For 15 years Mira Bar-Hillel has been pushing for financial institutions to invest in the rented sector and adopt a build-to-let policy. There has been some progress made in this area but now, she argues, the time may be right for a major push in this area.

In the second edition of her series of articles from the front line, Antonia Adams considers whether the amalgamation of local authorities and private developments is a match made in heaven or hell...

In the second instalment to the day in the life series, Jamie Reid travelled to north London to spend a busy day with John Ward of Crabtree Property – a day that would take him all over London…

Last spring John Peartree, chief executive officer of the Federation of Private Residents’ Associations (FPRA), and his committee members, wrote to Tony Blair about the lack of consideration by government of the impact on leaseholders and residents of new legislation. Please see a copy of his letter below, with responses overleaf...

I Parking abuse in residential developments is probably the most emotive of the problems that managing agents have to address. NOTB interviewed Chris March of Countrywide Property Management...

I Following on from the British Security Industry Association’s (BSIA) article in the last edition of NOTB, the BSIA Police and Public Services Section Chairman, Mick Lee, examines the role that wardens are playing in securing blocks of flats and looks at the other security measures that resident associations should be considering.

Peter Moore of Tetra Consulting discusses the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002, which came into force in 2004, and the impact it has had on organisations in the UK...

This month Jane Bayliss recalls some of the trials and tribulations her block managers have faced in the past when it comes to carrying out refurbishments (and justifying the fees) in her seaside block of flats.

Mira Bar-Hillel reports on the concern that a growing number of landlords are all too easily able to take commission for simply arranging building insurance for their block, and asks what’s being done to prevent this.

You will be pleased to know you are not the only people who find dealing with health & safety (H&S) issues time consuming and occasionally irritating. Anyone who manages any type of property has to deal with the issues you are facing; whether it is commercial property, offices, shops, hospitals or councils, you have to comply.

Daren Wood, Northern Regional general manager at the British Security Industry Association (BSIA), looks at the ways that homeowners can protect their flats and why resident groups should be taking a holistic approach to security...

Continuing on in our series of meeting people on the front line of property management, this month we talk to Mark Perkins, who manages the exclusive Kings Chelsea development in West London.

This month, in a new series of articles ‘from the frontline’, frustrated leaseholder Antonia Adams discusses some of her experiences with ineffective managing agents and considers what needs to be done to differentiate between the good, the bad and the ugly.

There comes a time to us all when we have to take a deep breath and tackle a task so contentious and provocative that the very thought makes the knees go weak. This is my moment when I address the subject of the recent no smoking legislation and how it impacts on residential buildings.

The team behind News on the Block has announced the launch of a revolutionary new service, www.yourblockonline.com. This new website will offer property owners the opportunity to create their very own website, bespoke to their building or development...

This year’s annual conference of the Association of Residential Managing Agents (ARMA) was a far cry from its first event in 1996. Twelve years ago there were a mere 75 delegates, last month there were more than 520. News on the Block reports...

Samantha Simpson, property manager at Countrywide Property Management, explains the specific challenges when managing property that happens to float on water.

Moving people out of their homes because of an emergency is a traumatic and emotional business, but it is all in a day’s work for Pierre Craddock of A3 Relocation Countrywide, who is ready to mobilise 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, anywhere in the country, bringing practical solutions and sympathetic understanding.