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.

Blocks in the Cloud

Ok so we all use software in our personal and work lives but are you maximising the benefits and the return on investment you get from the software you are utilising in the Block Management industry? I believe most people would agree that good software is designed to make the day to day life of those that use it easier and generally enable them to be more efficient and ultimately more productive and that great software is designed to provide a solution that addresses the pain points of the user in the spe

MRI Software collaborating with Viewber to provide flexible estate agency services

MRI Software has announced its collaboration with Viewber to provide sales agents, lettings agents and property managers with direct access to a national network of professionals that can be booked for a range of last-mile residential property services as and when they are required. Viewber’s intuitive online platform unlocks access to thousands of vetted ‘Viewbers’ across every UK postcode, with these individuals able to provide viewings, open houses, inspections, reports, 160 tours, meet and greets, hou

Effective communication between property managers and residents has never been more important

The impact of COVID-19 on property has been immediate and widespread – hitting everyone involved in the residential market. Indeed, whether you are a resident in a block or if you’re managing the property, you are seeing a whole new world in terms of how your communities operate.  The crisis has created major disruption, and managers are under greater-than-ever pressure to take the lead and communicate on how the crisis is impacting living conditions. For example, property managers will be expected to pro

Enrol in the IRPM's Level 2 Foundation Course in Build to Rent

Build to Rent is maturing into an established and proven sector that is now delivering on its promise of premium quality homes and services. Careers and roles are crystallising into clear pathways. IRPM works closely with the leading players in the sector, who confirmed the time is now right for a new entry level course to benefit on-site, leasing, FM and back-office teams, new entrants, and aspiring building managers. The IRPM Level 2 Foundation in Build to Rent is an introductory ONLINE course, with a r

Agility and Adaptability: Essential Qualities of PropTech in the Age of COVID-19

As the UK enters a new phase of national COVID-19 response and explores ways in which the country can come out of lockdown safely, it is evident that this exit is going to be a slow and considered process. Depending on any spike in infection brought about by an easing of lockdown measures, people in the UK can expect a transitional period of un-locking and re-locking, where the Government tries to lift quarantine rules without inducing a subsequent wave of coronavirus infection. While the epidemiological

Mediation an Alternative to Litigation in Lockdown and Beyond

Mediation, a meeting or meetings, joint and private between people in dispute chaired by a mediator to assist in reaching a joint resolution, manufactured and agreed by the participants. The trite saying that Mediation is a key form of Alternative Dispute Resolution is ever so relevant in these concerning times.  It appears that the court lists will be further stretched and cases will take even longer to be heard.  Mediation is and remains a quicker, more cost-effective approach to resolving disputes an

Putting plans in place for the technologies of tomorrow

In recent years broadband has often been referred to as the ‘4th utility’, but this suggestion has been met with scepticism as to whether it can truly be on a par with water, gas and electricity. At Hyperoptic we wanted to test the theory independently and see what might be driving this thought process. We worked with the experts at SAY Property Consulting to look at the issue from the perspective of 228 housing professionals and 2,000 homeowners or renters. We also worked with Applied Futurist, Tom Chees

Sigma’s Simple Life build to rent brand brings 298 apartments to Broughton

Sigma Capital Group plc, the leading provider in build to rent housing across the UK is developing 298 new apartments in Broughton Village, Salford, under its private rental brand Simple Life, in partnership with Countryside. The £40m project is a continuation of the area-wide Lower Broughton regeneration partnership between Salford City Council and Countryside and marks Simple Life’s first foray into apartments in the area. The scheme comprises a mix of one, two and three bedroom units built across 4.7 a

Residential property manager urbanbubble and app developer Padoq build interactive app

Residential property management specialist urbanbubble and mobile app developer Padoq have developed an interactive app to keep residents connected and engaged while living under COVID-19 lockdown. Designed to motivate and engage residents of apartments across Manchester managed by urbanbubble, the app provides a ‘cyber community’ tailored to the needs of people in specific residential developments. Described as a ‘place to connect with your community’, the app gives residents access to a wide range of li

Leasehold Group devastated at loss of Sophie Lyall

The Leasehold Group of companies announces with great sadness that Sophie Lyall passed away on Monday, 27 April 2020.  Sophie joined Leasehold Valuers shortly after the company was established in 2013 and she was a driving force in its success in her role as Business Manager. Whilst passionate about her work at Leasehold Valuers and always striving to act in the best interests of the company’s leaseholder clients, Sophie was studying a BSc (Hons) degree in Estate Management at the University College of Es

To consent or not to consent, that is the question …

The Supreme Court’s decision in the case of Duval v 11-13 Randolph Crescent Limited [2020] UKSC 18 on appeal from [2018] EWCA Civ 2298, was handed down yesterday (6 May 2020) and confirms that landlords should ensure, when faced with requests for consents under a lease, that consent is only granted where the landlord is entitled to do so.  Where the lease contains: an absolute prohibition against certain conduct (ie, subletting or alterations); a commonly found provision that all leases in the developm

Team Leaders - It's time to lead!

As a result of COVID-19, we find ourselves working from home. For some, this is new territory. A number of Clients I’ve been speaking to have been wondering how they can continue to keep their employees engaged and help them to feel like they’re still a part of the team. There’s no one answer, in fact, there are a number of things you could do to ensure your team remain engaged and connected.   The main and perhaps most powerful thing here is to make your team feel valued and remind them that they’re stil

© 2025 News On The Block. All rights reserved.

News on the Block is a trading name of Premier Property Media Ltd.

We use cookies to improve your experience on our site. By using our site you consent cookies.