Featured Articles

Issue 110 of News on the Block has now been published and is available for subscribers to read now. This issues includes some of the following articles:  John Lewis to enter build to rent market Law firm named one of top 200 Preparing for storms in property management Index linking takes hit during Covid A vital player in the energy field boosts customers  Online boost during turbulent year  Customer service is the ‘Principle’ behind growth Debt can be recovered with minimal upset Government plans

Nicola Fleet-Milne, one of Birmingham’s top property agents, has appointed Principle Estate Management to look after a luxury apartment block in Birmingham city centre. Queensway House, which is at 57 Livery Street on the edge of the Jewellery Quarter and just 50 yards away from Snow Hill Station, contains six high-end luxury apartments. Ms Fleet-Milne is chief executive of the well-known and widely respected FleetMilne estate and letting agency, which owns three of the apartments at Queensway House. When

Collective enfranchisement cases making it to one of the highest Courts in the land are not very common. However, a new case has been reported which clarifies what is considered the “appropriate tribunal” under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 (‘1993 Act’), when certain matters remain in dispute. GR Property Management Limited v Safdar & others [2020] EWCA provides guidance as to when and most importantly, where, the leaseholders must make an application if the price to be paid

Mayo Wynne Baxter solicitors is pleased to announce the addition of Ricky Coleman to its established Enfranchisement Team. Ricky joins having practised in landlord and tenant matters for a number of years, achieving notable results for landlords, tenants and residents’ management companies. His work has a particular emphasis on enfranchisement matters. The firm is a member of the Association of Enfranchisement Practitioners (ALEP) and has a proven track record in advising on the Right to Manage, Tenants R

MetroPM has been appointed to manage one of the Midlands’ most impressive Grade II listed, 19th century country homes which is now converted into 16 luxury apartments and homes. Berkswell Hall is set within the Conservation Area of Berkswell, near Solihull, and the appointment of MetroPM comes through director Ian Smallman’s prior involvement with the property. He explained: “I was involved in the management of the estate some 20 years earlier when working at James & Lister Lee and this year I was contact

The events and uncertainties due to COVID-19 have confronted many about their own mortality and led a 'spike' in people looking to write their wills, as pointed out in this report from the BBC. So ALEP have put together a Complete Guide to Making a Will which explains why a will is important and how it can protect your loved ones. It offers practical tips and advice on how to write a will and what to include, whether you need a will writer or a solicitor, frequently asked questions (FAQs) and common mista

Neil Cobbold, Chief Sales Officer at PayProp, comments: Understandably, today's Spending Review focused on funding for public services in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, even if the property industry had hoped that the Chancellor would use the address to provide clarity on issues such as the stamp duty holiday and proposed changes to Capital Gains Tax (CGT). In recent weeks, there have been many calls for the stamp duty holiday to be extended. A longer period for property buyers to benefit from si

FirstPort, the leading residential property service provider, has today announced the acquisition of the residential management arm of Chamonix Estates.  This will see Chamonix’s property management division joining FirstPort. Nigel Howell, CEO of FirstPort, commented: “I am delighted to welcome Chamonix’s 54,000 customers and 100 employees to the FirstPort group.  FirstPort continues to grow as an experienced and trusted residential service provider, with our customers at the heart of what we do.  We are

Countryside, the UK’s leading mixed-tenure developer, and Places for People, the largest UK affordable homes led placemaker, today announces a national framework agreement to accelerate live and future projects through the delivery of mixed-tenure developments.  Under the agreement, Countryside and Places for People will work together to combine expertise in creating high quality homes and places that give opportunities for communities to thrive. It is envisaged that up to 10,000 mixed tenure homes will b

IPM is expanding the board of directors further with the appointment of Chris Peters as a new director of Inspired Property Management effective from the 1st December 2020. The appointment will expand the board of directors from four to five independent directors, bringing valuable experience and insight to the board. This appointment will enable the board of directors to enhance its commercial experience and operational insight, particularly within property industry. Chris has worked within the property

Two new staff were appointed on the same day in a move that saw Principle Estate Management’s customer service department grow from four to six team members. Sophie May has taken on the role of a customer services executive at the Birmingham-based company, while Kiera Hall has joined as a property apprentice. Ms May, from Sheldon in Birmingham, had spent 18 months as a senior property assistant with a competing estate management company, and before that had four years of customer-facing experience in chil

One of the Midlands’ leading estate management companies has moved into larger offices in a year that has seen staff numbers increase by 20%. But the directors and employees of MetroPM won’t have to travel any further to work – their new offices are in the same building. MetroPM has moved downstairs within St Marys House, Harborne Park Road, in Harborne, Birmingham, where the company has been for 12 years. The company has taken the larger, purpose-built, open ground floor office space after another strong