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Managing agents must learn to adapt and evolve, says Joe Mallon Who would be a residential block manager? A profession already demanding a working knowledge of buildings, leases, finance and human nature now carries an increasingly formidable building safety workload.

Picture the scene. The Building Safety Regulator asks a Principal Accountable Person for its safety case report. The deadline starts to run. Everyone begins searching for documents, chasing consultants, checking records and trying to piece together evidence of how the building’s risks are actually being managed.

For property managers, duty holders and contractors, knowing how to respond is key to protect health and remain compliant with the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. This guide from the team at 4site Consulting explains the steps you need to take to protect anyone in the vicinity. 

Artificial intelligence is increasingly being used across the construction industry, and its potential within Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM) projects is significant. From reviewing pre-construction information to identifying gaps in Construction Phase Plans, AI can help project teams process large amounts of information more quickly and consistently than ever before.

For most managing agents, emergency lighting follows a familiar routine: monthly functional tests, annual full-duration testing and remedial works when a fitting fails.

Landlords and letting agents are being urged to keep communal paths, entrances and outdoor areas clear of fallen leaves this autumn, as wet weather increases the risk of slips and new waste enforcement rules bring higher potential penalties for improper disposal.

Solar battery storage and other low-carbon technologies are becoming an increasingly familiar part of residential property management. But as our buildings become greener and more electrified, managing agents face a new challenge: making sure decarbonisation works alongside fire safety, electrical infrastructure, planned maintenance and the day-to-day realities of managing an occupied block.

Amthal Group Companies has partnered with AURA to connect customers needing a physical security response to alarm activations or requests for assistance, with a nationwide network of vetted, SIA-licensed security responders.

L&Q has reserved all 83 Rent to Buy apartments at L&Q at Trafford Waters following an exceptional demand for the affordable homes, which attracted 2,217 enquiries - equivalent to almost 27 leads per property. This exceptional demand highlights the gap between the number of people looking for affordable housing and the number of homes available.

Pallas Capital has completed a £7.5m bridging loan against a former industrial site in Tottenham, North London, which has planning permission for a mixed-use scheme of 80 units. The consented plans include 41 open market homes, 12 affordable homes and 27 commercial units, set to turn a site of warehouses and offices into 53 new homes alongside new commercial space.The 6-month facility was structured at 50% LTV and refinances the borrower’s existing bridge, which had reached the end of its term. Pallas Cap

Homeowners are being urged to check their insurance cover as Storm Austen is forecast to bring strong wings and heavy rain to parts of the UK from Thursday night into Friday.   

New digital service combines identity verification, Open Banking, HMRC income data and fraud screening to help letting agents make informed decisions under the Renters' Rights Act.