Featured Articles

Get the answers to your questions and stay up to date about apartment building management with our featured articles and NOTB guides, on topics such as service charges, right to manage, buying your freehold, major works, building insurance and other issues about blocks of flats.

Lease Extension Fact Sheet

When to extend your Lease? If your lease is approaching 80 years remaining or less; and/or You are considering selling the property in the near future; and/or You want to maximise the value of the Property The best time to extend your lease is before the remaining years reach 80 years or less. Once the remaining lease term is below 80 years, the Landlord is entitled to claim 'marriage value' which will increase the premium you will pay. The more years left on your lease, the lower the premium will be

Q&A - Collective Enfranchisement

QUESTION I have the following questions relating to the Freehold Purchase where I live, as collective enfranchisement has been proposed. The building: The building is made up of 150+ apartments. The building is a converted hospital (building). The building, all flats, have a 990 year Lease. The buildings are Grade 11 Listed. Does this mean the freehold cannot be purchased? . Qualifying Leaseholders At least 50% of the Enfranchisement cooperative must be qualifying tenants. Are "Buy to rent" landlords cl

Q&A - Lease Extension

QUESTION I recently found out that I only have 46 years remaining on my lease in my one bed flat and it will cost me £60k to extend the lease to 100 years. I cannot sell the property without the full lease in case someone needs to take out a mortgage on it. I was wondering if there is a way to fund this in order for me to sell the property.  My credit is not very good therefore I am unable to remortgage or obtain a secured loan. I have 2 children, therefore need to sell and move into a bigger place as soo

Boundary Disputes - Protocol or Court

Concern has, over a number of years now been growing surrounding homeowners pursuing boundary disputes through the courts.  The reasons for the concern centre on the ever increasing costs associated with court proceedings and that such costs very often outweigh the value of the property in dispute. Whilst courts do increasingly encourage use of alternative forms of dispute resolution once litigation is underway between parties such as mediation, the best outcome for neighbours in dispute is often not to l

Landlords Beware: Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) are coming!

Background The Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015 (“MEES Regulations”) are an attempt by the government to improve the energy efficiency of buildings, which are a major contributor of greenhouse gas emissions, by setting a minimum acceptable standard.  The MEES Regulations are aimed at private rented properties (both residential and commercial). Under the MEES Regulations, the energy efficiency of a property is recorded in an Energy Performance Certificate (“E

NOTB talks to Simon Crewe, Managing Director of Millstream Management Services

News on the Block talks to Simon Crewe, Managing Director of Millstream Management Services (MMS), the leading provider of retirement housing management services in the UK.  1. What inspired you to get involved in the retirement sector? There is no denying it is a rapidly growing sector and it is one where the customer’s needs really do have to come first. Where will our rapidly growing older population live as they get older, how will we look after them and how can we help them enjoy an active and indepe

Leasehold Ground Rents

What are Leasehold Ground Rents? An annual sum payable to the Freeholder/Landlord on leasehold properties (flats or houses). The Ground Rent payable for a property is governed by the terms of the Lease. Historically, Ground Rents were a modest/nominal annual sum. It is common for Ground Rents to rise gradually over the Lease term to reflect inflation (e.g. every 25 years), however, recently Freeholders/Developers have started to introduce more onerous Ground Rents with more frequent increases. Leasehold H

Communities secretary announces crackdown on unfair managing agents

At ARMA’s Annual Conference on Wednesday 18th October, Communities Secretary Sajid Javid announced plans for a fairer property management system to protect leaseholders from the small minority of rogue agents. As part of this new call for evidence, Government is seeking views on whether a regulatory overhaul is needed to improve the professionalism of the sector and to protect consumers from unfair costs and practices. Citing examples of rogue agents overcharging leaseholders he singled out ARMA members a

Alison Stone joins McDowalls

After the recent arrival of Colin Horton at McDowalls, the firm hasn't stopped there and has recently attracted more talent by the appointment of Alison Stone, former director of north London based Prickett and Ellis Surveyors to form part of its strengthening leasehold and enfranchisement team.   Chris Baker, Director of McDowalls commented: "I've known Alison for many years and she is a strong valuer with a deep knowledge of lease extension and enfranchisement work. She is a tough negotiator and by he

Boundary and right of way disputes between neighbours

A person’s home is their castle and one which will be defended fearlessly. It therefore tends to follow that a homeowner will pretty much do anything to protect their home, and their rights to use and enjoy it, no matter what the cost. For example, boundary or right of way disputes between neighbours relating to residential properties normally involve two parties who will want to “win” at any cost, even if the intrinsic size or value of the land being argued about is relatively small. Unfortunately, this

The art of valuation goes hand in hand with the art of objectivity

A recent FtT case has put the spotlight on objectivity and a breakdown in communication.  To keep the team at myleasehold up to date with whys and the wherefores of the Tribunal world, we regularly download and review the latest decisions. One case that caught our attention is noteworthy not only for the pettiness of the dispute, but also how a lack of objectivity from one side and a breakdown in communication between the parties lead to a ‘slam dunk’ outcome for one. The case involved a flat in East Lond

1st Sure Flats and PM Legal to offer pioneering flood solution for ‘uninsurable’ blocks

In an industry first, North London-based broker 1st Sure Flats launches new flood insurance solution for blocks not covered by government-backed Flood Re scheme at the ARMA conference. With the incidence of flooding in the UK increasing year-on-year, anyone living in a high risk area relies on their home insurance policy to protect their most valuable asset should their home be damaged by flood water. The Flood Re Scheme, which went live in April 2016, is designed both to protect the insurance industry ag

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