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QUESTION I've got a flat that hit 80 years left on lease in July. I’d been in talks with leaseholders prior and struck a deal. Only now my solicitor had put the fear of God in me that's it's not great because it's not peppercorn. I'm fully aware it's not the best deal, but if I used an agency to do the work it would cost thousands. Anyway, my deal is, 4k to renew lease, £300 a year with an increase on RPI every 10 years. To take lease to 125 years. Is this a fair deal? Should I be worried? Currently it's

QUESTION We are shared freeholders and want to change an unclear clause in our leases. Can we draw up a Deed of Variation ourselves, or do we have to use a solicitor? ANSWER Although it is not mandatory for you to use a solicitor to draw up a Deed of Variation, it may be pertinent to do so. It seems to me you are experiencing firsthand the difficulties that can arise from unclear drafting and it would be a shame to repeat mistakes of the past. Deeds of Variation are important documents – they bind the cu

#MakeARacket at the LandAid MIPIM Tennis Classic on 16th March 2016 and improve the lives of children and young people.  The charity competition, in association with BNP Paribas Real Estate, takes place at the prestigious Cannes Tennis Club on Tuesday, March 16 to coincide with MIPIM, the world’s leading real estate expo, taking place in the south of France. So get your rackets ready and swap your suit for your tennis whites and socialise with likeminded tennis rackets for a great cause. The brain

The annual RICS and Macdonald & Company Rewards & Attitudes Surveys are the most comprehensive surveys undertaken for the property sector in the UK, Asia and The Middle East. The survey continues the success of early surveys making this the largest and most comprehensive survey of its type in the industry. We know the best and not just the stars of today but the stars of tomorrow! #BeConnected and participate today for your chance to win either dinner for two with an overnight stay at Sloane Squa

Nearly one third (32%) of Property Managers see technology helping to improving efficiency in the role in years to come, according to research carried out by Brethertons Solicitors. When asked which systems had revolutionised their way of working, Property Managers cited a variety of answers with the most popular being smart phones or tablets, and an online portal proving that the property management industry is keeping up with an ever-increasing mobile world.    Substantiating this trend, the proportion

We are pleased to announce that after an open tender, MLM have been selected by the St James Group and the Residents Committee to manage The Silkworks, a large mixed use development located in Lewisham, South East London. The property comprises 464 units with a mixed commercial base, underground car park, 24 hour concierge, on site gym and a complex communal heating system. MD, Michael Jacobs comments, “this development cements our growing presence in the South London market and allows us to showcase our

Post Boxes UK, supplier of letterbox and mailbox systems for apartments, has successfully introduced a range of secure, anti theft mailboxes within the last 18 months to the UK market. In response to growing demand from residents associations and managing agents, the company has expanded its range of horizontal and vertical letterboxes to include more robust and heavy duty units aimed at preventing mail theft and identity theft. Charles Riley, Post Boxes UK's MD comments, "Over the last few years, w

ALEP Autumn Conference is judged the Association’s best yet by delegates. ALEP’s Autumn Conference 2015 took place on Tuesday 20 October at the Royal College of Physicians in Regent’s Park. Hosted by ALEP’s Honorary President, Damian Greenish, the conference was attended by over 260 delegates. Delegates enjoyed lunch and networking after which Alex Greenslade of Leasehold Solutions, and ALEP’s founder and Honorary Secretary, gave a colourful presentation on non-participant funding in collective enfran

Many leaseholders are unhappy with the management of their block, but too few understand the solutions that are available to them. Leaseholders find themselves at their wits end, believing there is no option bar withholding their service charges, and then get caught up in debt recovery action. But there is another way. Section 21 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1987 allows leaseholders to apply to the tribunal for the Appointment of a Manager. This is a little-used mechanism, which provides a remedy fo

At some point in the near future nearly two million housing association tenants will get the Right to Buy or some version of it that enables them to buy their house or flat or one quite like it. Ignoring the rights or wrongs of the policy, or the financial or political implications for HAs and LAs, what are the management implications? Firstly, there is likely to be a flood of applications when the policy comes in unless it is clearly rationed. Twenty-five per cent of all council housing has been so

Cledor is a specialist in providing facilities management services to the UK property industry. Offering tailor-made services to a variety of clients from large commercial/residential properties that require large-scale operational excellence to smaller residential buildings is what Cledor does best. Essentially, Cledor offers residential concierge, porter, security, cleaning, gardening, caretaker, head concierge, building manager, estate manager, reception security, and more. All recruitment of any n

Have you noticed how many more doors now automatically open as you approach them? They used to be confined to airports and stations, areas where you could be lugging heavy baggage and struggling to open the door. Then many commercial properties started to install them, and now automatic doors in shops and offices are common place. In residential blocks, automatic doors are now frequently installed, often when an upgraded security requirement means that the main entrance door is quite heavy and laden wit