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.

Virtual solutions to real world issues

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

The complexities of Tax Clearance unravelled

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

Right to Manage – 19 reasons for leaseholders to wait for Leasehold Reform

The Right to Manage (RTM) was introduced in 2002 giving flat owners a no fault right to collectively take over the management functions in respect of their building via an RTM company. It has provided a very useful alternative to collectively acquiring the freehold as no premium is payable and the process is shorter and arguably less complex.  However there have been some problems and so the Government tasked the Law Commission to undertake a review of the existing RTM legislation with a view to improving

Issue 121 Online Now

Issue 121 of News on the Block has now been published and is available to read online. This issue includes a special PropTech feature sponsored by Hyperoptic.  This issue includes some of the following articles:  Tribunal hits out at S20 consultation  Report finding leads to call for education on housing  How to deal with angry customers  Are you set for the Building Safety Fund?  Putting sustainability first is crucial  How technology is changing health and wellbeing  19 reasons to wait for Lease

Specialist Law Firm JB Leitch Recognised for Excellence in the New Legal 500 Listings for 2023

Specialist property solicitors JB Leitch are pleased to report they have retained Tier 3 status in the new Legal 500 rankings for property litigation for the third consecutive year. Acknowledged as the world’s largest independent legal referral guide, the rankings for 2023 are based on a broad series of criteria, including strong technical ability available for the most complex and innovative work, client recommendation and results. In a remarkable achievement, Legal Director Phil Parkinson has been award

Calling all agents! How to navigate the tough new world of Facebook advertising in the property sector

A webinar explaining the best way to navigate the tough new Facebook advertising rules for estate agents is to be hosted by online valuation specialists, The ValPal Network (TVPN).  Head of marketing, Steph Rady and industry advertising expert, Paul Long, will address the recent Facebook updates, explain how they are affecting estate agents and outline what can be done to reduce the chances of accounts being restricted.  In December last year, Facebook introduced the ‘Special Ad Category: Housing’ update

Principle wins contract to manage stylish collection of Camden Town warehouse apartments

A stylish collection of 102 apartments in a former Edwardian warehouse set in London’s famous Camden Town are to be looked after by Principle Estate Management. The converted property known as Carlow House is a striking example of 1930s art deco architecture, with the one and two bedroomed apartments arranged around a four-storey atrium with a daytime concierge. The right-to-manage (RTM) company responsible for the development appointed Principle after a full tender. Although Principle already manages mul

Conservation students propose plans to protect environment at residential development as part of wider sustainability project for FirstPort

Residential property management company FirstPort is putting environmental sustainability at the top of its agenda – with community partnerships at the heart of its biodiversity plans.    As part of its sustainability work, a group of conservation students from Surrey have teamed up with FirstPort to create an ecological plan to conserve and improve the ponds, grassland, and woodlands at their local retirement development.  The work with the college is just one example of how Christian Phipps, Sustainabil

Property Industry reacts to Emergency Budget

Lynda Clark, CEO of First Time Buyer Group, Comments: “It’s about time the Government takes housing as a subject of address. We’re less than a month away from the end of Help to Buy, but we have yet to see an alternative low deposit scheme with the same level of oomph, though shared ownership is an invaluable option for many. “Affordability remains a concern for the next generation of homeowners, with the average house price now above the current Stamp Duty threshold for first time buyers. The Government’

A2Dominion selects The Hill Group for key worker accommodation at John Radcliffe Hospital

Housing provider A2Dominion has signed a contract with award-winning housebuilder, The Hill Group, to deliver a scheme of 125 units to house a minimum of 340 key workers at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. Due for completion in October 2025, the residential scheme replaces the existing Ivy Lane accommodation and includes seven new apartment buildings, ranging from three to five storeys high. Designed to meet the needs of the Trust’s staff, the site is made up of 68 apartments and 57 cluster units, e

Overseas Investment in UK Residential Property: From the Channel Islands to the Caymans

Channel Islands residents are the most active overseas investors in UK residential property, according to a new study from Solomon Investment Partners. In July 2022, Land Registry data showed a total of 93,754 UK property purchases by overseas investors, which included a mixture of private individuals and corporations. Analysis of the data found that those based in the Channel Islands purchased 33,788 UK properties, over 10,000 more than other nations, and more than a third of all UK residential property

Zoe Southwell and Bryn Cadfan-Lewis launch new venture, Accord, specialising in on-site staff

The new people focused, passion led brand provides temporary, contract and permanent staff for your on-site teams. They also offer outsourced solutions to enable you to focus your time and energy on managing your buildings whilst they take care of your workforce.   Accord aims to shake up the traditional approach to on-site recruitment and management by implementing creative new recruitment processes supported by modern technology and the company’s vision for challenging convention.  Zoe Southwell, Associ

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