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.

MRI Software research reveals two-thirds of employees want ‘hotel-style’ amenities at the office

Employees today want more ‘hotel-style’ amenities such as areas for socialising, state-of-the-art infrastructure, outdoor spaces, onsite cafes, air conditioning, and flexible work facilities to entice them back to the office – and stay, according to new global research released today by MRI Software, a global leader in real estate software. MRI Software Market Insights: The Workplace Report reveals almost two-thirds (64%) of respondents say such hotel-style features impact their decision on whether to wor

Three people have sadly died and a dozen still missing after explosion in a Jersey apartment building

At least three people have sadly died and around a dozen people are believed to still be missing after an explosion in an apartment building in Jersey, reported by police.  The explosion happened at around 4am on Saturday 10th December, less than eight hours after firefighters had been called to the site after concerns from residents, it was confirmed. Reports from police said that the site remained “highly unsafe” with “pockets of fire” discovered hours after the “very, very significant” explosion. In a

10 Things You Should Consider Before Choosing Vertical Access

It's easy to use scaffolding as your default access solution. But there are now better alternatives depending on the type of project you're working on. The access solution should be tailored to the project.   For instance, the answer to these questions may lead to different solutions: How will residents be impact? What is the project timeline? Which tradespeople will be involved and how does the access solution impact them? BFT Mastclimbing have produced a guide with 10 key considerations that

85% of mixed-use development in Ruislip sold off-plan

Boutique developer Life Less Ordinary has confirmed that development at The Quadrate, its mixed-use development comprised of 23 residential units and a ground-floor commercial unit in the centre of Ruislip, is now complete with only three residential units remaining for sale.  Over 90% of the development has been purchased by local first-time buyers. Previously known as Alexander House when it housed a mix of office and retail units, The Quadrate is Life Less Ordinary’s fifth development in the wider Ruis

PRS – sinking ship or rising phoenix?

Increasing rents and soaring demand for properties to let should mean business is booming in the Private Rented Sector.  But rising interest rates, an ever-increasing regulatory burden and the cost-of-living crisis all weigh heavily on the shoulders of landlords and letting agents.  Buy-to-let owners have been particularly badly hit as they face increasing mortgage rates and higher taxes.  Figures released recently by HMRC showed that 2.71 million individuals declare a rental income on their tax returns.

Careline Support launches new Personal Alarm service for older people

Retirement emergency call service Careline Support Ltd has launched a new Personal Alarm offering to provide support and reassurance directly to older people who wish to continue living independently in their own homes. The new specialist service includes a variety of solutions to provide peace of mind to customers and their families, including alarm units, personal pendants, smoke alarms and fall detectors, all linked directly to Careline’s team of highly trained call handlers. With prices starting from

New Land Directors will take Regional developer to the next level

Hertfordshire-based developer Griggs Homes is on course for a major expansion – and to spearhead growth and seek out fresh development opportunities it has appointed two new Land Directors, Matt Green and Ollie Myrants-Wilson. Griggs Homes is a third-generation family business, based in Borehamwood, which is currently best known for its small, boutique developments and bespoke homes in the surrounding area. Griggs already has an exciting pipeline of land, controlling a number of large scale strategic resi

Online book launch and webinar on Protest Injunctions

Landmark Chambers will be hosting a webinar/book launch on Protest Injunctions on Tuesday 10 January 2023. This event will not only launch Yaaser Vanderman’s book entitled “Manual on Protest Injunctions: Practice, Procedure and Persons Unknown”, but also offer attendees the opportunity to learn more about protest injunctions. The book is a practical, hands-on guide to all parties involved in claims seeking protest injunctions. With a foreword from Lord Carnwath, it deals with all of the fundamental issues

Strangford Management Ltd Promotes Matthew Wheeler and Molly Howlett to Senior Positions

Strangford Management Ltd, a specialist block management agency in the City of London, has announced the promotion of Matthew Wheeler to Senior Property Manager and Molly Howlett to Senior Client Accountant. Matthew joined Strangford Management over 2 years ago as a Property Manager and has quickly become integral to the day to day running of the company as well as being a core member involved in the growth plans. Molly joined the team almost 18 months ago as a Client Accountant and has quickly shown grea

Mactaggart & Mickel Launch Eco-Conscious Show Apartment at Stewart Gardens, Newton Mearns

Mctaggart & Mickel Homes have launched a spectacular new apartment show home with contemporary yet timeless flair, and all with sustainably sourced and made products. The two bedroom show home at the Stewart Gardens development in Newton Mearns is styled by renowned Scottish interior designer Mason & Miles. Delivering homes since 1925, Mactaggart & Mickel are renowned for outstanding service, design, construction, materials and fittings and have now created a show home bursting with sustainable features,

Tips for living in an apartment building during the snow

Snow has started to fall across many parts of the UK as temperatures plummet. Here are a few tips for living in an apartment building during the snow: Keep your communal entryway and walkways clear of snow and ice. This will help prevent slips and falls for you and other residents. Make sure your windows and doors are properly sealed to keep cold air out and warm air in. This will help keep your apartment warm and reduce your heating costs. If you have a balcony, be sure to shovel any snow that accumu

Winter property maintenance checklist for landlords

From boilers breaking in the height of winter, to pipes freezing and bursting - there’s plenty that can go wrong as the colder weather creeps in. These issues are particularly problematic if your student property will be empty over the Christmas period, as your tenants go back to their family homes. Simon Thompson, founder of Accommodation for Students, has put together a handy checklist of vital property maintenance that landlords should be conducting on their student let properties during the winter mon

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