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.

Communication and record keeping key if coronavirus drives up agency complaints

The coronavirus pandemic and its associated impact on the private rented sector (PRS) could lead to a rise in compliance-related complaints against letting agents in the coming months. In order to demonstrate adherence with new rules protecting tenants from unfair treatment while safeguarding themselves and landlords, agencies will need to prioritise good communication and record keeping, according to PayProp. New rules, new compliance risks The spread of coronavirus has disrupted normal life to such an e

Openreach is doing all it can to keep Britain connected

It seems scarcely believable that just a month ago, towns and cities across the country were packed with shoppers and workers going about their daily business. Life was as close to what used to pass for normal.  But since then, everything has changed. Our homes have become much more than just places to live. They’re doubling up as offices and school classrooms. We’re still able to socialise, but online please rather than in person. This huge lifestyle change places great pressure on the broadband network

Sigma steadies the ship through Covid-19 keeping its customers safe and well

Whilst there remains considerable uncertainty as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic, Sigma Capital Group plc, which markets its private rental homes under its Simple Life brand has put a number of measures into action, not only to keep its employees and customers safe and well, but also to give a little back to the community and to try and inject a bit of happiness and wellbeing into the mix, during difficult times. Sigma has joined hundreds of other businesses in a global initiative to help the most vu

Landlords welcome calls for benefits boost for tenants

Landlords have supported calls from the Mayor of London to ensure the benefits system covers the cost of private rents for those tenants adversely affected by coronavirus. In a statement Ben Beadle, Chief Executive of the National Residential Landlords Association said:  “Recent polling has indicated that just two per cent of private tenants have had to stop paying rent due to the pandemic whilst 78 per cent have not had to make any changes to their living situation. This shows that the vast majority of t

New elite Property Management company launched in Canary Wharf

Bellharbour, a new elite Property Management company situated in the very heart of London - Canary Wharf has launched.   Newly appointed - Mike Brown heads Bellharbour as Director of Property Management. Mike has worked in the Property Management sector for 33 years and in residential management for the last 22, specialising in managing luxury residential buildings and large mixed-use estates. He brings extensive experience both as a managing agent and on the client side, dealing with everything from sma

Industry Leaders to Live Stream COVID-19 Webinar for Leasehold Block Managers

Can and should major works go ahead during this ongoing pandemic? From cladding remediation to LOLER tests to reactive repairs, what is the government's position on compliance in these unprecedented times? With the end of the quarter fast approaching and an increasing number of leaseholders falling into financial difficulties, how can block managers prepare for a potential surge in arrears? What else should block managers be considering to safeguard resident safety, compliance and business continuity? 

MRI Software announces two key executive appointments to support global growth

MRI Software, a global leader in real estate software solutions, announces that it has strengthened its leadership team, promoting Roman Telerman to Chief Financial Officer from Vice President of Finance and appointing experienced software executive David Bowie as its Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Asia Pacific. Telerman provides invaluable organisational and financial leadership experience as the company continues its strong growth trajectory through organic development and acquisition, whi

Best standards of customer service behind Principle’s success

The rapid expansion of Principle Estate Management over the last two years has been driven by the company’s dedication to providing the best customer service in the industry. Principle, based in Birmingham and looking after properties across the UK, has grown from a standing start in spring 2018 to a portfolio today of more than 5,000 units across 200 developments. Joe Jobson, a director at Principle, said the company’s position as the country’s fastest growing residential estate management is all down to

Grosvenor Systems announce launch of Propman X4.06

This month, Grosvenor Systems has announced the launch of the latest version of property management and accounting software, Propman. Propman is industry renowned as one of the most trusted all-in-one property management and accounting systems and is used by over 250 businesses across the UK to streamline their processes. The latest release is the next step towards a fully web enabled product. The Propman web user interface is advancing and users now have more functionality available than ever before when

Leasehold Association reports sharp rise in activity amid lockdown

The Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners (ALEP), has reported a significant increase in interest as the COVID-19 lockdown gives leaseholders time to review their lease extension.  ALEP's website has experienced a major spike in traffic since the beginning of March as leaseholders, and freeholders, find out more about enfranchisement options and source accredited practitioners.   Clare Grove, ALEP’s Marketing Manager, said: "We have seen a consistent increase in web visitors since the loc

IRPM publishes White Paper with focus on building safety

At present, Covid-19 presents a huge challenge to the UK property industry but, despite the lockdown, we cannot ignore our sector’s other biggest issue – building safety. Post-Grenfell, safety in the residential block sector is being completely overhauled and many of the recommendations coming from the Hackitt Review hinge on data collection and management.  With this in mind, today the Institute of Residential Property Management (IRPM) publishes Who shares Wins: the impact of technology on building safe

EK Surveying Sessions

Earl Kendrick Building Surveyors are offering complimentary CPD training for property managers. With the majority of people now working from home, EK thought some complimentary remote CPD surveying sessions would be a useful training tool to help clients and colleagues in the industry reach their RICS and IRPM CPD requirements. For more information, to see the full April schedule and to register please click here.

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