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QUESTION  The Leaseholders in a block of 120 flats in Bournemouth have a serious problem with an overspend on a Major Project. The original costings for this project was just over £1m but the overspend is currently over 40% higher (£410,000.00) and likely to rise even higher. The Leaseholders are at their wits end not really knowing what to do and the FTT have been consulted by the Managing Agents to see if the overspend can be justified. Have you any suggestions? ANSWER Major works disputes like th

Metamorph Law Limited have completed a merger with SLC Solicitors (SLC).   SLC is a niche practice serving professional commercial and residential landlords and managing agents from its base in Shrewsbury. Its founder and previous sole owner, Neil Shearing, becomes a consultant to Metamorph Law. This division of Metamorph Law will trade as ‘SLC Solicitors, part of Metamorph Law’.   Metamorph Law’s CEO, Simon Goldhill, commented: “We are delighted to have added SLC to our business. SLC is the recognised ma

A new chief operating officer has been appointed by Warwick Estates as it continues its drive for new acquisitions. David Golderg, who has many years of experience at firms including Chestertons and Crabree Property Management, said he was delighted to be joining the company. He added: “With 120 new clients joining Warwick in 2016 and with a number of potential acquisitions due to take place in Q1 of 2017, I certainly won’t be bored! It’s exciting to join a successful award winning team and have the oppor

Tanfield Chambers has announced that Christopher Heather has been appointed Queen’s Counsel. With a broad expertise in real estate, easement cases, boundaries and industrial estates, Christopher is known for his expertise in professional negligence and enfranchisement work. Head of chambers, Philip Rainey QC, said: “We are delighted that Christopher’s expertise and standing in the field of real estate law have been recognised through his appointment as Silk. It is richly deserved and a fitting endorseme

The head of a homeowner association has been sentenced to two years’ probation and ordered to pay more than £50,000 in compensation after a concrete slab fell from a roof and hit a young mum. Andrey Kazakov was found guilty of negligence after Olga Klintsova was knocked unconscious when the block fell, which narrowly missed her baby, as she entered the block of flats in Russia. Olga, 32, has since been reunited with her daughter Katya after having to undergo gruelling physiotherapy sessions for seven mont

A property law firm has become the East Midlands only legal practice to hold membership of a professional body for legal advisers and residential leasehold enfranchisement practitioners. Nottingham-based Brady Solicitors has secured membership of the Association for Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners (ALEP). The body provides leaseholders with information on leasehold law and their rights as the owner of a leasehold property, and represents trusted and vetted practitioners that can  assist them. Lesl

Freeholders have been urged to review the terms of flat leases after an Upper Tribunal hearing allowed flat owners in a London block to upgrade a garden licence. The owners used the enfranchisement process to allow them to permanently enjoy the rear garden of their property. In the case of 4-6 Trinity Church Square Freehold Limited v The Corporation of the Trinity House of Deptford Strond [2016] UKUT0484(LC), the Upper Tribunal upheld a decision to allow the owners a permanent indefeasible right to access

A leading provider of retirement housing management services has been given top accreditation for the way it delivers information to  people who are considering  moving home. Millstream Management Services (MMS) has achieved the EAC Quality of Information Mark for every one of the 134 developments it manages. The EAC “QI Mark” accreditation is a kitemark that helps promote and celebrate all forms of retirement housing. Supported by the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG), it ensures that

Property management  companies are being urged to sign up to the UK’s first ever apprenticeship pilot in housing and property  management, which will benefit the industry “hugely”. A collaboration group has been formed by property management firm Rendall & Rittner, who is spearheading the pilot after championing apprenticeships through the Trailblazer scheme. The group will deliver a new Level 3 Apprenticeship Pilot Scheme in Housing & Property Management in line with the government’s  standards. Apprenti

Leaseholders are now able to apply to courts and tribunals for an order to reduce or remove their liability to pay a landlord’s professional fees as administration charges after changes to housing laws. Under Section 131 of the Housing and Planning Act 2016, courts and tribunals will be given a discretionary power to limit the ability of a landlord to recover the fees.

Flats are fast becoming the property of choice for consumers and make up nearly a quarter of all housing in the UK, new research has found. Unsurprisingly, the highest share of flats are found in London, which make up more than half (54%) of all the housing in the capital. The study, by Royal Mail’s Address Management Unit (AMU), was commissioned after Royal Mail noticed the number of flats – known as multiple residencies – added to the Postcode Address File (PAF) surged by 18% from April to December last

Earl Kendrick Associates are delighted to announce that Martin Barsley has agreed to continue at the company in the more senior capacity of Technical Associate. This promotion reflects both Martin's depth of experience and expertise, and the invaluable role he already plays in the development of the business. In addition to using his expertise to help clients with Building Surveys, Insurance, Licences to Alter and Commercial Property matters, Martin is a wise and trusted mentor to our graduate recruits, a