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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

Landlords are being urged to adhere to new regulations for their properties, or face thousands of pounds of fines. With regulations being tightened by the government from April 1, now is a timely reminder to owners of non-domestic rental properties to get their buildings up to standard. Lincoln Smith, Managing Director of Rugby-based heating, plumbing and electrical business, Custom Heat, says: "We're concerned that the changes to the legislations aren't ‘common knowledge’ meaning that hundreds of landlor

A property management company has launched an innovative new app to help its clients log issues and track repairs on their phone. Block Management UK has launched its new Dwellant app, which is now available on the Apple App Store and Google Play, giving stakeholders and residents access to a centralised hub detailing all repair work and issues raised where they live. David Collinson, MD of Block Management, said: “This brilliant new app not only speeds up our repair and maintenance process, it also gives

IWM is the industry buzz word this year, but is it just that, or is there merit in adopting an alternative approach? The industry standard herbicide for weed control is Glyphosate, and whilst it is the optimum chemical for providing a long-term solution, there is no doubt the Glyphosate debate will no continue well into 2023. But does adopting IWM as part of the process make a real difference? Here we provide the information and key points of consideration that will help answer these questions. What is IW

UK private investors of all sizes are being given a unique chance to be part of a business targeting the property maintenance market worth £30bn through an intuitive digital platform called EVO, already the favoured choice of Housing Associations and Registered Providers.   The platform, which connects landlords, tenants and tradespeople with simple, easy to use technology, also has a positive social impact with its mission to solve Britain’s broken rental property sector where some 2.8m people are living

A recent nationwide landlord survey run by property insurance experts, Lansdown Insurance Brokers has found that two-thirds of landlords have considered reducing their rents to help their tenants during the cost-of-living-crisis, whilst three-quarters have contemplated freezing their rents at this time.  One hundred and seventy landlords throughout the country took part in the Lansdown landlords survey which set out to uncover how landlords are dealing with swiftly rising costs alongside ensuring social a

Brendan Geraghty, Chief Executive Officer, The UKAA comments: “The Build to Rent sector has a key role to play in addressing the housing shortage in the UK delivering affordable, high quality, secure accommodation for those whose access to home ownership is limited and helping to accelerate housing delivery. The growth of the sector is dependent on continuing to attract capital investment. However, the biggest obstacle to delivering these homes is the planning system. “The on-going delays to planning exac

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has set out his plan to encourage economic growth across the UK in his Spring Budget. The announcement of twelve new high investment zones located in the Midlands, Greater Manchester, Teesside, Liverpool, and other parts of the Midlands and the north, spells encouraging news for the local property market. Testament to the governments levelling up scheme, the East of England and the Northwest are the second and third most popular locations for housing market activity in the UK, with

Daniel Chard, Partner at UK conveyancing solicitors Bird & Co, uses search engine research to uncover the UK’s most common conveyancing queries to celebrate National Conveyancing Week. Chard’s expert commentary, answering common FAQs surrounding conveyancing, aims to educate and inform the general public in understanding the role of conveyancing in the property transaction process. This is in line with National Conveyancing Week, commencing March 20th , which seeks to boost the profile of conveyancing acr