Feature Interview

A regular cover story feature where we meet the people and personalities who influence the apartment sector.

Recent articles

The interview - Commonhold expert: Chris Baker May 15, 2008: Jamie Reid caught up with one of the country’s leading experts on Commonhold to discuss the slow take up of the system in this country and how it has worked in his native Australia for over half a century.

Meet the new CEO Feb 1, 2008: I After recently taking over from the retired Peter Haler as chief executive of the Leasehold Advisory Service, Jamie Reid caught up with Anthony Essien to find out a bit about his background, talk about some of the pressing issues in the sector and what he enjoys away from work...

Robert Plumb: a man on a mission Nov 27, 2007: Robert Plumb, CEO of HML Holdings plc, likes to keep his property management business simple and streamlined, but always with an eye on growth and acquisition.

All you need to know about block insurance Jul 20, 2007: Edward Brown of Lumley Letsure Limited, a British Insurance Brokers Association (BIBA) scheme provider and specialist in insurance for let properties and blocks of flats, explains what flat owners need to consider when it comes to their insurance requirements.

Watch out for the devil in the detail! Jul 20, 2007: Richard Benson, estate management director of Kinleigh Folkard & Hayward, provides expert advice on block insurance from a managing agent’s viewpoint.

Are you paying twice for your block insurance? Jul 20, 2007: Brevent Insurance, the UK’s leading independent specialists in apartment block insurance, has shaped a number of unique policies with leading insurers to meet the needs of the flat and mixed-use property sector. Ian Reid, Brevent’s MD, warns leaseholders to check what they are paying for.

Vera Baird QC Government’s stance on commonhold Jul 20, 2007: News on the Block interviewed Vera Baird QC MP, until recently Justice Minister at the new Ministry of Justice, to ask if the Government has been successful in getting the message across about commonhold.

Paul Rayden, CEO of County Estate Management and Solitaire Property Management May 22, 2007: Ben Lane met Paul Rayden to discuss how County Estate Management has grown from a small business to one that now manages 20,000 residential units, with Solitaire managing almost 30,000 units, and how, even with numbers growing, the focus remains on client service.

John Peartree speaks out Mar 27, 2007: John Peartree, recently appointed chief executive of the Federation of Private Residents' Associations, talks exclusively to News on the Block

Baroness Andrews OBE, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Dec 29, 2006: Baroness Andrews was appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the newly created Communities and Local Government in May 2006. Her role reflects and expands upon her previous position at the former Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM).

John Mills, Policy Officer, ARHM Nov 23, 2006: The Association of Retirement Housing Managers (ARHM) represents 59 organisations which, between them, manage 96,000 retirement properties. The Association is committed to high standards and ethics in the management of private retirement and sheltered housing. ARHM's Code of Practice forms a benchmark for Leasehold Valuation Tribunals in the exercise of their role in relation to the management of retirement leasehold properties.

An Appealing New System Nov 7, 2006: In recent years, the jurisdictions of the Government-sponsored Residential Property Tribunal Service (RPTS) have expanded dramatically.

Dr Michael Biles - Housing Ombudsman Nov 7, 2006: The Housing Ombudsman Service was set up under the provisions of the 1996 Housing Act to deal with complaints and disputes involving member landlords.

Judge Michael Rich QC Jun 14, 2006: HH Michael Rich declared his intention to go to the Bar. He is grateful both to his father and the Middle Temple (of which he is the Autumn Reader this year) that he was able to realise that ambition.

Learning Curve - Jeff Platt May 8, 2006: Jeff Platt, Chairman, Institute of Residential Property Management, speaks to News on the Block.

Mira Bar-Hillel - Exclusive interview Apr 17, 2006: Mira Bar-Hillel was born in Israel in 1946. She grew up in Jersusalem and, after 18 months’ national service with the Israeli Defence Force, graduated from the Hebrew University with a BA in Russian Studies.

Siobhan McGrath, Senior President, Residential Property Tribunal Service Dec 17, 2005: Following a review of the five regional Rent Assessment Panels in 2001, the Residential Property Tribunal Service (RPTS) was established to bring the panels together in order to better co-ordinate their work and maintain a consistency of approach in their procedures and decisions.

Turn down the heat - Cillian Murphy can't stand being hyped as the latest Irish stud Apr 6, 2004

The man who will deliver - Steven Norris talks extensively about his campaign to replace Ken Livingstone as the next Mayor of London Mar 16, 2004