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House prices have raised the roof in the December ONS house price index, buoyed by the pandemic-induced stamp duty holiday and the nation's need to live AND work at home.     Lee Pickett, a housing sector specialist and real estate partner at global legal business, DWF, comments as the December ONS figures are released today. He said: "The UK's annual house price growth is at the highest level since late 2014, with today's data showing an increase of 8.5 per cent over the year to December 2020. This means

Katie joins Bellharbour as a new Associate Director in charge of business development. She comes from Rendall & Rittner and Harrods Estates Asset Management where she was Associate Director of Commercial Property and Associate Director of Operations respectively. She is bringing with her 20 years of experience in Real Estate as a vital member of those Property Management teams. Katie has managed a large number of fund management, private and overseas clients with a mixed-use and nationwide portfolio. Si

A rise in licensing activity from local authorities in recent months could uphold high standards without making it more difficult for landlords to remain compliant, says PayProp. The rental payment provider adds that updates and guidance relating to landlord licensing schemes are becoming an increasingly time-consuming part of a letting agency's management service, while presenting an opportunity to increase their value proposition. Councils press ahead with licensing changes Despite the impact of the pan

Taylor&Emmet LLP is marking Empty Homes Week (February 15-21) by offering free training to the public sector, via a virtual platform. The sessions are being provided by the firm’s specialist inheritance tracing and empty homes team, which helps organisations address legal issues arising from empty homes. Taylor&Emmet’s experts will highlight the legal options available to empty homes practitioners and professionals, when faced with deceased, missing or incapacitated property owners. Ben Brown, who heads u

Award-winning Nottingham-based property management law firm, Brady Solicitors has recruited experienced leasehold solicitor, Sajel Patel to head up its enfranchisement practice.   As Head of Enfranchisement based at the firm’s Nottingham offices on Regent Street, Sajel will be responsible for managing Bradys’ leasehold enfranchisement services and right to manage applications, as well as providing further support to its busy lease extension team on complex lease extension projects.  With 10 years’ special

One of the UK’s fastest growing property management agencies has highlighted the importance of incorporating a carefully planned future major works programme for clients. Andrew Winstanley, the property operations manager at Principle Estate Management, explained that being clear on funding was crucial to a properly managed building or estate. Mr Winstanley, who joined Principle at the start of this year in a move that saw the company’s staff rise to 30, said: “Our vision is property management, properly

SO Resi, the shared ownership brand of leading housing association Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing (MTVH), has joined forces with Cambridge University to release the first annual report into the status of shared ownership in England.   The findings of the report, by Dr Gemma Burgess, Acting Director of the Cambridge Centre for Housing & Planning Research and a professor at the prestigious university, were released at an industry roundtable on Wednesday 3 rd February. The event, chaired by property writ

New rules that allow renters with ‘well-behaved pets’ find secure a tenancy more easily have been announced by the government. And under the new Model Tenancy Agreement rules, landlords will no longer be able to put a blanket ban on pets. Landlords will have to object in writing within 28 days of a written ‘pet request’ from a tenant, instead. They will have to provide a good reason for banning a pet in that apartment or house, for  example if it is impractical. Only 7% of private landlords advertise pet-

Birketts is welcoming a new Associate to its Leasehold Enfranchisement practice as the team continues to expand to meet growing client demand. Bradley Powell’s appointment, which sees him bring 19 years’ experience and a detailed understanding of the issues facing leasehold enfranchisement clients, takes the total headcount of the specialist team to 11 lawyers (two Senior Associates, four Associates, three Solicitors and a Paralegal, as well as Legal Director and Legal 500 ‘Next Generation Lawyer’, Charlo

Leading Colchester-based property managers PMS Managing Estates have secured new contracts across Essex in the last 12 months, despite a challenging year interrupted by Covid-19 restrictions.  Although lockdowns and self-isolating posed problems for property managers and contractors to visit the nearly 150 developments managed by PMS across East Anglia, London and beyond, Director Liam Furr was able to add a range of new and historic properties to the company’s portfolio.  Liam explained: “2020 has been d

Residents in high-rise blocks that are over 18 metres high in England will not have to pay to remove unsafe cladding. Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick announced an extra £3.5bn package to help those who faced huge bills for fire safety improvements.  Many said they were trapped in unsafe buildings following new rules after 2017’s Grenfell Tower blaze. Mr Jenrick said it was the ‘largest ever government investment’ in building safety. The funding comes on top of a £1.6bn package to remove unsafe cladding l

An expert property lawyer at Thursfields Solicitors has highlighted a potential problem with the government’s new plans to finance the removal of unsafe cladding on blocks of flats. The leading Midland law firm was commenting after Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick announced that flammable materials will be removed from buildings over 18m high “at no cost to residents”, but that those at lower levels will be offered loans to make their homes safe. The government intervention comes in the wake of the 2017 G