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Sixty people were evacuated and a woman was rescued when fire broke out on the 17th floor a block of apartments in east London. The fire broke out at the high-rise block on Whitechapel Hight Street on Monday afternoon.  A total of 125 firefighters helped tackle the blaze and eyewitnesses told reporters that debris fell from the building opposite Aldgate East Underground station.  Some said there were “awful scenes” as large panels of glass fell hundreds of metres to the ground and smoke poured out of the

According to the Association of Independent Inventory Clerks (AIIC), the property industry needs to do more to recognise and support those with mental health issues.  Having a firm understanding of the potential situations that increase the chances of someone's mental health worsening can help avoid these from happening at all. Positive steps in the right direction have been made in recent years yet working patterns and practices can be improved to help overcome this problem, the association argues. Indus

As a landlord, you will constantly be looking for ways to keep ahead of the curve and stay competitive in the property market. One innovation that has taken Britain by storm is the installation of smart technology in households and businesses. From energy-saving appliances to digital assistants, this futuristic technology is growing in popularity – but is it worth the investment? We take a look at how it could benefit you. Security  The security of the property will be at the forefront of any landlord’s m

An unusual clock tower and rented flats in a private investor’s Midlands portfolio are to be looked after by Principle Estate Management. The clock tower, which discretely houses a telephone mast let to EE until 2032, was built by Redrow Homes in a section 106 planning requirement at a development on Leek New Road, Baddeley Green, Stoke-on-Trent. Meanwhile, the modern, purpose-built rented flats are in Harborne and Selly Oak, close to the University of Birmingham, and are let to a mix of students and medi

PBM, the leading property management company, wants to welcome Sandeep Singh as their Chief Property Officer. This is the organisation's latest commitment to ensuring that outstanding service matters for every customer. As Chief Property Officer, a new role at PBM and a new approach to managing property, Sandeep will be responsible for overseeing the Property Management Team and supporting his team in delivering an exemplary customer approach to all existing and new customers. MIRPM and Assoc RICS qualifi

The government’s much-discussed levelling up agenda must include the provision of more new rental homes in all parts of the country, according to the Association of Independent Inventory Clerks (AIIC).  The AIIC says that, in certain parts of the country, the private rented sector is coming dangerously close to running out of homes completely, and as a result the Boris Johnson government must extend its flagship policy to the rental market as well.  “We’ve had reduced social housing for the last 20 years,

The Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners (ALEP) welcomed more than 160 leasehold sector professionals to its Annual Lecture, which returned to an in-person format in central London following last year’s virtual presentations.  The topic of this year’s lecture was the ‘deferment rate’; a key component of the calculation used to determine the cost of leasehold enfranchisement. The discussion looked in detail at the Upper Tribunal decision in Llangewydd Court, and the possibility of a fu

Now in its 47th year, International Women’s Day 2022 is taking place on Tuesday 8th March, promoting a world of gender equality and less discrimination. One industry that is still perceived as largely male-dominated is the construction sector. Tackling this stigma, Exeter based developer Burrington Estates employs a number of women in dominant roles, encouraging women into the industry. Here, Katie Wells, Michelle Mitchell and Natalie Tucker explain more about their roles at Burrington Estates, and why mo

Mainstay, part of UK leading residential services provider FirstPort, has further boosted its foothold in the Midlands region by winning the operational management contract for The Waterside, an exclusive development in Worcester.   The buildings and estate, situated on the original site of the former Royal Worcester porcelain factory, constitutes an eclectic mix of private and affordable houses and apartments, together with additional commercial space, and secure car parking facilities.   Mainstay won th

Will the New Home Quality Code drive a buyer’s decision when purchasing a new property? Will it become an industry standard or will the administrative burden on developers prove impractical to implement? What is the New Homes Quality Code? In 2021 an independent body was set up and named New Homes Quality Board (“NHQB”) this board issued the New Homes Quality Code (“Code”) which replaced the existing consumer code. The Code has been introduced to address the gaps in existing protections for new build buye

Jackson Sims Recruitment are pleased to announce another hire to cover the booming North West residential property market. Introducing Danielle Hill, who is now our third consultant covering Liverpool, Manchester and the surrounding areas.    Danielle is a personable, flexible and highly-focused individual with a passion for Property. From previous experience within the Recruitment industry, she possesses the ability and confidence to maintain successful client / candidate relationships. This, partnered

Leading upfront information specialists Gazeal have secured an exclusive webinar with the National Trading Standards Estate and Letting Agency Team (NTSELAT), which will include a live Q&A with agents.  The webinar, taking place on Wednesday March 2 at 10am, comes on the back of the announcement earlier this week that Trading Standards and the government have jointly announced compulsory new data which must appear on all property listings.  It will feature guests from NTSELAT, Boomin (to represent the por