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.

Post Help to Buy, there’s still hope for “generation rent” to purchase their first home

Flying the nest, starting a career and beginning to fend for oneself financially is usually an exciting chapter in life for many young adults. However, over the past year, the worsening economic state of the UK has destroyed many young people’s sense of hope and has replaced it with feelings of anxiety, frustration and anger.  With rising inflation, the cost-of-living crisis has deepened as we’ve seen the price of basic necessities such as food, fuel and energy bills skyrocket. What’s more, house prices h

Leasehold Charges – What to know

This article was first published on the HomeOwners Alliance website. Are you buying or do you own a leasehold flat or house? Then you need to be aware of the different on-going leasehold charges. Our handy guide sets out the questions you need to ask if you are buying and what to be aware of as an owner. Buying a home is probably the biggest financial transaction of your life. There is pulling together the cash for a deposit, mortgage set up fees, conveyancing fees, stamp duty, moving costs. The list go

Birmingham’s most popular suburbs seeing strong demand for quality rental properties

DM & Co. Lettings is on the lookout for more developments of multiple properties after reporting a tremendous run of success in recent weeks. Gabrielle Argue, head of lettings and property management, said: “We are very keen to talk to landlords with multiple properties which are either vacant or require a rent review. “Our recent successes demonstrate increasing demand for our services.” At Carlton Lodge, a luxury development of 14 apartments in leafy, much sought-after Moseley,  DM & Co. Lettings has le

Dear Prime Minister: A Planning & Environmental Wish List from Irwin Mitchell

After a summer of hustings, debates, and garden party faux pas, a new Prime Minister finally entered Number 10.  It is probably safe to say that our new leader, Liz Truss has a lot on her plate, so we thought it might be helpful to set out a few thoughts on how her new government might want to approach its planning & housing So, more in hope than expectation, please find below our miniature manifesto: Close the Revolving Doors at DLUHC (for a while...) England is in the middle of an acute housing shortage

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

The News on the Block team are deeply saddened by the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II Thank you for your service and dedication to this country ma'am. Our thoughts are with the Royal Family during this very sad time. Rest In Peace Your Majesty.

SO Resi Partnerships wins coveted First Time Buyer Readers' award

Innovative shared ownerships sales agency SO Resi Partnerships has won a coveted First Time Buyer Readers’ Award during this year’s ceremony which took place in London on Friday 2nd September.   The national agency beat strong competition from some of the industry’s biggest names to be crowned winner in the ‘Best Provider to the First Time Buyer Market’ category, in front of a record audience of more than 500 people at the Marriott Hotel in Grosvenor Square.   The award recognised SO Resi Partnerships’ pi

Double Award Success for JB Leitch Solicitors

This week JB Leitch is celebrating winning two awards in the Property Management 50 2022 accolades which recognise the excellence and contribution of leading individuals in raising standards in the residential property management industry.  Further to celebrating their 25th anniversary in May, specialist property solicitors JB Leitch have further cause for cheer this week as Business Development Director Karen Bolland and Legal Director Phil Parkinson received awards in the Supplier and Influencer categ

New EPC Requirements set to force out landlords during cost of living crisis

The introduction of new rules requiring improved Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) may force some landlords in the short term to sell their buy to let properties due to a perfect storm of rising compliance costs and the cost of living crisis. In an uncertain economic climate they may well choose to cash in their chips now while they know what they have, rather than take the risk of riding out the current economic storm. But the news isn't all bad as the availability of suitable rental property could p

Japanese Knotweed Ltd Launches Environment Controls

Japanese Knotweed Ltd (JKL) is expanding its services by launching a new sister brand called Environment Controls (EC). EC will do more to tackle the growing problem of invasive species in the UK, and effectively eradicate contaminated ground. By utilising extensive in-house skills, equipment and specialist knowledge, the launch of EC is a natural evolution for JKL.   About Japanese Knotweed  Japanese knotweed Ltd was founded in 2010 and employs 60 staff including surveyors, technicians and excavation o

Start Living Chooses MRI Software

MRI Software, a global leader in real estate solutions, announces that Start Living, the single-family build-to-rent joint venture between TPG Real Estate Partners and Gatehouse Bank PLC, has chosen to implement the MRI LivingTM suite of solutions to drive operational efficiencies for their property management portfolio and enhance resident engagement. Start Living offers two-, three- and four-bedroom homes in areas that provide family-focused amenities such as schools and leisure facilities, typically as

The added impact of digital poverty in this cost of living crisis

The cost of living crisis will affect us all, but it is most damaging for those who already struggling. And those in digital poverty – living without a reliable connection to the internet – are the hardest hit of all, says James Prowse, Regional Development Manager of Hyperoptic. In the last ten years, the world has moved online. And, through the pandemic, the speed of that change increased significantly – alarmingly, if you’re watching from the outside and seeing your vital services disappear into the in

The Hill Group expands its Women into Construction programme

Women looking to enjoy a career in the construction industry are set to benefit from the expansion of the award-winning partnership between The Hill Group and Women into Construction. With an impressive £4 of social value generated for every £1 invested, the programme will now be available in Cambridge, East Anglia and London, with a new pilot programme in Bristol in partnership with Guinness Partnership. Hill has partnered with Women into Construction since June 2019. With the partnership now expanded th

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