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The Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners (ALEP) has awarded three new Honorary Memberships in recognition of contributions to the debate around leasehold enfranchisement and reform.    Barristers Tamsin Cox and Anthony Radevsky of Falcon Chambers and Justin Bates of Landmark Chambers have become the Association’s first ever Honorary Members    Mark Chick, ALEP Director, said: “As an organisation founded to spread best practice and foster discourse and debate, ALEP routinely i

In order to manage a Freehold or RTM (Right to Manage) process successfully, leaseholders have to navigate through a number of complex, moving parts.  A freehold acquisition, or RTM process, is not linear, and can sometimes take up to two years depending on the legal complexities involved. But this should not dissuade anyone from trying to purchase the freehold of their building: there are significant benefits to doing so, and thankfully there is invaluable help for those wishing to begin an acquisition

During 2022 there are set to be new rules and regulations introduced into the private buy to let sector that will pile more pressure onto landlords, who already operate in one of the most heavily regulated sectors of the economy outside finance.  There are a number of new regulations incoming this year, including the delayed White Paper for the Renters' Reform Bill that will likely end Section 21 and introduce Lifetime Deposits, Regulation of Property Agents(RoPA), changes to financial reporting, and requ

Build-to-Rent is booming across the UK. There are now hundreds of thousands of apartments up and down the country. Most of these are in very tall towers, with around 10 apartments per floor, and hundreds of apartments per block. Occupancy varies throughout the year. Therefore, it is important that managers have a clear overview of the various dwellings, especially when the risk of serious water damage is ever present.   Whether it is a burst pipe or a left-on tap, water escape is a real concern. Regardles

Associate Jen Hollyoak of specialist property solicitors JB Leitch, comments on a recent High Court matter which provides guidance as to the Courts’ approach to determination of the application and how ‘residential land’ should be defined. This is the first decision of its kind to set down the approach Courts will take to determination of an access order application. The background Prime London Holdings 11 Ltd v Thurloe Lodge Ltd [2022] concerns two super-prime neighbouring properties, situated close to t

MetroPM, the expanding residential property management company with offices in Birmingham and Cheltenham, has recruited an experienced service charge manager. Chris Ballantyne, who has worked in the finance sector for 15 years, with the last three years as a service charge accountant, has been appointed as a service charge manager. He will be responsible for overseeing the timely production of service charge budgets, year-end accounts, credit control and managing MetroPM’s sales and purchase ledger. Ian S

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,