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Keeping major projects moving forward during the Covid-19 pandemic needs careful planning, according to experts at MetroPM, the residential estate property managers. Director Ian Smallman said that when lockdown was first announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson back in March, it was difficult to see how construction and maintenance projects could continue. “We have now moved a long way forward and the Government was keen to get the construction industry back to work as early as possible,” he said. “Clea

Recommendations for a new and clear direction for the future of home ownership have been welcomed by Thursfields Solicitors. The leading Midlands law firm was commenting after the Law Commission unveiled a plan that included a commonhold regime described as “fit for purpose”, plus a reform of leasehold enfranchisement and the right to manage. Nick O’Hara, managing director at Thursfields, said: “Put simply, the leasehold system is just not working properly for millions of homeowners in England and Wales,

One of the UK’s leading property marketing and communications companies, The Oracle Group, has strengthened its senior management team by promoting Senior Account Manager, Alice McCutcheon.  Alice joins the Executive Team as Creative Director and will be focused on driving campaign management and digital PR, to deliver strategic campaigns for their broad client base. The Oracle Group is building for its future and working towards expansion plans as it enters its 10th year of operations.   Founder and CEO

Places for People is one of 19 super large organisations in the country to be recognised as one of the 2020 Best Workplaces for Women by Great Place to Work. This is the first time Places for People has entered the award. The award celebrates organisations that promote a fully inclusive work culture, as well as strong representation of women across the workforce and in senior positions. Places for People was named 17 in the super-large workplace (1000+) category alongside the likes of Hilton, Gap, and Hom

In support of an emergency appeal to help NHS staff fighting Covid-19 on the frontline, Barratt and David Wilson Homes North Midlands has donated £1,000 to the Derby and Burton Hospitals Charity. The contribution is part of the leading developer’s Community Fund scheme and will help the charity continue its essential hospital and patient support. Tim Diggle, Director at Derby and Burton Hospitals Charity, said: “We are so grateful that Barratt and David Wilson Homes North Midlands have come to the hospita

A Poole-based PR director has set up his own PR agency, with the intention of helping those in the property industry recover from the lockdown. David Sanders, 42, who has recently been made redundant himself, has set up the agency ‘PR42’. It offers a raft of services including a ‘no coverage, no fee’ option. For anyone who takes advantage of this offer there will be no payment due to PR42, unless press coverage is published in pre-agreed media. The agency ‘aims to be as flexible as possible’ and offers ot

MetroPM, the residential property management company with offices in Birmingham and Cheltenham, has appointed Ian Smallman as a director. He joins Matthew Arnold, founder and managing director of MetroPM, as the company embarks on its next phase of growth. Established in 2006, MetroPM provides day-to-day estate management services to a growing number of developers, freeholders and resident management companies in the Midlands and South West. Matthew Arnold said: “Ian joins us at a time when we are activel

Most leaseholders of apartment buildings do not want to take on new responsibilities for building and fire safety, over fears of building neglect and conflict, independent research published today reveals. In contrast to recent reports suggesting discontent in the leasehold sector, research conducted by Savanta Group into leaseholders’ attitudes towards building safety reforms, shows the vast majority (70%) of leaseholders are satisfied with the current rights and responsibilities and believe taking on ad

SDL Property Partners has announced that three new franchisees have joined its national block management franchise network during the COVID-19 lockdown. The property management specialist has now released details of the three new partners – Middlesex-based Asset India, White Picket Fence Ltd in Croydon and Belvoir London Westminster. Formed in 2011, Asset India is a real estate advisory and development company, that also has offices in India and Dubai. Managing Director, Rahul Dixit, explains he was looki

Sigma Capital Group plc, one of the leading build-to-rent providers focused on family housing in the UK, has launched its private rental sector (PRS) market research report, which reveals the nation’s behaviours and attitudes around renting. The Rental Experience: Setting the Standard, is based on in-depth qualitative and quantitative data collection concluding with a survey of more than 2,000 renters. The research reveals everything from who the modern-day renter is, to what barriers they feel they face

This article was first published on the Winckworth Sherwood website. On 8 July 2020, Rishi Sunak announced that Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) will be cut in a bid to boost the housing market and purchaser confidence. Reduced rates of SDLT will immediately apply to the purchase of residential properties in England and Northern Ireland from 8 July 2020 until 31 March 2021 inclusive (the ‘qualifying period’). Full details are yet to be made clear but we set our initial understanding of these changes.` The redu

The Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners (ALEP) has reviewed the Law Commission’s three highly anticipated reports concerning the future of leasehold and Commonhold reform. The three reports recommend reforms to: leasehold enfranchisement; the right to manage; reinvigorating commonhold. Leasehold home ownership has been under media and political scrutiny over recent years and the three reports contain a number of recommendations that would “significantly improve the position of homeowner