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Flat owners exercising their enfranchisement rights, i.e. to acquire a new lease alone or the freehold collectively, have to protect their position by applying to the Tribunal for it to determine the terms absent an agreement having been reached within a period of six months from the landlord’s counter notice being given. Negotiations will continue alongside Tribunal proceedings. The Tribunal gives parties the opportunity to have the proceedings held in abeyance for a period of three months to give more t

Whether you are an employer looking for a new block manager or you are a block manager looking for a new employer, you have a potentially important decision to make.   You’ll ask yourself: Do I put my eggs in one carefully chosen basket or do I spread my risk? In other words, do I instruct one recruitment agent or more than one?   We look through the eyes of the candidate and the employer, at the advantages and disadvantages of ‘sole agency’.   Candidates For you as a block manager, client accountant or

Working alongside a block management recruiter when seeking new staff needs to be a seamless task. Both clients and recruiters will be discussing at length what is required to suit the company and the team that a new block management candidate could be joining. This is a crucial part of our recruitment process and is much more effective if not rushed. Both sides seek happiness in the perfect match.   There are many clients, within block management, that really don’t want to hear from a recruiter unless it

News on the Block is extremely sad to report that solicitor, academic and one of our awards judges Professor James Driscoll has died. James sat as a judge on the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) for 11 years and was also a prolific speaker at News on the Block conferences and awards events. He worked as a consultant solicitor with Trowers Hamlins for 20 years, where he advised on all aspects of residential landlord and tenant law.  James held a number of academic positions in England and in the USA,

Owners, leaseholders or occupiers are understandably concerned if there is the potential for pets to cause damage or a nuisance to other tenants. And they often seek clarity around the implications, conditions or exceptions that are deemed acceptable.   Most residential leases will include some form of restriction for keeping pets, whether this be from a prescribed list of animals permitted, obtaining written consent or an absolute prohibition on keeping animals in the property at all. As well as possible

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