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.

How Managing Agents can support Developers

With legislation changes on the horizon the world of property management is going to have to continue to evolve, and Remus are positioning ourselves to be ready. With new regulations coming our way, how we communicate with residents will be changing and residents will expect to see how we manage that. So, our teams have been getting creative over the last few challenging years developing ways to help our clients and customers, because, as an industry, we need to stay ahead of the game. Some of the ideas t

Ringley Group appoints new director to oversee its expansion in Wales

Leading residential property consultancy Ringley Group has appointed Anthony Kingdon as a director to head up its operations in Wales. Anthony will be focused on driving Ringley Group’s presence in Wales and will report directly to Mary-Anne Bowring, the company’s group managing director and founder.  Anthony will be working across Ringley’s offices in London and Cardiff. Anthony will play a leading role in working across Ringley Group’s portfolio in Wales, including the UK’s largest Right to Manage build

FirstPort secures two exclusive over 55s developments at Kinross and Scone

FirstPort Property Services Scotland has expanded its property portfolio by taking over the operational management of two prestigious developments – Earlsgate in Scone and Muirwood Gardens in Kinross. Both schemes, which are exclusive to the over 55s, have been developed by Juniper Residential, the new age-exclusive living brand of the Cruden Group.   The 51-unit Earlsgate development in the desirable Perthshire village of Scone, is located on the site of the former Wheel Inn and offers residents a luxuri

Why changes to Right to Rent highlight the increasing need for automation

Changes to Right to Rent that will affect landlords and letting agents have already happened with further ones fast approaching. Openview – Powered by VTUK urge that, with the use of automation, other parts of businesses can be simplified and this will ensure Right to Rent changes will not impact the smooth-running of companies.  The UK government ended all restrictions imposed to diminish the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on Monday July 19 2021, with the return of face-to-face Right to Rent checks for

MetroPM appointed by Altitude Apartments to lift management standards

Property management company MetroPM has won another prestigious contract in Birmingham. The firm, which has offices in Birmingham and Cheltenham, has been appointed to manage Altitude Apartments, a mixed use scheme in the Jewellery Quarter. Altitude Apartments, on Powell Street, was built in 2006, comprises both commercial offices and residential apartments – in total 32 units. The development has secure upper and lower basement parking. MetroPM director Ian Smallman said: “We were very pleased to be appr

Experienced surveyor appointed by Principle as repairs planning brought in-house

Principle Estate Management has appointed a senior building surveyor to head a new department that will bring long-term maintenance and major works in-house. Richard Coles has joined Principle from Blacksons Chartered Surveyors, where he was associate director. He had previously worked as a chartered surveyor at Gleeds and Cushman & Wakefield, following his initial training to become a member of the RICS at Lambert Smith Hampton. Joe Jobson, a director at Principle, said that the business now had four cha

Cluttons uses lockdown to expand, launching its Northern hub with new full-service team in Manchester

UK: strategic property consultancy business Cluttons bucked the trend in lockdown and has launched a northern hub with a team of experts based in Manchester.  The office, based on King Street in the City, is led by partner Charlie Ardern who joined the company from Avison Young following 13 years at Knight Frank and will also lead the company’s northern valuation practice.   Charlie is working alongside partner Ryan Jones who also joined from Avison Young’s Manchester office with 17 years’ experience in t

Innovative partnership to create a complete BTR resident communication solution

Promising an enhanced resident experience and a smarter, more efficient building operation, the new partnership between Fixflo and Spike Global will deliver a seamless property communication and maintenance management solution for BTR residents and property managers alike. Industry-leading resident engagement and building management software provider Spike Global and specialist repairs and maintenance management software provider, Fixflo have announced an integration partnership designed to provide a comp

ARMA and IRPM reveal merger plans

Two of the largest property management bodies for the profession have announced that they will be asking members to back plans to merge. Leaders at the Institute of Residential Property Management (IRPM) and Association of Residential Managing Agents (ARMA) say they want to establish a united and stronger voice for the industry. They believe that a merger would give them greater power and help support both managing agent firms and individuals as the profession faces increasing changes and new legislation.

FirstPort introduces a new Sustainability Manager role to lead its environmental efforts

FirstPort, the UK’s leading residential property services provider, has appointed Christian Phipps as its new Sustainability Manager - a brand-new role for the organisation.  The creation of this role signals FirstPort’s commitment to consider and react to the environmental impact of its work across the 290,000 developments it manages, as well as how best to collaborate with residents and wider communities to make a difference.  Christian joins FirstPort following an extensive career at Veolia, holding a

Principle clinches major Moseley management win

Birmingham-based Principle Estate Management, has won another major contract to look after a prestigious new development of 36 luxury apartments in Moseley which is currently under construction. The development named Oakview will be taken into management this year and consists of a three and four storey block at 37-43 Wake Green Road. During the construction period Principle has been advising on the structure of leases, the apportionment and level of service charges and advising on design – highlighting l

Trust and Collaboration: ALEP and Kerry London share the secret of a successful partnership

A lot can change in ten years. In July 2011, David Cameron was leading the coalition government, One Direction was yet to reach the top of the singles chart and Fabio Capello was managing the England football team. Yet, throughout the monumental shifts that the last decade has seen in national life, the partnership between the Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners (ALEP) and Lloyd’s accredited, independent insurance broker, Kerry London, has gone from strength to strength. The Association

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