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Almost 70% of people would like new-build properties to be better equipped for modern living, with people citing a desire for more storage, renewable energy, and pre-wired TV and broadband. The figures come from a nationwide survey commissioned by Sky to explore consumer expectations of new-build property against a backdrop of changing media habits and rapidly advancing technology. Broadband and TV services ranked in the top five essential services, just behind traditional utilities such as electricity, w

Attempts to replace the UK’s leasehold system with commonhold have failed to take off, according to experts. A roundtable meeting of the Leasehold Knowledge Partnership heard that the UK is one of only two countries to use the archaic leasehold system – which can lead to exploitation. The Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act of 2002 was supposed to usher in a new system giving people greater rights than under leasehold. But the meeting was told that while the Council of Mortgage Lenders had been enthusiast

Leasehold Assist has become the 200th member of trade body, ALEP. Leasehold Assist is a firm of chartered surveyors specialising in the valuation and negotiation of residential lease extensions and freehold purchases throughout England and Wales. Set up in 2007, ALEP set out to bring together organisations working within the leasehold enfranchisement sector to promote best practice and provide a badge of assurance for leaseholders and freeholders. Member firms include barristers, managing agents, solicito

Residential managing agent Rendall & Rittner has revealed it will save an estimated 477 tons of CO2 emissions each year after partnering with eco cleaning company, Delphis Eco. The company that manages 44,000 units across London decided to change all its cleaning products to the plant-based cleaning solution. This reduced the number of different cleaning products staff used by 40%, which in turn reduced the company’s environmental impact in line with its sustainability policy.Rendall & Rittner switched to

A modernist 1930s apartment building in London’s fashionable Hampstead was home to a spy network that gave away many of Britain’s nuclear secrets to Russia. More than 20 agents and informers lived in or visited the building – designed as an experiment in minimalist urban living – between the 1930s and 1950s. The information has come to light following the release of former East German files, and new information from MI5. Among the trendy left-wing intellectuals living and partying at the apartment block,

Tenants’ associations are being given the right to gain contact information from their landlord so they can reach out to other residents in their block with a view to joining the association. The move will boost the power of tenants’ associations, which have the right to be consulted on issues such as the appointment of managing agents and the level of service charges, and have the right to appoint a surveyor for advice. Under Section 130 of the Housing and Planning Act 2016, the secretary of a tenants’ a

A strengthened updated code designed to protect those living in retirement housing came into force on 1st June. The code of practice, sets out the statutory obligations for managers and the best practice they should follow. This underpins the Association of Retirement Housing Managers (ARHM) aims and objectives for raising standards in leasehold retirement housing and consequently improving the lives of older residents. The code will also promote a change in the relationship between manager and leaseholde

Freeholders will be breathing a collective sigh of relief following the recent Supreme Court decision in Edwards v Kumarasamy. The Court decided a landlord is not liable for his tenant’s injuries, occurring from a failure to satisfy repairing obligations, unless prior notice of the defect was received. The case concerned a landlord, Mr Kumarasamy, who held the head lease of a block of flats. Mr Edwards, an assured shorthold tenant of a flat, sued claiming damages for personal injury. This was allegedly su

Managing new build apartments is always a challenge. But when you have 600 highly demanding residents from 120 different countries moving in on the same day, there really is no room for error (pun intended). As TeamGB return from Rio with an unbelievably impressive medal haul, and with the Paraylympic Games due to commence shortly, here’s an all-to-familiar Olympic inspired reminder of some of the major problems faced by property managers: 1. Noisy Neighbours By far, the most complained about issue we he

QUESTION The block of flats in which I live consists of 32 flats, (31 leasehold and 1 manager). You will no doubt know that leaseholders share the cost of communal electricity.  We currently are in dispute with management regarding a considerable sum of money owed due to underpayment for several years.  Our budget forecast for financial year 2016/17 is £9,587.00 which is a considerable more than the 10 years up to 2013 when average annual cost was around £3,400.00. As the landlord has complete control ove

Charlie Kemble-Davies has joined the surveying team at Finnegan Property Services – the third this year – to help meet an ever-increasing demand for the firm’s expertise. A Chartered Building Surveyor with 10 years’ experience in the industry, Charlie began his career with an architectural practice in London, working on high-end residential properties. He later joined a commercial practice in Central London, where he was able to develop his skills in a broader range of building surveying disciplines and q

A property management specialist from Sheffield’s Taylor&Emmet LLP is to share her experience and expertise at a national workshop for leaseholders, held in the city next month. Solicitor, Cassandra Zanelli, the firm’s head of property management, will be one of three keynote speakers at the National Leasehold Group’s First Tier Tribunal Masterclass. This one day workshop, aimed at property officers and managers, will take place at Sheffield United’s Bramall Lane ground on September 14. It will provide an