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This article was first published on the Winckworth Sherwood website.  This case concerned the lease of an end-of-terrace house that did not give the leaseholders ownership (demise) of the structure i.e. load bearing walls, roof and foundations. To qualify for the right to acquire the freehold title under the Leasehold Reform Act 1967 (to enfranchise) they had to be “a tenant of a leasehold house” (s.1(1)). That phrase was interpreted as requiring them to be “a tenant of substantially the whole of a leaseh

MRI Software (“MRI”), a global leader in real estate software solutions, announces the launch of key new and updated features for its residential, commercial and financials solutions that will better equip its clients to navigate the emerging challenges of the COVID-19 crisis. The company has introduced enhancements to its comprehensive MRI Living, MRI @Work and Financials suites that will empower owners and operators of both residential and commercial properties to adapt to changing behaviors and market

Only an adult (age 18 or over) is legally competent to own property alone or jointly. There is a maximum of four joint owners (except in a few cases – e.g. Charitable Trusts).   When two/three/four people acquire a property, legal ownership is inevitably in their joint names (or the survivor or survivors of them).  If all but one of them dies, that last survivor becomes the sole legal owner. One should also consider exactly who has the equitable ownership – i.e. the benefit of the property.  There are thr

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

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

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 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

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

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, 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

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

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