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The Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners (ALEP) is proud to announce that chartered surveyors firm Fifield Glyn has joined as its 250th member.   Founded in 1975, Fifield Glyn’s consultants specialise in residential and commercial property portfolio management.   As part of Fifield Glyn’s membership, ALEP is delighted to welcome consultant chartered surveyor Jennifer Ellis to the Association. One of the sector’s most influential figures, Jennifer has been instrumental in leasehold reform

An impressive development of 70 luxury apartments converted from a former workhouse and hospital building in the Black Country is to be looked after by Principle Estate Management. The Royal Wordsley Heritage Buildings near Stourbridge began life as a Victorian workhouse before they were used as a military hospital in the early 1900s, later serving NHS patients as Wordsley Hospital until 2005. They were redeveloped for residential use in a sensitive conversion by Shropshire Homes that included the restora

Pennycuick Collins’ award winning residential block management team has started the New Year by announcing its first new management instruction of 2020.  The directors of Latitude Management Company have appointed Pennycuick Collins as managing agents with effect from 1 January 2020. Latitude is a mixed-use scheme occupying a highly prominent location in Bromsgrove Street in Birmingham’s Southside district, situated on The Gooch Estate, a longstanding client of Pennycuick Collins.  The development is made

The case involved a frustrated leaseholder (Mr B) who used company law to assist him with his grievance against a leaseholder run management company. Mr B succeeded in fending off an application preventing him from finding out the identity of the owners of a company and their personal information as contained in the register of members. This was despite Mr B applying unsuccessfully in a similar request relating to Pandongate House in Newcastle-upon-Tyne where it was held there was a very high likelihood t

In the recent case of Sequent Nominees Ltd v Hautford Ltd [2019] the Supreme Court addressed the issue of when it is reasonable for a landlord to withhold consent to a tenant’s application under a lease. The facts The case concerned a request by the tenant for a change of planning use from commercial to residential.  The lease provided that the tenant was “not to apply for any planning permission without the prior written consent of the landlord such consent not to be unreasonably withheld”.  At the time

Fierce winds ripped a large section of roof from a block of flats in Slough which then crashed onto the town’s High Street.   Tons of debris from the block – which houses around 200 people – landed in the middle of the road as Storm Brendan whipped across the south of England on January 14.   Thames Valley Police said they believed that no-one had been injured. Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue confirmed there were no serious injuries and they had not found anyone under the rubble.    Taxi driver Haris Baig

A former office building in Kidderminster is set to be given a fresh lease of life as new homes, following a £385,000 sale deal sealed by property agents John Truslove. New owners Mario Construction have secured planning permission to convert the former BT Building, at 75 Mill Street, into single-bedroom flats. Mario Wojcik and his team aim to start work shortly on converting the distinctive three-storey office building into 13 individual apartments. Jay Mann, from Mario Construction, said: “Our main focu

ARMA (the Association of Residential Managing Agents) has announced a new insurance partnership with Insurety Limited, effective from today (8th January 2020).  Through this exciting partnership, Insurety is offering a unique range of insurance products specially designed for ARMA Members. Insurety was selected as the ARMA INSURE partner through a tender process due its expertise and fresh approach to insurance and risk management in the residential leasehold sector. The partnership will offer excellent c

Flat owners are becoming more and more aware of their right to extend their lease but there are still many flats on the market that are being sold with short leases (being those with less than 80 years).   For the seller, selling a flat with a short lease will greatly reduce the pool of prospective buyers, potentially to just cash buyers. For the buyer, buying a flat with a short lease is likely to cause significant difficulties in obtaining a mortgage because the remaining term is simply not long enough

Property management has traditionally been about the nuts and bolts. But that’s all changed now – with industry players taking a much more holistic view across business strategy, operations, communication and brand development. 2020 is going to be all about relationships for businesses and professionals operating in sector, and technology is going to play a key role in fostering those ties. In the coming year, digital innovations will help property owners and operators to drive resident engagement, keep o

Nicola Muir, Barrister at Tanfield Chambers and member of Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners (ALEP) has stated that the current leasehold legislation is responsible for causing hostility and disputes during the enfranchisement process, due to strict requirements and draconian punishments.   Muir has welcomed proposals from the Law Commission which, if adopted, could benefit both leaseholders and freeholders when going through enfranchisement.   Nicola said: “The current system cr

Winckworth Sherwood Partner, Mark Vinall, discusses how flat owners exercising their right to a new longer lease may be paying a premium to the landlord. This is made up of the reduction in the landlord’s interest that flows from the extension and, where the outstanding term of the lease is below 80 years, the landlord’s 50% share of marriage value. To estimate the marriage value, the worth of the flat on its existing short lease and with the extended lease needs to be evaluated. The comparative values ar