Martin Perry, managing director of Bath-based West of England Estates Management, has been appointed as the new chairman of the Association of Residential Managing Agents (ARMA), the trade body for the leasehold management sector.
ARMA promotes high standards through advice, training and guidance to its 300-plus members and also produces guidance materials for leaseholders and residents’ management companies while campaigning for improvements in legislation affecting the leasehold sector.
Martin, pictured, said: “I feel genuinely privileged to have been asked to chair ARMA and am lucky to be doing so at what is an important time for the organisation.” 
ARMA has recently developed and launched ARMA-Q, a landmark self-regulatory regime for the residential leasehold management sector which contains measures specifically designed to protect leaseholders.
Martin continued: “When I joined ARMA in 1987 it was a trade body focused exclusively on providing information and training and lobbying on behalf of its members, which it continues to do.
“But we had a bold vision to extend the remit of ARMA to provide an independently-assessed quality standard for our members. I am very excited to become chairman just as that vision now becomes a reality.”
West of England Estate Management has been established for more than 20 years and specialises in managing blocks of flats of all sizes, both purpose-built and conversions.
While the majority are in Bath, it also has instructions in Bristol, Swindon and across the West Country. Clients include independent freeholders who are also the landlord and lessees who collectively own their own freehold, usually through membership of a registered, limited management company.
ARMA chief executive Michelle Banks said: “It is very important to have a smooth transition in governance, especially when ARMA stands on the brink of introducing ARMA-Q. Martin has the advantage of a long association with ARMA as well as his experience in block management.”
Prior to taking on his new role, Martin chaired ARMA's technical committee for two years and for the past year has chaired its finance and corporate affairs committee.
