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Did you know that 77% of British homeowners are keen to consider greener credentials when they’re looking for a new home? There’s no doubt that interest in sustainability is on the rise across industries, and property is no exception. As a developer, therefore, it’s vital you think green when building new homes. Stay eco-conscious and win over your audience with these tips. Learn About Sustainability Laws and Legislation There are existing laws surrounding sustainable property development in the UK that y

Peabody and Catalyst have completed the final stage in their merger, creating a single not-for-profit organisation with over 104,000 homes and around 220,000 residents across London and the Home Counties. The new Peabody is today publishing a refreshed Group Strategy setting out its priorities. The plans will put residents at the heart of the organisation, and create a new regional structure, with more locally focused teams and a commitment to deliver an enhanced, easily accessible responsive repairs serv

It has been just over one hundred years since the first woman, Carrie Morrison, was admitted to the roll of solicitors by the Law Society of England and Wales. The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) recently reported that across firms in England and Wales, 52% of solicitors were female, with government statistics indicating that in the wider Judiciary, Women constitute 39% of barristers and 76% of Chartered Legal Executives. We have undoubtedly come a long way, but the journey still has distance to cov

Starting a property management business can be an exciting and rewarding experience, but it can also be complex and overwhelming. Managing properties requires a lot of administrative back-office work, including handling client finance and service charge accounting, compliance and regulations and providing all the essential services, from Major Works to Section 20. On top of that, you need to market your services to attract new clients and keep your existing ones happy. It’s a lot to handle on your own and

Rising costs are creating increasing problems for commercial tenants and landlords, according to a leading East Anglian law firm. Ellisons Solicitors has warned 72% of the work currently carried out by its property litigation team over the last 12 months has been disputes between the two parties. The warning came as the firm, which has offices throughout Essex and Suffolk, held sell-out interactive events in Bury St Edmunds and Chelmsford to offer vital advice to those struggling to manage their commercia

The ACE Awards entry deadline has been extended to 23:59, Thursday 6th April, giving you more time to perfect your nominations. Entry to the ACE Awards is completely free, you can self-nominate and there are 18 award categories to choose from this year, including four new categories for 2023. You can enter as many categories as you would like, and awards are open to both ARMA and IRPM members. Key categories for 2023 include: Wellbeing Champion Award New For 2023 Can your company demonstrate how your w

It’s not easy being a block manager. Being in a public-facing role means you get to see all sides of people, both the good and the bad. And as it’s an unregulated industry, it can be all too easy to become stuck in a position you don’t like.  With all that pressure, it’s no surprise that the industry has a higher churn rate than average, according to the IRPM & ARMA 2022 Wellbeing Survey Report. As the 2023 version of the report comes out soon, it’s worth considering some of the previous survey’s main fin

As a resident within a block of flats in the UK, it's crucial to have a plan in place in case of an emergency. One of the most critical decisions to be made is whether to stay put or evacuate. Fire Safety in a building cannot be managed without knowing the building’s fire evacuation strategy. ‘Stay put or Evacuate?’ is a question that has raised a lot of conversation since the Grenfell Tower tragedy in June 2017 and is still discussed today. Fire Risk Assessments form the foundation on which the entire fi

Before entering into a new contract, it is imperative for an employer to undertake due diligence on a contractor. Whilst it is tempting for employers to go with the lowest bid, in reality, an employer should look at the financial stability of the contractor otherwise an employer could potentially end up spending more if it needs to pursue a claim as against the bond or guarantee as it would have done if it went with the highest bidder at the outset.  Among other things, the cost of a bond is linked to the

Multi-million-pound apartments in Battersea Power Station and Nine Elms are being quietly reduced in price after up to two years on the market. Rightmove listings revealed others have been listed on the market for years without being sold, such as in Nine Elms. One four-bed apartment at the St George Wharf development has been on the market at a price of £15m since December 2019. Another, in the nearby Damac Tower, has been for sale for £12.3m since 2021. Both have lavish interiors and panoramic views acr

Managing a building can be a daunting task, especially when it comes to ensuring the safety of your residents. With new legislation in place, it's now more important than ever to know how many people are in your buildings at all times. That's where ResiCountTM comes in. ResiCountTM is a powerful new software tool designed specifically for property managers like you. With ResiCountTM, you'll know the number of people in your building at any given time. This can be a huge help when it comes to complying wit

The property team at law firm Irwin Mitchell has advised Countryside Partnerships on its acquisition of a site in Grimsby which is to be developed into nearly 300 homes. Under the plans, 61 affordable homes will be managed by Gainsborough-based housing charity Acis Group and 58 will be for private rent via Start Living, the single-family build-to-rent joint venture between Gatehouse Bank and TPG Real Estate Partners. The remaining 180 homes will be for open market sale with Linden Homes, which is part of