Featured Articles

New rules have come into force that require properties housing five or more people from two or more households to be have special licenses.   Until October 1, only properties with three or more floors needed a Houses in Multiple Occuptation (HMO) licence.   But new legislation, first announced last December, has changed the laws and also  updated minimum space requirements.   Minimum bedroom space is now 6.51 square metres for a single bedroom and 10.22 square metres for rooms occupied by two adults. Room

Plans by the Law Commission to make the process of buying or extending leaseholds easier, quicker and cheaper have been welcomed.   The proposals have been made as part of a government-commissioned review to strengthen the rights of leaseholders seeking to buy their freehold or extend their lease.   Leaseholds have made the headlines recently following anger over the leases for new-build homes being sold off by developers – which has left some householders with ground rents doubling every ten years.   Ni

‘Back to School’ conferences spearheaded by award-winning PM Legal Services to raise industry standards have scored highly with property managers. PM Legal Services, a division of Keebles, hosted and led the events in Yorkshire and London following the success of two sell-out best practice conferences earlier this year.     Almost 400 property managers and industry professionals have attended the four free of charge sessions featuring high-profile speakers. Aligned with the ‘Back to School’ theme, present

The ARMA Conference & Dinner is coming up fast on the 18th October at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Hotel, London SE1, and in a packed programme we will be providing up-to-the-minute updates on the key issues facing the sector. 10 REASONS FOR ATTENDING THE CONFERENCE… Law Commissioner Prof Nick Hopkins will be giving the latest on commonhold and enfranchisement reform and the right to manage. Learn what’s coming up on the future of leasehold reform, including regulation of managing agents with Lakh

A window pane which fell 27 floors from a penthouse apartment of a luxury London development has killed coach driver Mick Ferris who was walking past. The pane of glass is believed to have fallen from the The Corniche Development penthouse apartment on the South Bank of the Thames, where apartments cost up to £6 million. A witness of the tragedy, said: “He came out of the Riverbank Plaza Hotel and was hit by the falling pane of glass - he had been using the toilet. It is a big shock, nobody expects this t

Property professionals in Manchester will have the chance to broaden their knowledge of the UK’s leasehold system at a free to attend event presented by the Association of Leasehold Property Enfranchisement Practitioners (ALEP), and hosted by law firm, Irwin Mitchell  This is the first regional event ALEP has presented, and the Association plans to roll out a programme of regional seminars throughout 2019. This event will be held on Wednesday 7th November 2018 at the offices of Irwin Mitchell at One St

Principle Estate Management has won the contract to manage a new block of apartments in Berkshire. Aragon House is on Hollow Lane in Shinfield village, near Reading, and was a part new-build and part-conversion of an existing residential building. Initially, the developer self-managed the property until selling the freehold, and Principle has now won the contract to manage the apartments. Brett Williams, managing director at Principle Estate Management, said: “It’s encouraging that freeholders are continu

Anushka Nicholas looks at the key things to look out for when buying a leasehold property. What is a leasehold interest in land? If you buy a leasehold property, as the leaseholder you will own and be able to enjoy use of the land, but only for a specific period of time; i.e. 99 years, 125 years or 999 years.  Once the lease term comes to an end, you are required to return the land to the landlord.  You pay a premium/price to the landlord upon the grant of the lease, and most leases further reserve an ann

Our competition for Over Bonnet Shed has now ended and the lucky winners have been selected to win a over bonnet shed storage unit worth £995!!  The lucky winners this time were: Simon Hollingworth  Annika Blixt  Over Bonnet Shed will be in touch to arrange delivery of the units shortly. Congratulations to our three winners and thank you to everyone who entered. If you would like to find out more information on the units and how they can help with your storage space please click here.

Scanlans has expanded its property management operations in West Yorkshire with a contract for a block of luxury apartments in north Leeds.   The firm has been appointed by Sandmoorgate Man Co to manage a block of six three-bedroomed flats on Sandmoor Avenue, Alwoodley.   Sandmoor Gate was built by Amberstone Developments for Bramall Properties in 2015 and features electrically-controlled gates and underground parking. Each flat has en-suite bedrooms and a balcony.   Michael Willans, senior property manag

With international terrorism and domestic extremism continuing to be a real threat across the UK, it is important for Concierge Officers to remain on high alert and have the requisite training to deter, detect and aid counter terrorist activity. As part of the role, Concierge Officers should be encouraged to be vigilant as well as required to maintain a Daily Occurrence Log, which will be in continuous use and keep all relevant people updated of any occurrences or incidents on the site.  As part of the as

The tenant of a flat who put up CCTV cameras outside his London home to protect him against crime has been prosecuted by a council.   Len James was told by Wandsworth council he had breached his tenancy agreement when he installed two cameras at his flat in Dungeness House, Battersea.   Despite the cameras catching a burglar and car vandals, as well as discouraging drug dealers, he was ordered to pay £2,000 costs after a county court hearing.   The 77-year-old said: “I am worried because I don’t know wher