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GuestReady, a global short-term rental company, has acquired BnbLord, the largest Airbnb management company in France, to form the GuestReady Group. The combined company will be the leading provider in Europe managing more than 2,000 properties with a wide range of services to property owners, agents, and developers. GuestReady has been setting an unprecedented pace in the property management industry quickly rising to the top in the complex area of short-term rental management. Since its launch in the su

Issue 100 of News on the Block has now been published. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the contributors, advertisers and sponsors who have supported News on the Block over the last 100 issues.  This issues includes some of the following articles:  UK property deals hit by Brexit uncertainty 'Supercharged' annual seminar How to prevent property fraud What's next for leasehold reform?  Block management gender pay gap narrows Do you need terrorism insurance cover?  5 ways to im

The Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners (ALEP) has announced it has appointed John Midgley as a new member of its Executive Committee.   The ALEP Executive Committee deals with the day-to-day running of ALEP, and other members include Anna Bailey and Mark Chick. John’s appointment follows the tragic death of ALEP co-founder Alex Greenslade in December, which left a vacancy on the ALEP board. Already a serving member of ALEP’s Advisory Committee, John was well placed to make the move to

Ringley have announced two new key appointments within the group.  Mary-Anne Bowring, Ringley's Founder and CEO said  'With our growth in London and into the Northern Powerhouse through our Manchester office we will stay true to our guiding principles of 100% transparency and innovation and we really look forward to increasing our involvement in the BTR and Property Management sectors as we provide solutions to Clients and continue to forge relationships we new and existing Clients and Customers'. Alistai

Principle Estate Management has appointed experienced chartered surveyor and leasehold expert Samuel Boot as a consultant. Mr Boot will specialise in valuations and negotiations on leasehold flats and houses for the Birmingham-based practice, which manages contracts nationwide. After graduating from Birmingham City University in 2008 and qualifying as a chartered surveyor in 2010, Mr Boot worked in the property industry for Pennycuick Collins until 2017, first as a graduate surveyor, then associate partne

Scanlans has expanded its property management operations across West and South Yorkshire with a raft of deals.   The contracts span sites in Leeds, Allerton Bywater, Rotherham and the village of Wentbridge, near Pontefract.   In Leeds, Scanlans has been appointed to manage Ahlux House, a six-storey block comprising 43 apartments on Millwright Street, and North Crescent, a block of six flats. Both sites are near the city centre.   Scanlans has won tenders to manage three schemes in the centre of Rotherham

Often, the key to staying ahead of the competition when building a residents' gym, is making sure that you have the right equipment on-hand. The more impressive your setup is, the more likely you are to attract would-be property owners of all ages to your door. The question is, how do you decide which equipment you should be investing in? Now that the technology available for health and fitness is evolving at a rapid pace, many of your decisions may be based on the trends of the current marketplace. The

Principle Estate Management has appointed an experienced property inspector to help manage its fast-growing portfolio. Angela Locke has joined the Birmingham-based company after many years working in the property sector, including spells on estate management and residential lettings with Cluttons and Leaders. Principle is already using the Qube site inspection app to make thorough inspections of all properties on a controlled frequency. Ms Locke’s new role will be to oversee this activity, also meeting co

Mayo Wynne Baxter are very pleased to announce that as of 1st April 2019, Jo Ironside of our Commercial & Leasehold Enfranchisement team will become a Partner. Jo commended: 'I am honoured and delighted to be appointed a Partner at Mayo Wynne Baxter, a firm which shares my passion for providing excellent client service and a high standard of legal advice. I look forward to continuing to expand and nurture the leasehold enfranchisement department and assisting in the success of the wider firm in future.'

The biggest changes to residential property management in a generation are soon upon us. New laws, new codes, new qualifications, new regulation, new best practice and more… How will all this work out for you? What will that mean for your business, your team, your career, your customers? Who will have to be qualified, and to what level? Which sectors will be regulated? How will you be regulated? Will life be better or worse? Are we witnessing, finally, the ascendency of property professionals and professi

A new industry pledge to stop leaseholders being trapped in unfair and costly deals has been unveiled by the Communities Secretary, Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP, today (28 March).    More than forty leading property developers and freeholders - including big names such as Taylor Wimpey and Barratt Homes - have already signed the government-backed pledge, which commits them to doing away with onerous ‘doubling clauses’ that can result in ground rents soaring exponentially over a short period of time.   The

Principle Estate Management has won the contract to manage a flagship collection of mansion flats considered to be the finest pre-World War II apartment blocks in Birmingham. The head-leaseholder has appointed Principle to look after the 162 flats at Viceroy Close, which vary from one to five bedrooms across eight buildings on an eight acre site in Edgbaston, built in 1937 to a design by Mitchell and Bridgwater in conjunction with Gollins and Smeeton. The development has individual sculptures by O'Connor