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UK rental services provider Housing Hand is working with landlords and accommodation providers to try and calm the increasing anxiety around the impact of the Renters’ Rights Bill. Housing Hand will be hosting a solutions-focused webinar – Bringing solutions to the Renters’ Rights Bill for student accommodation providers – on 7th February 2025 at 11 am. The event follows the success of the firm’s December webinar, which looked at what the Renters’ Rights Bill could mean for property in the private rental

Award-winning housebuilder, The Hill Group, has announced the appointment of Alex Woolmore as its new Head of Planning. This significant hire comes at a critical time for the group, as the government looks to housebuilders to ramp up delivery to meet its ambitious goal of delivering 1.5 million new homes. In her new role within Hill, Alex will provide advice and guidance on planning-related matters to support the promotion of the Group’s strategic land portfolio and the delivery of its existing pipeline.

Dangerous flash flooding, rising water tables and difficulties accessing insurance are among the increasing flood risk challenges facing households across the UK. Experts at national trade body, the Property Care Association (PCA), called for a strategic approach to manage flood risk for homes in a bid to encourage better resilience from flood water as the Government aims to fulfil its manifesto pledge to build 1.5 million homes. The PCA emphasised the need for a cohesive strategy for assessment of flood

The ongoing cladding crisis has taken another concerning turn following the sanctioning of fire engineer Adam Kiziak by the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE). This development has raised serious questions about the validity of numerous External Wall System (EWS1) forms and Fire Risk Assessments of External Walls (FRAEWs), leaving many leaseholders in limbo. Suspension Sparks Scrutiny of Fire Safety Assessments In August 2024, the IFE suspended Kiziak for six months due to breaches of its code of conduct

Residential property transactions could become easier following the removal of the two-year rule for leasehold property extensions which comes into force today (31 January 2025) but lawyers have warned the necessity of proving ownership could be challenging due to Land Registry backlogs. This significant change means leaseholders no longer need to own their leasehold property for at least two years before applying for a statutory lease extension of a flat or house, or enfranchisement (purchasing the freeh

UK property and construction specialist Watts Group has hired Carl Pledger as National Director of Project Management.  Based in London, he will lead the company’s Project Management team across its seven offices, as it seeks to expand. Watts Group’s Chairman, Trevor Rushton, said: “Carl’s appointment marks a pivotal moment for us as we continue to expand our nationwide business by building on our core strengths and embracing new opportunities.” Carl, who has worked extensively in the UK and internatio

New findings from Leaders Romans Group's (LRG) latest survey reveal a balanced picture of landlord-tenant relations in the UK. Contrary to negative stereotypes often portrayed, the data shows that tenants view their landlords positively while highlighting areas for improvement in communication and responsiveness. The survey found that 55% of tenants believe their landlord provides quality housing, and only 12% view their landlord negatively. This aligns with a study by The National Residential Landlords A

Alarmingly, out of 138 workers killed in work-related accidents in Great Britain in 2023/24, 20 of these deaths were as a result of being struck by a falling object (RIDDOR and HSE, 2024). When it comes to non-fatal incidents in 2024, in the construction industry alone, this cause accounted for 10% of all accidents (HSE, 2024). Given these statistics, it’s therefore no surprise that external building maintenance and roof and facade inspections are currently a hot topic for property managers. Health and sa

As rising energy costs make it harder for households to keep homes warm, mould and damp are becoming persistent issues across the UK. Uswitch energy’s new Mouldy Nation Report sheds light on the scale of the problem, revealing the prevalence of mould complaints and its impact on residents’ health and wellbeing. Housing Ombudsman Complaints Between 2019/20 and 2023/24, the Housing Ombudsman received over 16,000 complaints about damp and mould, with housing association properties accounting for two-thirds (

South East property group, Beresfords, has appointed three key professionals to bolster its team and enhance service offerings across its divisions. These strategic additions underscore Beresfords’ commitment to growth and excellence in the real estate market. Alexandra Jenkins joins as Head of Marketing and Communications, leveraging seven years of specialised experience in property marketing. Her leadership will enhance Beresfords' marketing strategies across all divisions, ensuring a cohesive brand mes

Nirvana Maintenance, a rapidly growing facilities management (FM) provider, is proud to announce its strategic partnership with Dandara Living Management, one of the UK’s foremost Build-to-Rent (BTR) operators. Under a multi-year agreement, Nirvana will deliver full hard and soft facilities management services across Dandara Living Management Management’s portfolio of approximately 4,000 homes, spanning key cities nationwide, including Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Glasgow and Aberdeen. This highlights N

The government’s commitment to delivering over 1,500,000 homes across this Parliament is commendable but there are too many factors working against the delivery of the required buildings, experts at Principle Estate Management have warned. Principle Estate Management, with offices in Birmingham, London and the North West, manages a portfolio of 20,000 units at around 400 developments across the UK. Bob Simonds, business development director, said: “In general, the mood among developers is that they welcom