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So far, 2020 has certainly been a time of massive change, with a key shift toward focussing on the health of our staff and loved ones, and no-one can deny that it's been a tough year to date for everyone! As managing agents, property management is essential for the health and safety of buildings and residents. Our work has had to continue as much as possible to the same standards as our customers expect, and with a few changes to the way we operate, backed by reliable contractors, it has been a relatively

This month marks thirty years since Duncan Rendall and Matt Rittner founded their residential property management company, Rendall & Rittner. It has grown to become a market leading independent business, responsible for a growing portfolio that currently stands at 70,000 units. Despite the backdrop of current challenging circumstances, the business continues to develop and, with its network of regional offices across the UK, Rendall & Rittner is fast achieving its goal of becoming a truly national company

Funding of £6.4 million has been secured by The Studios24 - the first company to deliver a major co-living development in the Midlands - it was announced yesterday.   Cynergy Bank has agreed the refinance package for the London-based property company’s £12.5 million residential development in Wolverhampton.   The Studios24 has transformed a dilapidated 12-storey office building into one of the UK’s leading co-living developments. The £12.5 million project, at Birch Street, recently reached practical compl

A national ground rent investor has asked Principle Estate Management to look after six stunning apartments in a grade II-listed building overlooking the River Thames.   The units in the converted historical building at Richmond Hill in Richmond, Surrey, which are opposite Buccleuch Gardens and overlook Petersham Meadows, are each worth nearly £2 million.   They are just a few of a portfolio across seven locations in a new contract from Simarc Property Management Ltd, the management arm of the Wallace Gro

No-one should be concerned about a delay in the simplification of rules surrounding leaseholders’ rights to buy or extend their leases, according to Thursfields Solicitors. The leading Midlands law firm said that a long-awaited update on what’s known as leasehold enfranchisement has been put back by COVID-19. But experts at Thursfields said they had been involved in detailed consultations with the Law Commission over the changes and would be ready to act on them as soon as they are announced. The review i

One of the biggest asset managers of leasehold properties has appointed Principle Estate Management to look after 34 sites stretching across seven UK regions.   The huge new contract involving 1,317 units has been awarded by Estates & Management (E&M), in addition to the 12 sites and 266 units already in management.   Principle, based in Birmingham, has become the UK’s fastest growing residential estate manager, and this latest appointment means it’s now looking after some 6,000 units across the country j

Mobius Building Consultancy has appointed Joseph Skinnard as an Associate Director.  Joseph has been recruited to lead the company’s Dilapidations and Project Management service lines.  He brings a wealth of experience in the Building Surveying sector having worked in the commercial team at Lambert Smith Hampton. Joseph has long been a target for Mobius Building Consultancy, having a formidable track record of working for large commercial clients including major pension funds, REITs and public sector enti

During the current lockdown and pandemic, an issue at the forefront of the minds of enfranchisement practitioners has been the service of initial notices of claims under section 13 and section 42 of the Leasehold Reform Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 (“the Act”), and counter notices under sections 21 and 45 of the Act. In practice, enfranchisement practitioners have been, for the most part, agreeing that service by email is acceptable.  Given the lockdown, some professional offices are closed and

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 leasehold house”. They did not meet this test as their the ownership (demise

On first thought finding any positives to be gleaned from a global pandemic which has so far claimed more than 200,000 lives worldwide and decimated the economic climate to an extent not witnessed since records began may have proven to be a near impossible task… However, on further reflection, deep amid the destruction caused by Covid-19 there may be some silver lining illuminating from what can only be described as an extremely dark scenario.  For instance, Covid-19 has in many cases proved a catalyst fo

Three years on from the Grenfell Tower fire, the issue of building safety remains as prevalent today as it was in the aftermath of the tragedy. This has recently been highlighted in the government’s guidance on maintaining remediation work through the COVID-19 crisis and the progress of the Fire Safety Bill which is now at its second reading. Last week saw the publication of the long awaited prospectus for the new £1bn remediation fund and a response to consultation on the previous funding scope and proce

A government move to allow additional floors to be built on residential blocks of flats without planning permission has received a cautious welcome from Principle Estate Management.   The UK’s fastest growing residential estate management business was commenting after housing secretary Robert Jenrick said he would allow up to two storeys to be added to blocks from this summer.   Building upwards currently requires planning consent, which involves checks on how well designs fit with nearby homes and the po