CommonCouncil vs Blockman for Your Block
Blockman is service charge accounting software for property managers. CommonCouncil is communication software for self-managed blocks. See how they compare.
| Blockman | CommonCouncil | |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Property managers & agents | Self-managed blocks & RMCs |
| Core focus | Service charge accounting & administration | Resident communication & decisions |
| Accounting | Yes — demands, BACS, P&L, balance sheets | No — communication-first |
| Resident portal | MyBlockman (paid add-on) | Included, browser-based |
| Recorded votes | Not the focus | Core feature |
| Pricing | Pay-as-you-go monthly + setup fee | Free during early access |
| Setup | Migration support from provider | Self-serve in minutes |
| Best for | Agents needing block accounting | Directors needing calm communication |
Blockman, from Topfloor Systems, is a mature service charge accounting and administration platform that has been in the UK since 2011. It is built around the financial complexity of running multi-unit developments: raising demands across multiple lease schedules, recording expenditure against budgets, BACS supplier payments, and producing trial balances and P&L reports per block.
Where Blockman is strong
- Deep, industry-specific service charge accounting.
- Non-modular pricing — most features included.
- BACS payments and per-block financial reporting.
- An optional resident portal, MyBlockman, as a paid add-on.
Where it is the wrong size for a self-managed block
Blockman is fundamentally an accounting tool for the person doing the books. If your block already has an accountant or bookkeeper, paying for a full accounting platform — plus a separate portal add-on — to handle resident communication is paying for the wrong thing. Volunteer directors rarely need balance sheets; they need residents to actually receive notices and decisions to be recorded.
Where CommonCouncil fits
CommonCouncil does not try to be your accounting system. It is the calm front door for the building: announcements every resident sees, recorded votes, a shared document library, and AI email ingestion that turns forwarded contractor emails into draft updates. Free during early access, no setup fee, no migration project. Pair it with whoever keeps your accounts.