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On 23 September, the newly appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer, Kwasi Kwarteng, presented parliament with details of his mini budget, which put a strong new emphasis on economic growth, and the element of fear amongst many of us.  The new policies – which include a reduction in income tax, reversing plans for tax-rises and important changes to stamp duty thresholds – represent something of a gamble for the new chancellor.  They are intended to kickstart a new era of economic growth, working towards an a

Shawn Galliers, the new Director of Sustainability at property and construction consultancy Ingleton Wood, examines what we can learn from our European neighbours – and some forgotten tips from history – to shape long-term building strategies that handle extreme heat. As a northern hemisphere nation that’s closer to the North Pole than the equator, Britain was built to deal with (and moan about) the cold – not the heat. But perhaps the summer of 2022, when temperatures soared above 40C and droughts were d

Benjamin Stevens Block Management have just announced that they have acquired two further management companies to add to their fast-growing portfolio.  The independent Block Management company, which falls under the award-winning Benjamin Stevens Estate Agents brand, will be taking over ‘My Estate Manager’ and ‘Herts Property Management Ltd’. Both are small independently run firms, like Benjamin Stevens, and are based in Hatfield, with blocks across Hatfield, Harpenden, St Albans and Welwyn Garden City. T

MRI Software, a global leader in real estate solutions, announced that Centrick, a leading midlands-based managing agent, has selected the MRI Qube PM platform to drive operational efficiencies and streamline accounting processes. Centrick currently manages more than 15,000 units and began searching for a technology solution that could accommodate its rapid growth strategy. In choosing MRI’s leading block management software, Centrick will benefit from a holistic, flexible and scalable platform that suppo

Livingcity Asset Management Ltd are delighted to have been appointed as managing agent to two stunning apartment buildings in Castlefield; Potato Wharf 3 and 4. Boasting 191 units across both blocks, this picturesque, canal-side development includes private terraces and balconies, electrical vehicle charging points, and the well-known colourful external frames, mirroring that of Potato Wharf 1 and 2.  Our involvement with Potato Wharf commenced in 2006 when we advised our client, Lendlease Residential Lim

Noise can be an enormous problem in blocks of flats or where houses are converted into flats. The question is what do you do about it? However difficult your neighbour is, the best thing to try first is talking to your neighbour. Sometimes people do not realise that they are causing a problem to others and raising the issue with them may resolve things. If this does not get you anywhere, then check your lease (and ideally check your neighbour’s lease as well, as occasionally, they are different). The leas

As energy bills continue to rise, developer Latimer marks the launch of Colina Mews by revealing that buyers here could benefit from a staggering price difference of over £4,000 a year on their energy bills if they opt for one of the development’s exclusive three-bedroom duplexes, compared to a typical second-hand property of the same size in the same Zone 3 location*.  A collection of just 18 modern duplexes, Colina Mews showcases an unmissable opportunity for London’s homebuyers looking for a contempora

James Morris-Manuel, MD and VP of EMEA at Matterport, explains how digital twins of properties offer an easy way for landlords to win tenants using virtual tours - and help to keep tenants smiling with predictive maintenance Britain's rental market is booming, despite these troubling economic times, with more than 8.7 million buy-to-let properties worth an estimated £1.7trn a year. Britain is now the fourth-largest residential rental market in the world and as it becomes more competitive landlords are tur

MRI Software, a global leader in real estate software solutions, today announced the acquisition of UK-based Springboard, a leading provider of footfall counting and artificial intelligence (AI)-powered analytics to retailers, landlords, and government bodies. In acquiring Springboard, MRI will expand its MRI@Work™ for Retail solutions suite, which currently serves more than 500 retailers and retail property owners and operators globally. Leveraging plug-and-play software, existing camera networks, and pr

With mortgage interest rates rising and lenders becoming ever more cautious, estate agents need to concentrate on quality marketing, according to the UK’s leading visual content partner, FocalAgent.   Some analysts fear a house price drop of 10% over the next 12 months as well as a market slowdown. Potential buyers with access to finance will therefore have plenty of choice when it comes to purchasing their new home. “Sellers are going to have to stand out from the crowd,” said FocalAgent CEO Lee Wainwrig

The recent events in Ukraine, and the knock-on effects in the global energy market have brought into sharp relief the need to keep an ever-closer eye on our areas of expenditure at home and at work.  With the government, at the time of writing, addressing the instability with a proposed 2-year price cap for consumers and a 6-month price ceiling for businesses, many are searching for practical and innovative ways in which energy can be conserved and costs managed. In the property management sector, the rec

A common misconception when people purchase their freeholds is they believe it to be the end of the story. This is often not the case and steps should be taken to protect the position. Why do you need new leases if you have bought your freehold? Although you may own the freehold of your building, the original leases remain in place. They cannot be “cancelled” as they regulate the legal relationship between the flat owners and the freehold company. Taxation Issues The usual position when purchasing the fre