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.

Trio of flats in the same Black Country block coming up in next Bond Wolfe auction

A hat-trick of great potential investments in the same Black Country block of flats are coming up in Bond Wolfe’s next auction.

How Renters' Rights Bill Reform to End No-Fault Evictions Will Affect You

Private landlords can currently demand large upfront rent payments, leaving many Brits financially strained or in debt. The upcoming Renters’ Rights Bill seeks to cap advance rent at one month. Landlords could still request one month’s rent upfront and a security deposit of up to six weeks, per the Tenant Fees Act 2019. Lawhive’s UK lawyer and Head of Legal Operations, Daniel McAfee, comments on the Bill’s potential to transform landlord-tenant dynamics, with major changes to financial obligations and ten

Innovus Launches Comprehensive RTM Formation Support Service

Innovus, the market leading provider of services and solutions to the property sector, is pleased to announce the launch of its Right to Manage Service. This new offering provides comprehensive, independent support and guidance for the formation of Right to Manage (RTM) Companies. Our service includes RTM eligibility assessment, training, and ongoing governance and secretarial support. The 2002 Commonhold & Leasehold Reform Act empowered leaseholders of a building containing flats, the right to take over

Government Pledges to End "Feudal" Leasehold System

The leasehold property system is set to be dismantled as the government announces plans to ban the sale of new leasehold flats before the next election. A comprehensive white paper released Monday outlines the Labour government's strategy to make commonhold the default tenure for flat purchases in England and Wales, fulfilling a key manifesto promise. What's Changing? The leasehold system—dating back to medieval times—currently allows freeholder landlords to own a building's lease while tenants purchase o

Dudleys completes transformation of historic York Estate

Dudleys Consulting Engineers has completed works to help transform a grand Victorian villa into a collection of luxurious new residential apartments in York.  Dudleys was retained to advise on all civil and structural engineering matters for the £5 million project which required sensitive restoration of an existing 19th century building as well as construction of three new buildings. Located just one mile from York city centre, Beverley House was once home to the general manager of York’s Rowntree Cocoa W

Revitalising Relics: Unlocking Energy Savings in Older Buildings

Andrew King is the founder of SGT, a Buckinghamshire-based firm helping businesses across the UK find commercial energy tariffs that meet their needs while keeping costs low. Andrew has experience working with a range of clients and understands the needs of organisations operating in older buildings. Often, there are complexities with the building material, hardware and structure. Andrew discusses pitfalls that, if left unchecked, can drive energy costs sky high. Older buildings are full of character, but

Churchill Support Services Announces Transformation To ProFM Group

Security and facilities management experts Churchill Support Services have officially announced a major rebrand to ProFM Group. This strategic brand overhaul has been designed with the future longevity of the business in mind, better reflecting the suite of services that the group can offer - laying the foundations for the expansion of future arms of the business. In a hybrid approach to some of the UK’s most in-demand sectors – physical and electronic security, and cleaning – ProFM Group has evolved to

Commonhold white paper and anticipated announcement in Parliament

This afternoon in oral questions to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Matthew Pennycook is due to announce proposals to reinvigorate commonhold, making it the default tenure. The minister is expected to announce that new leasehold flats will be banned as the government takes steps to honour its manifesto commitment to ensure commonhold becomes the default tenure and he will also announce that the government will publish a commonhold white paper. The Association of Leasehold Enfran

RFA response to Government White Paper

“We welcome any measure that improves consumer choice, but this should not be seen as a trade-off between leasehold and commonhold. As the Government’s own data shows, millions of leaseholders across the country are perfectly content with the tenure and we firmly believe that leasehold is the most effective way of managing large complex apartment buildings.   “In the absence of the leasehold system, residents would face greater financial and legal responsibilities for block maintenance and management – wh

SNG supports women to excel in construction this International Womens Day

Following a post-Covid boom, when the number of women in the UK construction industry reached a record high of 343,000 (in Q2 2023), the number dropped significantly. By Q2 2024, there were just 272,000 women working in construction in the UK. While that figure has since rallied, hitting 325,000 in Q4 2024, the number of women in construction today is still lower than it was back in 2006. Some firms are working hard to change this. SNG (Sovereign Network Group) is a case in point. An equal opportunities a

5 Biggest Mistakes with Service Charge Budgeting

Service charge planning and budgeting are critical responsibilities for managing agents overseeing residential or mixed-use developments. Mistakes in these areas can lead to financial shortfalls, leaseholder disputes, and potential regulatory breaches. Below are the five biggest mistakes, with an emphasis on the importance of working with skilled service charge accountants to mitigate these risks. 1. Underestimating Costs for Routine Maintenance and Repairs • Mistake: Managing agents often underestimate

Right to Manage: changes to legislation

On Monday 3 March further provisions within the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 come into force, including Section 49 which concerns the change of non-residential limit on Right to Manage (RTM) claims. This secondary legislation will mean that residential leaseholders within a mixed-use scheme will qualify for RTM when the commercial element of a building is as much as 50% - an increase on the previous cap of 25%. Additionally, leaseholders will no longer be required to cover the freeholder’s legal

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