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The former prime minister of Pakistan has begun a 10-year jail sentence after a court ruled he and his family laundered money to pay for four luxury London apartments.   Nawaz Sharif faced the National Accountability Bureau – Pakistan’s anti-corruption court – over claims the he and four members of his family laundered cash in the early 1990s to pay for the properties in Park Lane.   Sharif was convicted in his absence as he was in London at the sickbed of his wife. The court also sentenced Sharif’s daugh

Leading law firm Bircham Dyson Bell is pleased to welcome the addition of Senior Associate, Gabrielle Roberts and Solicitor, Rachel Crapnell to the Leasehold Enfranchisement Team. Previously within the wider Real Estate team, Gabrielle and Rachel will be specialising in this area to further strengthen the team. Gabrielle is a solicitor with over 20 years’ experience advising on all aspects of residential landlord and tenant matters with particular expertise in enfranchisement, right to manage, right of fi

Meet and hear the industry experts, find out about the very latest developments and take part in a live debate on the issues facing the sector in this conference hosted by Bolt Burdon Solicitors.   Topics will include:   • Grenfell update and discussion • S20 consultation • Repairs and improvements • Breach of lease • Insurance considerations post Grenfell.   The conference will conclude with a panel discussion. So far confirmed are John Byers - Langley Byers Bennett Surveyors, Ayesha Omar as a panel memb

As the UK Private Rented Sector (PRS) evolves at pace, a Qube Global recent survey discovered that 88% of residential managers feel unprepared to meet the demands of the market with the technology solutions they currently have in place.   At this event Qube will explore how technology can be the core of your go-to-market strategy, helping you capitalise on the opportunities presented by the growing Build-to-rent sector.   What will be covered: Technology and design implications for the UK build-to-rent

Birmingham based property consultancy Pennycuick Collins has announced two promotions to its team.  Laura Lock has been promoted to Senior Property Manager in the residential block management team, whilst and David Baker is promoted to Senior Building Surveyor.  The duo have clocked up an impressive combined 23 years of service at the firm.   Laura Lock originally joined Pennycuick Collins as a trainee property manager and has worked with the firm’s residential block management clients over a prolonged pe

As the demand for new property in Manchester increases and the trend for large organisations to move operations to the North continues, POD Management is introducing its innovative style of home management to the thriving city and its residents. Having secured its first contract at the Fabrick development in Cheadle Hulme, the company, which is backed by entrepreneurs James Caan and Faisal Butt, will manage the new development of 184 micro-homes.   Dedicated to enhancing its customer’s lives by taking car

Deverell Smith is proud to be working in an exclusive partnership with Lodha Group Uk to hand select a world-class team for their new development Lincoln Square which opens in October this year. Top talent from the property and hospitality sectors has been identified and approached by Deverell Smith, whereupon the selected candidates have undergone a rigorous interview and assessment process. Deverell Smith has designed and developed a 4 stage bespoke assessment centre, in conjunction with Lodha, to test

Trials in respect of what is known as “ground G” under s 30(1) of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 are extremely rare. Ground G permits a landlord to oppose the grant of a new lease of commercial premises when they intend to occupy the premises as their home and for the purposes of a business.  Steven Ross has, however, recently acted in two cases where the landlords of commercial premises have successfully obtained orders refusing their tenants a new lease under ground G. Curiously, both cases had simila

A property manager is facing jail after admitted embezzling almost £37,000 from a student accommodation company. Joanne Black organised payments from students looking for rented flats in Edinburgh when she was employed by Ziggurat Student Living. But instead of processing payments, the 30-year-old put tens of thousands of pounds into her own bank account over a 12-month period. She set up monthly direct debits from the students and took £6,125 from one foreign visitor in deposits and rent payments. Black,

We’ve all heard the proverb ‘The grass is always greener on the other side’. During the summer of 2018, both sides have been as dry as a bone and ‘rain dancing’ has become a common search term on Google. You might think it is odd for a block management recruiter to encourage property managers to persevere and to make the most of where they are. And that is against a backdrop of a lack of quality candidates searching for new challenges. Let me explain. When companies are growing fast and there are plenty o

FlatGuard are delighted to announce that Dan Welsh has joined their London Team. Dan has extensive experience in blocks of flats insurance, having previously worked for Residents Insurance Services as their sales and relationship manager. Dan was responsible for developing and nurturing client relationships by providing residential managing agents with a technical, pro-active and personal service. Dan felt that “FlatGuard was a natural home as we share the same client centric, dynamic and entrepreneurial

QUESTION I have an enquiry on lease extensions and variation, on which guidance would be more than welcome. Our block of 114 flats is owned by the leaseholders via a company which holds both the freehold and the head lease. A second leaseholder company, an RTMC, appoints the Managing Agents. When we acquired the head lease some years ago, one of the objectives was to extend the underleases. However there was no urgency as there is still 120 years approx left. The under leases expire at the same time as t