Flat owners left out ‘in the cold’ by Warmfront scheme

Bob SmytheRman, from Worthing, tackles two issues that come up often and concern thousands of his association’s members.

YOUR BLOCK NEEDS YOU!

The global financial crisis means money is tight. What does it mean to your block?The credit crunch will spare no one, but for flat owners problems and opportunities can be comfortable bed partners.

Are flats to blame for the credit crunch?

What’s bad news for buy-to-let could be good news for blocks, says Jane Barry Live, as I do, in a block that’s extensively sublet, and you can’t help experiencing a touch of schadenfreude at the plight of buy-to-letters. During the past five years, while buy-to-let has been the new gold, and property programmes have bashed on about how it only takes some faux-wood laminate and a bevvy of brushed steel door handles to turn a dump into a desirable rental for “young professionals”, I’ve heard a different message coming back from flat owners who see their property as a home, not an investment.

MPs criticise government green failures as ‘empty rhetoric’

Landlords’ common problems solved

Leasehold reform – could do better

After reading the section of the Carsberg Review on leasehold and rental property management I started to think about where we actually are in terms of reform and education in the leasehold sector, especially as much of the new-build property is being leased. So, in order to understand where we are now we perhaps need to remind ourselves how we got here.

RTM – Right to Manage or Right to Meddle?

Serviced apartments – a place to live or a business opportunity?

MiNC Apartments is a family run business with offices in London, Dubai and Johannesburg. Upon meeting Kamran Mahmood, the MiNC business plan is clear; to create a brand of serviced apartments that will become synonymous within the sector as Hilton is to hotels or McDonalds to fast food. But is this possible and how long will it take? The company entered the serviced apartment sector after rentals started narrowing in the UK and it was looking to enhance its own income as well as that of its clients’.

Seddons solicitors appointed as recognised supplier to the NLA

Seddons, the Central London law firm, has been appointed as a recognised supplier to The National Landlords Association.

COMMONHOLD

Commonhold is a new form of property ownership. It was introduced by the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002. We explain this new form of land tenure and tell you everything you need to know...

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How Far Eastern Quality Beat the Credit Crunch

If you're going to fall victim to the recent credit crunch, you might as well do it in style. Fallout from the financial downturn was felt across London's Canary Wharf district, but nowhere was it more obvious than at Ballymore's flagship residential development, Pan Peninsula.

The Common Wasp: Friend or Foe?

For many people, the summertime means enjoying relaxing picnics in the sun. There is one particular insect associated with this season however, which evokes fear, distress and annoyance in many picnic goers: the common wasp. Despite being a pest species, many people don't realise how interesting and complex these social insects are. So should we treat wasps with fear or admiration?

Tax for flats

The recent hike in capital gains tax to 28% by the new coalition Government has been met with caution by the property industry, as it will affect many who have invested in flats.

IFAS Prefer Commercial to Residential property

More financial advisers think their clients should consider commercial property as an investment compared with residential property, according to the latest survey of Independent Financial advisers (IFas) by rEITa.

Flats Rise - slowly

The latest Government house building data shows that the number of starts rose in the first three months of this year to the best level since the second quarter of 2008. Despite this, starts are currently only running at around 50% of the level achieved at the high water mark of the previous cycle.

Leaseholders group won't be left in the cold

The Federation of Private Residents Associations has called for a change to the Landlord and Tenant Act that would allow for ‘reasonable' insulation to be carried out to blocks of flats as part of the service charge.

Mainstay acquires Market Focus

Mainstay group , the national property management and facilities company, has purchased Market Focus Asset Management (MFAM) based in London. MFAM specialise in the management of mixed use, residential and commercial property.

Managing to Win

Over 50 property managers celebrated together in London as England beat Slovenia in the FIFa world Cup 2010. The event was jointly hosted by News on the Block and Sky Homes.

RMG wins £400k of Business in North

RMG property management has successfully generated over £400k worth of business from the north of England.  Justin Herbert, RMG's Operations Director for the North, said: "Customers recognise the benefi t of regular site visits, full transparency and accessibility to Property Managers, quarterly meetings and site audits, as well as the value for money and customer service provided by RMG."

New Home, New Leader for Stonedale

Stonedale, the specialist London based property management company has appointed Andrew Lyle as its new Head of Operations. Andrew boasts a career that spans over 20 years in property management, having worked for a number of high profi le managing agents in London. In the 18 months since joining the Stonedale team as a Senior Property Manager, he has managed developments in Docklands, Limehouse and Clerkenwell.