Featured Articles

Get the answers to your questions and stay up to date about apartment building management with our featured articles and NOTB guides, on topics such as service charges, right to manage, buying your freehold, major works, building insurance and other issues about blocks of flats.

Double celebration at new housing development in Battersea

A double celebration took place on Wednesday 1 March as Wandsworth Council and award-winning housebuilder The Hill Group broke ground on the creation of 106 new homes at Randall Close, alongside the unveiling of striking new hoarding, created by local students and artists. The groundbreaking ceremony marked the start of construction of new council homes which will make an important contribution towards our Housing for All programme, which commits to delivering 1,000 new council homes. Aydin Dikerdem, Cabi

2023 Fitness Trends

Following a turbulent two or three years in the fitness industry, what is the fitness landscape looking like in 2023 and what trends are we likely to see over the coming 12 months? If you want to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to being on-trend with your fitness facilities and service offering then the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) conduct a survey of over 4000 fitness professionals each year to provide insight into what the up-coming trends are. We have included a summary of some key

Over 60% tickets now sold for IRPM Annual Seminar 2023

Tickets are still available for the IRPM Annual Seminar 2023, which will take place on the 11th May at the QEII Centre in central London.  Like all past IRPM seminars, the 2023 event will cover the most pressing issues facing our sector and professionals. Industry experts will be on hand to provide the most up-to-date information and guidance throughout the day.   Topics that will be covered include: Building safety Mental health and wellbeing Cost of living crisis Customer service and communication

End of winter signals need for boiler MOT

Experts are recommending homeowners give their gas boilers an end of winter test, similar to a car’s MOT to ensure they are energy efficient and safe to use. Energy experts at Quotezone.co.uk said the test is needed to ensure boilers are properly maintained, operating at full efficiency and not driving up bills. The most serious concern posed by improperly maintained gas boilers is carbon monoxide poisoning that can cause headaches, weakness, vomiting, shortness of breath and in most extreme cases death.

‘Ask the Panel’ at the FPRA Spring Conference

You are invited to join the FPRA online for their Spring conference where you will be able to ask your questions on Fire Safety, Block Management and Right to Manage directly to their expert panel.   Following the Ask the Panel session, there will be two additional 30-minute sessions:  Basics of the Fire Safety and Building Safety Acts 2022 with Jonathan Gough, FPRA Director and Head of Building Safety at Grainger and Cassandra Zanelli CEO of Property Management Legal Services and FPRA Honorary Consu

New operations manager Paul Slattery joins Catalyst

Catalyst Services UK has strengthened its senior management team with the appointment of Paul Slattery as its new operations manager. Paul has worked in operational management for more than 20 years, including 14 years in the drainage industry. During this time he set up then managed a drainage claims team for major insurance companies. He will be responsible for leading the expanding Catalyst claims handler team and working closely with our field teams to deliver seamless service for insurance clients an

Churchill agrees Primary Authority partnership with West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service

A legal partnership between West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service and the Churchill Retirement Living Group has been established to help ensure customers remain safe from fire. Following a vigorous legal process, Churchill has partnered with West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service (WSFRS) to be the Primary Authority for its business. The partnership will see WSFRS provide assured and consistent advice on fire safety regulations to make it easier for the company to comply with legislation across the organisation, in

Lessons from the high-profile Tate Gallery privacy case

The case of Fearn v Board of Trustees of the Tate Gallery was one of the most eagerly awaited decisions of the Supreme Court for many years.  In essence, the Tate Galley had created a viewing platform on its Blavatnik Building which allowed visitors to the Tate a 360 degree view of the London Skyline.  The platform was incredibly successful with 500,000 visitors a year taking in the spectacular views. The view also included the Neo Bankside Development where the flats had been created with glass walls. Th

MRI Software Launches ‘MRI Safer Communities’ – A Solution to Manage Anti-Social Behaviour and Domestic Abuse Cases

MRI Software, a global leader in real estate software, announces the launch of MRI Safer Communities, a comprehensive cloud-based case management solution for the UK  social housing sector to report, manage and monitor cases of anti-social behaviour (ASB) and domestic abuse (DA). Broadening MRI’s suite of social housing software solutions, MRI Safer Communities provides an efficient way for customer-facing, ASB- and DA-focused teams to record incidents, as well as actions and interventions taken to suppor

Compassionate Block Management Skills

Compassionate management involves a focus on relationships through careful listening to, understanding, empathising with and supporting other people, enabling those we work with to feel valued, respected and cared for.   How do Fraser Allen manage compassionately?  We empathise with our clients and residents and seek to understand the challenges they face.   It is important to be committed to supporting others to cope with and respond successfully to challenges within the industry.  Although compassionate

Q&A - Fire Doors in Apartments

QUESTION Can you please confirm or not, something I have heard from a fire door installer.  As a fire door is to prevent fire spreading into a communal area in a block of flats, if your home is the only one in a block that does not have a fire door, it's ok as you don't need one? ANSWER It is a really interesting question from your reader and one that we do get asked regularly, In short Yes.  It is required to be a fire door, under the Fire Safety Act 2021 which in Article 6 - Application to Premise

Property inspections and tenant education are crucial in the fight against dangerous mould

A combination of regular inspections and proactive ventilation can help to reduce the risk of dangerous damp and mould in rental properties, according to No Letting Go. The inventory specialist firm says that landlords and letting agents must monitor properties closely and improve tenant education on the causes of damp and mould. The problems caused by serious damp and mould in UK homes are nothing new, but they have been brought back under the spotlight in recent months due to the inquest into the tragic

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