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A major new survey conducted by Total Property has revealed a detailed and multi-faceted picture of the growing challenges facing the UK’s private rented sector. The research, which gathered responses from nearly 3,500 landlords, tenants and agents, paints a picture of a sector under increasing strain as it anticipates significant legislative changes with the forthcoming Renters' Rights Bill. Total property is a market leader representing over 40% of the private rented sector. Its brands include governmen

Principle Estate Management has been appointed to manage a Grade II listed mansion block in London in the heart of Knightsbridge. Lincoln House is a prestigious residential development of 48 flats located on Basil Street. Rachael Hornby, property director - London at Principle, said: “Following a rigorous due diligence process, Principle stood out with its growing reputation for managing prime central London buildings and operational excellence. “The landscape of property management has changed considerab

Ollo, by social impact developers Capital&Centric, are working with Spike to streamline resident onboarding and enhance the living experience across its rapidly growing rental portfolio. Eyewitness Works in Sheffield which featured in Channel 4's The Big Interiors Battle, and Farnworth Green in Bolton have become the first of its communities to benefit from Spike’s end-to-end tenancy management solution, Spike Lettings and tenant engagement portal, Spike Living. Spike Lettings enables prospective resident

The latest analysis from epIMS, the EPC and energy efficiency platform developed for landlords, reveals that over 40% of landlords remain unaware that an EPC rating of C is soon to become the minimum standard allowed by law for private rented properties, and more than a quarter don’t know what their current EPC rating is. On 4th December 2024, the UK government announced a consultation on its proposed changes to the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating system which is currently expected to enshrine

The Building Research Establishment (BRE) – the leading building science centre – is calling for immediate support for homeowners to retrofit 12mn homes in England that do not currently meet adequate energy performance levels as part of the government’s upcoming Warm Homes Plan. New data published in the government’s English Housing Survey (EHS) shows that, for the first time in history, over 50% of homes now meet at least Energy Performance Certificate band “C”, a marker of reasonable energy efficiency.1

Proper Talk’s fifth outing on 30 January was another resounding success, drawing around 100 industry professionals together for a lively and thought-provoking panel discussion. The event kicked off in style, with attendees fuelling up on breakfast pastries before making their way into the plush Derby Suite at Manchester’s Midland Hotel for the main event. Jack Seton, Head of FlatGuard, set the tone by "shining a spotlight" on the invaluable work that block managers and their suppliers do in our sector. Wi

The Ringley Group, a leading property management and real estate consultancy, is pleased to announce the appointment of James Paul and Sabuj Sarkar to key leadership roles. These strategic moves are set to drive Ringley’s growth and further strengthen its position in the property management sector. James Paul has been appointed as Managing Director Ringley Fire and FM. Additionally, James is Operations and Partnerships Director for Ringley Building Surveying & FM, bringing extensive experience in fosterin

Homeowners who have recently purchased a flat have received a significant boost following a landmark legal change that allows them to extend their leases without waiting two years. This reform, part of the Government’s broader overhaul of leasehold and freehold regulations, removes a major barrier for leaseholders seeking to secure the long-term value of their property. Lease extensions are crucial as they not only increase a property’s market value but also make it easier to sell. Under the new law, leas

Issue 135 of News on the Block has now been published and is available for subscribers to read online. This issue of News on the Block includes a special Service Charges feature and a tribute to Ian Fletcher as he announces his retirement from the BPF. Some of the articles in this issue include:  Housing Secretary makes leasehold reform promise Special three-page feature, where we mark the contribution made by Ian Fletcher as he gets set to retire Why two-year lease extension rule matters Preparing a B

Principal Accountable Persons for high-rise blocks have been able to complete a Safety Case Report that “summarises the safety case for a high-rise residential building…identifying the building’s safety risks and explaining how the risks are being managed” since October 2023. It’s likely that most PAPs have now completed their safety case reports and have either been invited to apply for their Building Assessment Certificate or are waiting for their notification. Here we’ll be explaining what will go into

Ian Fletcher, Director of Policy at The British Property Federation announced his retirement from The BPF as of 31 March 2025. We would like to thank Ian for all of his hard work, contributions to the industry and his support to News on the Block as a long standing judge of our Property Management Awards for a number of years. Ian is a hugely respected member of the industry and his outstanding contributions and presence will be missed. Ian commented “I have been so lucky to have worked in a job that I ha

Service charges are the most contentious element of property ownership and it’s rare that property managers have raving fans. It’s no secret that leasehold laws are desperate for reform - the industry awaits more detail on what this might look like, but the next twelve months could well see some pivotal changes. Discontent around service charges is rampant and has been for many years – but the industry has carried on regardless and has failed to take heed, thereby forcing the government to take the lead,