Featured Articles

Directors of a newly formed RTM company may be both apprehensive and excited at appointing a managing agent and keen to see an immediate impact on their development. How can you, as the incoming managing agent, handle their expectations and ensure a solid start to your working relationship? Colin Hussey, of Brady Solicitors, explains how managing agents can successfully manage leaseholder expectations, especially when dealing with early hurdles such as recovering outstanding service charge arrears. Leaseh

Pennycuick Collins has secured the management of Chadwick Manor, Knolwe from 1stJune 2018.  Chadwick Manor, approximately 1 mile due north of Chadwick End village, was built in 1875 for Gilbert Wilkes (1829-1882) and his family. According to the Birmingham Daily Post, 21 April 1883 the architect was Edward Holmes. Gilbert Wilkes's eldest son John, then aged 20, laid the foundation stone for Chadwick Manor in 1875. The Wilkes family fortune came from brass and copper mills at Bordesley, Birmingham with the

In response to rapid growth, estate and block management company POD has announced two new senior hires. Both joining the business from FirstPort, the UK’s largest managing agent, Ryan Collier will take the position of Operations Director, bringing a wealth of specialist experience in the large-scale developments and build-to-rent sector, whilst Andrew Froy has been named Director of Business Development.   A passionate and talented leader, previous roles have enabled Ryan Collier to develop a comprehen

It is often the case in collective enfranchisement claims that issues arise over communal areas. The recent appeal of The Corporation of Trinity House 2016 v 4-6 Trinity Church Square Freehold Limited [2018] EWCA Civ 764 highlights a problem concerning precarious rights over communal gardens and how these should be dealt with in collective claims. The statutory provisions that govern what can be acquired are found in Section 1 of the 1993 Act.  It allows tenants to acquire property which is not included i

As the country is increasingly developed and becomes covered by roads, pavements, and buildings, this increases the load we place on our struggling sewer network, treatment systems and watercourses from pollutants originating on the traditionally drained impermeable surfaces. At Albany Surveyors many of our Clients are striving to reduce their environmental impact. One way to achieve this is to lay permeable paving, patios and/or driveways. Permeable paving is a relatively recent introduction and is one o

Millstream Management Services (MMS), the leading provider of retirement housing management services in the UK, has appointed Wendy Martin as its new Area Manager for the South. Wendy will be responsible for MMS’ team of Lodge Managers across its Southern region, managing retirement properties for a mixture of large and small developers, Housing Associations, Right to Manage (RTM) companies, Residents Management companies (RMC's) and investors. Wendy is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Housing and h

Join Doyenne & YLP Summer Party on Tuesday 19th June at Jaks Mayfair for networking drinks until 9pm and then a DJ until 1am and yes, “Boyennes” are invited! When: 19 June 2018, 18:30 – 01:00 Where: Jaks Mayfair 43 S Molton St, Mayfair, London W1K 5RS, UK Follow the link below to secure your FREE ticket, these events sell out in record time so don’t miss out... https://www.leaseholdsocial.com/events

Ground rents have created quite the scandal, predominately focussed on leasehold houses, however attention has also shifted to the ground rent attributed to leasehold flats. The Communities Secretary announced new measures to crack down on what he coined abusive and unfair practices within the leasehold sector and it will be interesting to witness how, and if, these measures are implemented. In the interim the leasehold sector has continued seemingly unaffected. We must consider, that with the introducti

Property management and surveying firm Scanlans has strengthened its Leeds team with the appointment of Michael Willans as a senior property manager. Michael, 43, has more than 20 years’ experience of residential block management. He was previously a senior property manager at Hunters RBM in Elland, West Yorkshire. Before that he was a team leader at Eddisons in Leeds and then a director at Town & City Management in Darlington. He takes on a business development role at Scanlans as well as property manage

Right to acquire communal gardens and other appurtenant property The participating tenants in a collective claim are entitled to claim in addition to the freehold of the building, the freehold of property which at the relevant date the qualifying tenants are entitled under the terms of their flats leases to use in common. This property may comprise estate roads and paths, a communal garden, a swimming pool, a bin store etc. Landlord’s right to defeat the claim by offering rights in lieu However, by s. 1(4

Leaseholders who exercise their collective right to acquire the freehold of their block of flats often do so, at least in part, to rid themselves of their freeholder, with whom relations have deteriorated beyond the point of no return. In fact, it’s not necessarily the case that the freeholder’s influence will be removed entirely. For example, the freeholder may seek to exercise its right to acquire a 999 year leaseback of any unit which is not let to a qualifying tenant of a flat in the building. This mi

Short leases are an all too common problem for owners of flats when they come to sell their property. The root of the problem is that a lease is a wasting asset, which means that as time goes on it loses value. Even as prices in the property market rise, a flat with a shorter lease will be worth less than a comparable flat with a longer lease. This issue has come into sharp focus in recent years as the drive for leasehold reform has emerged from relative obscurity to become mainstream news. Gone are the d