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As any good property manager knows, they’re only as good as the people they surround themselves with. And as a residential block manager has more on their plate than ever before, the reliance on the team on-site has never been greater.   Does this give the property manager the excuse to let the on-site staff run the show?   Under-utilised An on-site team may comprise an estate manager, concierges, a caretaker, maintenance man, security personnel, cleaners… At another building, there may be a single front

MRI Software (“MRI”), a global leader in real estate software solutions, announced a range of key new solutions during the opening general session of MRI Ascend, its North American users conference, held in Anaheim on October 13th through 16th. The announcement underlines MRI’s continuing commitment to both innovation and an open and connected approach to real estate software. The announced products bring new payment, lead management, lease intelligence and secure signature capabilities to MRI’s comprehen

The Fixflo Leasehold and Block Management Market Report has found that although most block management companies have achieved portfolio growth, they are struggling to translate that increase in revenue and workload into increased profits. The Report which was supported by ARMA, MRI Software, News On The Block and Flat Living received responses from more than 170 block management companies which according to ARMA figures equates to more than 19% of the block management market. Within the headline figure of

The judging is now complete and we are happy to announce the 2019 Property Management Awards shortlist! This year we took a new approach to the judging process. Judges were divided into three groups and initially scored all entries for their selected categories independently via our online portal. Each group of judges then met to review and discuss the results for their categories and to agree the final winners and highly commended. If you would like to view the judges groups and categories please click h

Issue 103 of News on the Block has now been published. This issues includes some of the following articles:  Record numbers turn out for ALEP conference Exclusive preview of the Fixflo Leasehold and Block Management Market Report Your planet needs you! 5 ways you can do your bit to help Three core skills to look for in property managers The Recipe for the Perfect Major Works Project Court rules on management company dispute Special Prop Tech & Security feature including:  PropTech

Do you want to be able to “walk around” your sites and buildings at any time and the move of a mouse? If so, Adiuvo have introduced Inerro, a 360 degree virtual video walkthrough of the communal parts of your buildings and sites.  The idea behind the service is that often office based staff are dealing with enquiries on sites that they have not had the opportunity to visit however now, via a secure link, that whole building is available to them immediately to seamlessly view, including all external. This

Whilst the global impact of climate change is widely acknowledged, experts are divided over the potential extent, writes Janey Brockwell. The World Bank believes that as many as 150m people could be displaced by 2050 due to climate change. A recent study from an Australian think-tank suggests that the true figure could be closer to 1bn! The UK has committed to leading the global war on climate change by reducing greenhouse gases to virtually nil by 2050. Shortly before leaving office, Theresa May stated t

Principle Estate Management is to look after two prestige property developments in London on behalf of a major freeholder client. The contract includes Sawmill Studios at 19 Parr Street, close to Regents Canal in trendy Islington. This has two commercial units on the ground floor and basement levels, and 24 residential apartments which each sell for nearly £1m and rent for nearly £3,000 a month. The second property is Crown Apartments at 45 Westholme Gardens in Ruislip, made up of 24 residential units wor

The British high street is going through a period of incredibly dynamic change. But it need not be all doom and gloom, because diversification could lead to reinvigoration of our town and city centres – a shift in which PropTech will play a pivotal role. For instance, an MRI survey of chief executives, directors and top managers in the property sector revealed 72% see the development of residential properties in former retail premises giving the British high street a new lease of life. It is a change that

Specialist Liverpool law firm J B Leitch delivers expert niche legal solutions for a range of commercial clients including residential freehold investment and block management companies, in particular some of the country’s largest institutional landlords.  Established in 1997, the market-leading firm enjoys a strong reputation for its niche property litigation work. The team is proud to support key players in the property management sector with services including volume debt recovery, complex technical ca

The Legal 500, widely acknowledged as the world’s largest independent legal referral guide, has published it's rankings for 2020. Based on a broad series of criteria, including strong technical ability available for the most complex and innovative work, client recommendation and results, the rankings provide a comprehensive view of the merits of best law firms across the world.   Liverpool based property solicitors JB Leitch have received tier 4 Leading Firm status, with specific recommendations for prope

A £32,000 bill for major lift repairs at an office and apartment block in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter was 96% covered by insurance, after prompt action by Principle Estate Management. Principle was appointed last autumn to manage the four-storey Altitude building on Powell Street knowing there were some immediate issues – including the broken lift. The problem was quickly reviewed, insurance claims made for the repairs and the contractors commissioned, resulting in a working lift and happy clients. Ian