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.

MetroPM wins contract to look after properties in Grade II-listed building in Worcester

A collection of apartments and commercial units in Worcester city centre is to be looked after by MetroPM. The expanding property management company, which has offices in Birmingham and Cheltenham, has won the contract to manage what it has described as “a true hidden gem” at 7-8 Tything Court, The Tything, in Worcester. This Grade II-listed, three-storey property contains nine apartments and two ground-floor commercial units and had previously been self-managed by the leaseholders’ management company. Ia

IRPM Annual Seminar 2021

IRPM Annual Seminars are the best in the business, famous for swift, punchy, forward-looking sessions on industry changes, latest trends and essential need-to-knows. Previously taking place at the QE11 Centre, London we are now moving our event for 2021, online.  We are taking advantage of the new format to deliver the very best content at speed and directly to you. The rapidly changing landscape means that our IRPM Annual Seminar taking place on the 11th of May 2021 will delve into critical policy change

IRPM and ARMA Launch Wellbeing and Resilience Survey for the Property Management Sector

The Association of Residential Managing Agents (ARMA) and the Institute of Residential Property Management (IRPM) have today launched a wellbeing and resilience survey, aimed at those working within the residential property management sector. The results will provide a mental ‘health check’ for the industry and ultimately help towards shaping future mental health and wellbeing support for property management professionals. Aimed at property managers as well as onsite and back-office support staff, the sur

MRI Software Acquires AMTdirect, a Provider Of Lease and Facilities

MRI Software, a global leader in real estate technology, has acquired AMTdirect (AMT), a North Carolina-based provider of lease accounting, lease administration and facilities management solutions for corporate occupiers and lessees. Clients across a wide range of industries use AMT’s technology to organize and manage their lease portfolios while ensuring compliance with global lease accounting standards, such as FASB, IASB, and GASB. “Today’s businesses require technology to adapt to the changing nature

Forsters HNW Residential Team expands with two significant lateral hires

Forsters, one of the pre-eminent private wealth and real estate law firms, confirms that Partners of Cripps Pemberton Greenish Robert Barham and Charles Miéville will be joining the firm in the first quarter of 2021. Forsters, home to the largest Residential Property team in the London market, is delighted to announce the impending arrival of two leading Residential Partners: Robert Barham and Charles Miéville. Both Robert and Charles are acknowledged as leaders in their field in the Chambers HNW Guide an

Does your block need an EV Charger?

PLP have achieved approval from the Government Department OZEV (Office for Zero Emission Vehicles) for installer status of EV installation of both domestic premises under the Electric Vehicle Home-charge Scheme (EVHS) and commercial/workplace premises under Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS). As approved OZEV installers we can offer our customers government funded grants to assist with the cost of your EV charger. Together with our NICEIC Electrical Installation Approval and City and Guilds Qualified

Contractors urged to check if key legislation could now apply

Private contractors who set up limited companies to avoid being responsible for PAYE and national insurance contributions are being warned of key changes to legislation. From April rules around the IR35 legislation will be extended to the private sector. IR35 is ultimately intended to prevent the lower rates of tax which would otherwise apply when payments to intermediaries are regarded as "disguised employment." The key change is that the responsibility of defining IR35 status will switch from the indivi

Future fuels–up drive for EV chargepoints in flats

Future Fuel, a leading installer of EV chargepoints in residential blocks, has announced that supported by new a finance partner, it is now rolling out an exciting fully-funded charging solution for apartment buildings.  On 2 February, the Government announced a £20M cash injection to boost the number of on-street chargepoints. But flat owners need to charge their vehicles closer to home and it’s not always easy to persuade landlords to invest in car park EV infrastructure until there is buy-in from a maj

Belvoir boosts sales team with new recruits

An estate agent with branches in Corby and Kettering has responded to the recent boom in the local property market with the appointment of two new recruits. Jessica Gray and Hannah Bellamy have joined the sales team at Belvoir estate agents in George Street, Corby and Newland Street, Kettering and bring with them years of experience in property, sales and customer service. Property valuer Jessica has worked in estate agencies for the last eight years, starting out as an apprentice and working her way up t

FORFEITURE FOR UNAUTHORISED CHANGE OF USE

Victoria Bottomley of the JB Leitch litigation team recently posted a popular article on the subject of change of use from commercial to residential. In this follow up piece, Victoria provides a cautionary note based on a recent Count Court judgement, which saw the lease of a shop validly forfeited for change of use to two studio flats, a breach of a covenant without the landlord’s consent.  With increasing consideration of the sustainable and viable conversion of vacant commercial premises for residentia

Landmark coastal property to be looked after by Principle

A well-known property in one of the most prominent positions of the beautiful coastal town of Salcombe is to be managed by Principle Estate Management. The Salcombe is an eye-catching development of 36 luxury apartments and various commercial interests converted from a former hotel of the same name some 45 years ago. Principle has been instructed to manage the landmark property by The Salcombe Company Ltd, the residents’ management company. The property, originally built in around 1920, lies on the town’s

Contractor launches end-to-end cladding remediation service

Colmore Tang Construction has launched a cladding remediation service that provides a complete solution for building owners, managing agents and surveyors seeking to replace dangerous, non-compliant cladding. Drawing on its experience of delivering high-rise residential dwellings, the contractor has developed a comprehensive approach to cladding remediation and passive fire protection that enables a fully-audited, designed and delivered service that provides compliance, cost and quality assurance. Colmore

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