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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

Issue 124 of News on the Block has now been published and is available for subscribers to read online now.  This issue includes our special 'Unsung Heroes feature' in partnership with Jackson Sims Recruitment and some of the following articles.  Legislation is ‘biggest challenge’ facing sector!  Block management company celebrates double acquisition New tool to help monitor headcount What are the alternatives to bonds and guarantees? The cost of failing to keep valuations updated  Broadside fired at

Previous property must-haves like tall ceilings and ornate fireplaces are out, with homeowners favouring eco-friendly features in 2023. A new poll of 2,000 UK adults1 has found Instagrammable aesthetics are being shunned for the likes of double or triple glazing (a must-have for 70% of house hunters) or good insulation (61%) as people double down on eco and cost efficiency this year. The poll, from property management experts, FirstPort, revealed the top 10 features this year’s homeowners are knocking dow

Principle Estate Management has signed a vital partnership agreement which will enable the fast growing property management company to scale up its operations as it continues to expand. Founded by joint managing director Brett Williams in April 2018, Principle has teamed up with One Property Recruitment (OPR) to source new talent for its Birmingham and London offices. In just five years Principle has grown to manage more than 10,000 units and now employs over 50 staff. Operations director Stephanie Jobson

Paula Higgins, CEO of HomeOwners Alliance, says:  The Bank of England made its 11th consecutive hike in the base rate, taking it from 4% to 4.25% today. And if you’re looking for a mortgage, it’s more important than ever to move quickly because we’re continuing to see the cheapest rates pulled from the market. The best mortgage rates on 2 year and 3 year fixes today are up compared to what was available at the start of March 2023. And while the best rate available on a 5 year fix has nudged down compared