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A property management specialist from Sheffield’s Taylor & Emmet LLP has shared her experience and expertise at a national workshop for leaseholders held in the city. Solicitor Cassandra Zanelli, the firm’s head of property management, was one of three keynote speakers at the National Leasehold Group’s First-tier Tribunal Masterclass. The one-day workshop aimed at property officers and managers took place at Sheffield United’s Bramall Lane ground. The workshop provided insight into the methods an

The case of willow court  management (1985) Ltd v alexander [2016] 0290 UKUT (LC)(“Willow court”) in the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) dealt with unreasonable conduct during litigation in England. Rule “13” Tribunal Rules 2013 Rule 13 of the Tribunal Procedure Rules 2013 (“Rules”) may give rise to financially damaging consequences. Under Rule 13(1), where a Tribunal finds that: (a) costs have been incurred as a result of any “improper, unreasonable or negligent act or omission on part of any legal

The recent case of Leaseholders of Foundling Court and O’Donnell Court v London Borough of Camden and others [2016] considered whether the statutory obligation to consult was a requirement imposed on a superior landlord and, if so, whether it was necessary to consult individual leaseholders as well as the intermediate landlord. Foundling Court and 0’Donnell Court are parts of the Brunswick Centre, a Grade II-listed residential and shopping centre located between Brunswick Square and Russell Square in L

A recurring theme is the challenges of communal living and accepting each other’s foibles and traits. I have often argued that to live in a block of flats requires a mind-set and a discipline of give and take with your neighbours. I live in a block of flats and understand first-hand the needs and responsibilities flat-living brings. I have done so for over 15 years now and the lifestyle of one-floor living suits me and the lease is not a problem. It is a world of difference to the buy-to-let investo

In this special feature, we identify the most influential people in the residential leasehold property sector. Included within the list is a mix of leasehold campaigners, Parliamentarians, trade and professional bodies, managing agents, building owners, investors, developers, valuers, and lawyers among others. Let us know if we missed anyone out by emailing editor@newsontheblock.com A download of the print edition of the Hot 100 feature can be found at the end of the article. Entries have been gathered su

QUESTION Dear Sir, I am a director of a new RTM company. There are 11 flats in the building. Each of the leases of the flats state that the lessees have a 9.9% service charge proportion. This brings the total service charge proportions to 108.9%. Another director feels that this makes the leases defective as the total service charge percentage is over 100%. Under the circumstances, this director is pressing for lease variations for all of the residential leases. I have noticed, however, that just be

It is a well-known fact that a lease is a capital asset that has a market value but it is also a wasting asset in that its value will gradually erode as time passes. The fewer years there are left to run on the lease, the less it will be worth. However, there is a common misconception that when a long residential flat lease expires, the tenant must automatically vacate the property. This is not strictly true. When the contractual term of a residential long lease at a low rent comes to an end, then p

A ‘nice little earner’ could leave tenants at risk of huge damages or even losing their homes. Airbnb boasts an impressive 60 million guests, across 34,000 cities, in more than 191 countries. This equates to more than 2 million listings worldwide from hosts willing to offer, in the website’s own words, “a flat for a night, a castle for a week or a villa for a month”. In light of the number of leasehold apartments available in the UK’s housing market, many are being let via Airbnb or similar schemes.

With 25 years of experience in property management, The Property Management Company (PMC) based in Aberdeen has long recognised the importance of equipping its properties with communal TV systems and residents have come to expect it. As a result, all of its 4,500 units have access to TV services through a communal system. With the launch of Sky Q, the very latest in home entertainment, to the public earlier this year, PMC was quick to get in touch with Sky to find out how they could make sure their res

Colin O’Reilly has joined Qube Global Software as sales director, bringing with him 27 years’ experience in the property software market.  Colin has worked for large US companies for the past 10 years, including his previous roles as regional sales director for Yardi Systems and EMEA sales director for MRI Real Estate Solutions. Prior to that he was part of the management team for property management software specialist Fraser Williams, which was bought by Qube in 2005. “I’m delighted to be worki

As part of its vision to become the ‘legal firm of the future’, Brethertons has announced four new partners within the firm. Three of the partners are non-lawyers – an innovation allowed under the firm’s new Alternative Business Structure. This status also benefits clients by permitting the firm to offer a wider range of services than ordinary law firms. Instrumental in this new path is deputy CEO, and now partner, Sally Jones. In just one year, the firm says Sally’s vision for a modern, fit-for-pur

Former government minister Sally Keeble is to join the Association of Residential Managing Agents (ARMA) as its new independent regulator. She will chair the regulatory panel which oversees ARMA members and determines disciplinary outcomes of cases involving member firms.  ARMA is the leading trade association for residential leasehold managing agents in England and Wales. The current regulator, Keith Hill, said: “Sally is expertly placed to take over a role which is crucial for the standing and integr