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Fexco Property Services are delighted to welcome a new member to the Senior Management Team. Rob Chapman (LLB) joins the group as Head of Legal & Compliance, and brings over 20 years of experience as a qualified lawyer in both the commercial property and development sectors. Previously a partner in an established Bristol and London based firm, he aims to provide a full understanding of the changing legal environment surrounding the property management industry. Fexco Property Services is a group of specia

The Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners (ALEP) has expressed a general welcome for leasehold manifesto commitments from Labour and the Conservatives ahead of the 2019 General Election.   In both the Conservative and Labour manifestos, both parties acknowledge the need to undertake reforms to leasehold law and practice. Both seem to agree that a ban on the sale of new leasehold houses should be implemented and that ground rents should be restricted to a peppercorn.   Mark Chick, ALEP Dir

Property management firm PM Legal Services has strengthened its team with three senior appointments following a period of growth for the company. Chloe Arnold has joined as a solicitor, current personal assistant Faye Sahman has been promoted to Head of Support and Jennifer Knibbs has started a training contract leading to qualification as a solicitor. Partner Cassandra Zanelli said: “I’m pleased to welcome Chloe to the team and announce Faye and Jennifer’s promotions. “I’m extremely proud to be able to i

MRI Software (“MRI”), a global leader in real estate software solutions, announced that it has acquired Multifamily Insurance Partners, a leader in resident insurance programs for the US multifamily rental market. The acquisition will enable property owners and operators to close insurance gaps and minimize loss by implementing resident insurance compliance programs for apartment renters. The new offering, MRI Multifamily Insurance, further streamlines the leasing and onboarding process for property owner

A former warehouse for exotic silks and textiles that’s now used as a restaurant and wine bar with 14 apartments above is to be looked after by Principle Estate Management. The Tapestry Building at 16 New Street, opposite Liverpool Street Station in London, was formerly known as the Old Bengal Warehouse, and dates back to the 18th century. The property is part of the landmark Devonshire Square development, a collection of historic buildings that now forms a popular social, trading and residential developm

The landlord in this case (Sequent Nominees Limited (formerly Rotrust Nominees Limited) v Hautford Limited [2019] UKSC47) has succeeded before the Supreme Court where it had lost at every level below that. The leaseholder wanted to change the use of part of the property to residential. This is likely to have enabled it to acquire the freehold via compulsory purchase powers under the enfranchisement legislation on the basis that it then fell within the definition of a “house”. The property in question comp

BlockRecruit are on a mission to help all candidates and clients become more resilient, healthy and happy people. Following on from Zoe's talks at the IRPM Regionals raising awareness on wellbeing and mental health in Block Management, BlockRecruit are launching the “12 Weeks of Wellbeing”.   Whether you’re doing this for you or you’re a Team Manager and looking at how you can better support your team members, the 12 Weeks of Wellbeing programme is designed to share tips, guidance, exercises and techniq

The winners for the News on the Block Property Management Awards 2019 were announced at our prestigious awards ceremony on 22nd November at City Central at the HAC, Chiswell Street, London EC1Y 2BQ.  We had over 800 guests in attendance who celebrated the achievements of their peers over the last year.    The integrity of our awards is of paramount concern, and we were delighted to have been awarded the Independent Awards Council Gold Awards Trust Mark. May we take this opportunity to thank our panel of j

Award winning chartered surveyors Pennycuick Collins have been appointed as managing agents of the Old Library in Stourbridge.  This is the third new block management appointment based in the Midlands for the residential service charge team in just over a month. Director of residential service charge Lyndsey Cannon-Leach, commented: “We are thrilled to be adding the Old Library to our portfolio. It is visually, a spectacular residential scheme we are very excited to be managing, which will increase our ov

London based property management company Crabtree has appointed a new Managing Director – Chris March. Chris stepped into the role after long-standing MD Rob Robertson decided it was time to leave after 35 years of building the company from just 3 members to the established business it is today.   Chosen for the role because of his experience in team building, management and building a property portfolio, Chris has spent his entire career in the property sector. After selling his own agency to a large plc

Chartered Surveyors, Hamilton Darcey LLP welcome Ben Jeanes as Partner. Ben joins Hamilton Darcey LLP with over 12 years of Surveying experience across the commercial and high-end residential sector. Ben has worked with clients ranging from Right to Manage (RTM) companies and private landlords, to asset managers, developers and managing agents, and joins Hamilton Darcey LLP ready to help further expand the firm’s Licence to Alter service and Major Works project management.   Ben, who started with the comp

QUESTION  I have 64 years left on the lease of my flat and have recently been advised to have a lease extension. Why do I need to do this and what impact does it have on my property and its value? Also, is it an expensive process? ANSWER Thank you for your question. All leaseholders at some point will want to extend their lease, leaseholders should be made aware that their lease is a diminishing asset and as the term of their lease reduces so does the value of their lease. It is vital that if you as a lea