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A common misconception when people purchase their freeholds is they believe it to be the end of the story. This is often not the case and steps should be taken to protect the position. Why do you need new leases if you have bought your freehold? Although you may own the freehold of your building, the original leases remain in place. They cannot be “cancelled” as they regulate the legal relationship between the flat owners and the freehold company. Taxation Issues The usual position when purchasing the fre

Since 2002, leaseholders have had the legal right to take responsibility for managing their block under the Right to Manage. They are free to engage the services of a property manager of their choice or to self-manage their development. So far so good, but as Urban Owners point out in their online guide to RTM, with control comes responsibility. Once the RTM company has been set up, the directors must take on a number of obligations on behalf of their fellow flat owners. These responsibilities include: -

QUESTION ​I have a question in regards to leasehold responsibility. There is damp in my property from the Balcony to inside of the apartment. I think that the management company is responsible for this due to a poorly structured balcony. The management company say it is my responsibility and refuse to answer my emails.  I understand other neighbouring flats also have similar problems with dampness. Currently the flat is tenanted for a family with 2 children under 3 years. Is there anything I can do and wh

P & P Property Limited –v- Owen White & Catlin and others (“P&P”) Dreamvar –v-Mishcon de Reya and Others (“Dreamvar”) The eagerly awaited Judgment of the Court of Appeal in the P&P and Dreamvar cases was handed down today.   JPC Law represented P&P, a small ‘father and son’ property development company who fell victim to a substantial property fraud almost 5 years ago. They have now succeeded before the Court of Appeal in their argument that Owen White & Catlin (“OWC”), the solicitors who acted for the fr

Principle Estate Management, launched in Birmingham just one month ago by Brett Williams, has won the management contract for a 1930s art deco office building in Birmingham city centre that has been redeveloped into restaurants and luxury apartments. Burne Jones House on Bennetts Hill lies on the former home of Sir Edward Burne Jones, the 19th-century artist and designer best known for his stained glass works, including the windows at St Philip’s Cathedral. The seven-storey building, which holds a blue pl

Mark Allen has been promoted to Director of Operations at PMR (Property Management Recruitment). Dominic Rossi, Director at PMR (Property Management Recruitment) said: “PMR are delighted that Mark has stepped up to the role overseeing our teams working in residential property management, he has played a key part in creating the success that we have enjoyed.” PMR specialise in assisting both Residential Managing Agents, Developers and Right to Manage Company’s (RMCs) with On-Site Property Staff. Mark comme

QUESTION We are a block of 60 Private Retirement Apartments. We operate a RTM company and a vacancy has become available on the board due to a resignation with immediate effect. I am the only person to offer to fill that vacancy. I have 50 years experience in business in positions such as Chairman/Managing Director. The Board say they do not want to fill the position at this moment in time but I can apply in September.. The Directors operate a Quorum ? - they said at a meeting last October that they will

QUESTION I am a solo leaseholder / flat owner and a severe gale force storm recently blew in the window/patio door of my seafront- facing flat in East Sussex. The managing agents/landlords have refused all help to me to get my window repaired, including temporarily securing it. They requested pictures of the damage and when I sent them over, they rejected them saying that as it is damage to the window frame, not the glass and that I should have replaced the window myself and attended previously to servici

We are happy to announce the Judges’ list of Finalists for this years Enfranchisement and Right to Manage Awards, shortlisted from all entries received this year. Our independent judging panel have reviewed all of the entries and the scores are now in. The Enfranchisement & Right to Manage Awards have become an important calendar event within the industry and we are excited to be celebrating our 10th awards this year! We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the sponsors, judges and supporte

The former head of residential property management at CPBigwood in Birmingham has launched his own business. Brett Williams has opened Principle Estate Management to offer a national property management service, predominantly to modern residential apartment buildings and traditional blocks of flats. The firm has opened for business at Cornwall House in Lionel Street, Birmingham. Previously a partner with Curry & Partners until its merger with Bigwood in 2011 and subsequent sale in 2015, he was also chairm

QUESTION I want to ask a question about Fire Safety which is frustrating us. We're 30 flats in Oxford. The big block has 28 flats on four floors, using 4 separate internal staircases. The small block has two flats at 1st and 2nd storey level, sharing an external staircase. The block was built in 1996, the flats are compartmentalised, and all the fire doors into common areas are in good shape. We are flummoxed that all the advice from ARMA and the like says residents should stay put in the event of a fire.

Property industry leaders have urged the new Secretary of State for Housing to continue the good work of his predecessor in raising the profile of the sector. James Brokenshire was announced yesterday as the new secretary of state to replace Sajid Javid, who was named the Home Secretary following the resignation of Amber Rudd. And on the first day of his appointment, leaders from across all spheres of the industry encouraged Mr Brokenshire to hit the ground running and get on with implementing measures th