Shared Ownership Rights.

Your Next Steps

1. Join the Chat: Get real-time updates and ask questions in the building's secure WhatsApp group.
2. Sign the Mandate: Provide your legal consent to join the RTM application. (Link coming soon)
3. Talk to Your Neighbours: If you know someone in the building who isn't aware of this, send them this link.
4. Talk to us (your neighbour Alex) at 07434848282
5. Have a look at the pages for the current issues, financial review, and right to manage. Then, look at an analysis of the service charges.
6. Independently research the risks of RTM. While we have no say now, a democratic process can lead to disagreements among shareholders, and operating the company has specific requirements that the directors must follow. Much of this will be handled by an agent. Our thesis is that it will be less work than what we are doing now. When the financial audit is complete we will know what kinds of repairs may need to be done, and what the status of the sinking fund is so will be in a better position for a go-no-go. That is why your signature is just an intention to support and not legally binding.

Our Next Steps

I am in the process of gathering interest (that's what this is for!), understanding the financial situation of our building (for more, see Financial Review), and dealing with our current issues. Absolute transparency is the goal. Once that is done, and if we can get the required number of signatures, we will democratically proceed with selecting 3-5 directors and going forward with our 'divorce'.

Our commitment to you is a modern, transparent, and equitable system that works for us focusing on our local community rather than getting drowned out in beaureaucracy. I have experience running companies, filing accounts, dealing with contracts, and believe we can deliver savings of 10k a year to our building while delivering timely and efficient repairs.