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As a landlord, you will know and recognise that your inventory is one of the most important pieces of documentation that you will have in your arsenal. As chair of the Association of Independent Clerks (AIIC), I’ve seen first-hand for many years how important it is to get inventories right to ensure you can prevent deposit issues with your tenants, as well as protect your property.  However, it is becoming a problematic issue within the industry that landlords are now suffering from poor inventories due t

There is a lot to say on the content, or lack of it, of the Queen’s Speech.  The Planning Bill is officially dead. In its place we are promised a Levelling-Up and Regeneration Bill, which ‘refocuses’ the Government’s Planning Reform Agenda to support the Levelling-Up Agenda. What does this actually mean? From what we have heard today (and over the weekend), it means a doubling down on Localism, with ‘Street Votes’ and local input into national design codes being the idea of the day. We have also been prom

Hugh Lambourne has been appointed Managing Director of retirement property management specialist Millstream Management Services. An independent arm of the Churchill Retirement Group, Millstream manages over 200 developments across the country, providing management services to over 10,000 retired people daily. With over 30 years’ experience in the sector, most recently as Operations Director for a national housing association, Hugh has a wealth of expertise in property construction, maintenance and managem

The right technology can help to provide out-of-office support that reduces the stress and fatigue experienced by agents.     That is according to The ValPal Network, following recent research suggesting that blurred lines between work and home life increase stress and fatigue for property professionals.    Although agents nominally log off and leave work after a particular time, new enquiries are frequently made outside of office hours and agents often feel obliged to react to these.    But researc

As you may have seen, the Fortem Property team of Specialists has been continuing to grow, and the team has scaled up on Operations quite markedly so far this year.  The Fortem Property team have now introduced brand new residential developments, organised an international seminar, appeared in various property news media and, most recently, taken on two new staff to help manage the continuing growth. Chris Hynes has been appointed as Business Development Consultant. Chris has considerable experience in bo

PropTech company Gazeal says it is launching a new product – called Instant Reservation – which is designed to encourage any agency to simply secure any sale at any point without the need to fully integrate with the platform.  “This is unique in the fact that agents can use the service any time rather than have an account with us,” Bryan Mansell, Gazeal’s CEO, insists.  “So it’s there for all agents, regardless of whether they have an association with us, to help improve the home buying and selling proces

Entrepreneur Jodie Fraser, founder and managing director of block management specialist Fraser Allen Estate Management has been shortlisted in the Property category of the Bristol Life Awards 2022.    The awards celebrate the very best of Bristol businesses is the business highlight of the city. Jodie lives near Bristol and her company manages several blocks for landlords in and around the city. Fraser Allen Estate Management is up against eight other top businesses in the property category of the awards.

Aaron Neath joins Principle after spending three-and-a-half years with the SDL Group and its successors. He has spent more than four years in the finance sector and has previously worked at other established companies, including audit and accounts work at Haines Watts Birmingham and SLP Accountants. Paul Richardson, finance manager at Principle, said: “We’re delighted to appoint Aaron whose main focus will be preparing service charge accounts, client reports and liaising with clients, customers and extern

Leaseholders facing the prospect of huge bills to remove unsafe cladding will be offered valuable insights into the possible implications of the Building Safety Act at a free webinar hosted by leasehold experts.    On Wednesday 11th May 2022 at 2pm, London law firm Bishop & Sewell will present a FREE Leasehold Question Time webinar addressing the subject of the forthcoming Building Safety Act, which will cover questions around cladding and building safety.    Mark Chick, Senior Partner and Hea

“People research more when buying a car than they do when they buy a house” according to Emma Cooke, Policy & Information Manager at National Trading Standards, who joins Jeremy Raj, Irwin Mitchell’s Head of Residential Property and Kate Faulkner, owner of Propertychecklists.co.uk and well-known commentator on residential property, in an Irwin Mitchell podcast just launched. The three experts discuss the implications of recent announcements from NTSELAT as it  strives to improve the availability of upfron

Principle Estate Management, the national property business based in Birmingham, has made its first acquisition – acquiring a London firm and opening an office in the capital. The purchase of Myhill Newman for an undisclosed sum increases Principle’s properties under management by 10% and brings a further 24 residential developments totalling 861 units into the business established by founder Brett Williams in April 2018. Brett Williams said: “Bob Myhill was looking for a route to retirement in the coming

Established on 1 May 1997, JB Leitch has evolved into the market leader in leasehold and property management law. The success of the business reflects the vision and commitment of Principal Solicitor Jonathan Leitch, who has developed the firm to become a niche legal specialist in supporting property managers, institutional landlords and asset managers. From a small office with a desk and a phone in Liverpool’s Cotton Exchange, Jonathan started the firm with a little part time help from his wife, Michelle