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From your perspective as the managing agent, you need to take care that you are not being led by the freeholder’s agenda When acting for an rmc, managing agents will often be asked by their landlord and its legal advisers to combine the ground rent debt with the service charge arrears. There are clear advantages to the landlord of this approach but it can cause problems for the RMC – and a potentially dangerous conflict of interest for the managing agent. Managing agents should consider carefully the impl

Personally I am happy to pay an extra £15 per year towards my home insurance costs to help support families devastated by flood damaged homes July should see the launch of the new government-backed scheme to tackle the issue of flood insurance for homes in areas at high risk from flooding. Welcomed by most, this scheme will ensure the availability of affordable flood insurance cover for approximately 350,000 homeowners in respect of houses they or their family live in, all or part of the time – or in cert

When should a tenant benefit from a landlord’s insurance? The recent case of Fresca-Judd v Golovina (QBD, 5 February 2016) provides food for thought for anyone concerned with the rental of residential property – and those who insure it. In the case, the tenant (G) took an 18-month lease of a cottage in Wiltshire. The tenancy contained a covenant requiring the landlord (F) to insure, and specifically required G to leave the heating on if vacating the cottage during the winter months. G moved in shortly bef

Gutter maintenance is often seen by homeowners and landlords as a thankless chore, and something they would rather not have to think about. Nevertheless, a little effort put into ensuring gutters are in proper working order can prevent the need for much more expensive repairs further down the line. Blocked gutters can lead to a multitude of problems, so it really is worthwhile undertaking regular checks. Badly maintained gutters can develop leaks, causing damp to spread to other parts of the building. In

All residential landlords in the UK must now conduct detailed ‘right to rent’ checks when granting new tenancy agreements. The checks, part of a crackdown on illegal immigrants, will require landlords to report tenants without the right paperwork to the Home Office. Failure to do so could leave landlords facing a fine of up to £3,000. All landlords will be required to make ‘right to rent’ checks 28 days before the start of any new tenancy. Landlords will be required to: Establish who will live at the pr

According to a 2015 government report, almost 1 in 4 small businesses were victims of a cyber-security breach last year The data security breach at TalkTalk last year highlights the significant and increasing threat cyber and data security risks present to businesses. And it’s not just large corporates that are at risk. According to a 2015 government report, almost 1 in 4 small businesses were victims of a cyber-security breach last year. Many businesses now feel it’s no longer a question of if they might

Where were you in 1989?  It was the year Deacon started trading.  Fast forward 27 years and it’s amazing to think how the business and the world has changed since then.    The average house price in the UK then was just £61,513.  Today it’s £288,000, an increase of almost 370%.  Mobile phones had only been around for 4 years - digital didn’t arrive until 1992 - and it was only in 1991 that the World Wide Web went live to the whole world.   As for Deacon, from a start-up team of just five the business has

Last year the Department of Business Innovation and Skills pledged to create 3 million apprenticeships by 2020. Many industries and sectors across the economy have seized the opportunity and become “Trailblazer” employers, offering young people an apprenticeship that is practical, relevant and paid. To celebrate the launch of the unique Housing and Property Apprenticeships, key industry figures and the Prime Minister’s Apprentice Advisor, Nadhim Zahawi MP attended an event in Parliament on 23rd February.

Christopher Last has joined the growing Landlord and Tenant team at Dean Wilson LLP, where he will be focussing on leasehold enfran-chisement and lease extensions.  Christopher joins the firm following six years at the Leasehold Advisory Service.  Christopher said, “I am very pleased to be joining Dean Wilson, a firm with such a strong reputation for its work in the leasehold sector for both landlords and tenants”. Ricky Coleman will shortly be qualifying into the same Landlord and Tenant department, wher

Bolton-based ground-rent specialist Landmark Investments Group has appointed David Lathwood as non-executive chairman. He will provide strategic advice and guidance as the company expands its activities, particularly new opportunities in the residential and commercial sectors. Lathwood is currently Lead Director of the North West for international commercial property consultancy JLL, where he is responsible for 175 professionals in the region. He is a member of the JLL UK executive board, which he joined

Deverell Smith has promoted Lucy Hewitt to Principal Property Recruitment Consultant. Hewitt joined Deverell Smith’s academy in 2014 to train in recruitment and property, before specialising in property and asset-management recruitment. Hewitt recruits for all levels from directors to junior/assistant residential property managers. Her new role will also provide leadership and mentoring to new members of Deverell Smith staff, while developing relationships with the team’s existing and new clients. Hewitt

Emma Liddell is taking on a new role as Associate and Senior Property Manager in the Prime Estates department at Savills. Emma has worked in most areas of residential property management over the years, and has recently been responsible for a team of property managers looking after high-end properties in prime central London. “I am excited to be playing a crucial role within the block management team and I look forward with much optimism to growing the team and becoming a figurehead for some of Savills’