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Where do you start with securing contributions? The first place to start is the lease: what does it say with regards to making demands? Are service charges to be demanded in arrears, in advance – or is it the leaseholders’ responsibility to carry out the work between them? Check the lease. Eg, if the lease says the service charge is to be demanded in arrears and is only payable once the works have been completed, you need to be absolutely clear as to who is responsible for the major works and how they w

Housing Associations have a major presence as leaseholders on many large, city-based developments. Well over £100m is paid by associations in service charges on these schemes to managing agents. A housing association, depending on your point of view, either has a proper long-term interest in the stock and its condition, or is hard to dislodge and seen as an entrenched and unresponsive interest group. Either way, housing associations are usually in the property for the long haul and at least consider the

From time to time you’ll have seen Anchor Door Systems vans either driving round London or on site and may wonder “hmm, interesting name, what do they do then…?” A few hours in the life of one of our chaps can help answer that one. “The office buzzes into life at 0800 and on a Monday everyone attends the latest Health and Safety briefing, be it new developments or reinforcing reminders. This morning there are no emergencies to attend to, so I collect the allocated job sheets and look carefully at what’s

Expanding managing agents, MLM have recruited two new members of staff ahead of a major office move. Rupy Jandu has joined as a Property Manager and Mahesh Kewal in their accounts department. The firm will be moving in May to a new larger head office in Premier House, Borehamwood.  The new office will accommodate the company’s expansion plans for the next 5-10 years and nearly doubles the current facilities in North Finchley. MD Michael Jacobs commented: “The next few months will be a very busy time at M

Developer and manager of rented homes, Essential Living appointed former Hamptons Managing Director Nick Underhill to its board. He will be closely involved across the development of the brand and business structure in creating the company’s lettings and revenue strategies. Underhill said: “I have total confidence in our strategy and importantly, I have the opportunity to influence the original designs of the homes we create rather than trying to adapt someone else’s buildings. The fact that nobody else

Simon Masters has moved from the Leasehold Advisory Service (Lease) to head the enfranchisement department of Finchley-based firm CG Naylor LLP. Masters worked at Lease for more than three years where he advised leaseholders, landlords and managers on all manner of leasehold related enquiries. “I am very excited to be taking the step back into private practice with a thorough knowledge of the relevant law and understanding of the issues faced by all those with an interest in residential long leasehold pr

Robert Denman has joined Liverpool property law firm JB Leitch as Head of Real Estate. An Enfranchisement and Right to Manage specialist, Denman joins the company following nine years at Goldsmith Williams, where he led the landlord empowerment team. He said: “I’m delighted to join the talented team at JB Leitch and I’m looking forward to continuing the growth of the real estate transaction arm of the firm.” Principal Solicitor Jonathan Leitch said: “Robert is an expert in his field and brings a wealth

Samantha Massey has joined Managed Living Partnerships Limited’s (MLP) senior management team as Associate Director. Among her duties, she will be responsible for business development. Massey has 20 years’ experience covering all aspects of the property management business, and in addition to her industry qualifications, she has a BSc and an MSc in Estate Management.

FirstPort has appointed Kelly Fox as Business Development Manager. Fox has more than ten years’ experience in the industry, and joins FirstPort after 18 months as New Business & Marketing Manager at Michael Laurie Magar (MLM). Before her stint at MLM, she held business development and senior property manager roles at Residential Management Group and Countrywide Estate Management. “It’s a really exciting time to join FirstPort,” Fox said. “The team’s dedication and enthusiasm towards our new brand is inf

The British Property Federation (BPF) has announced Duncan Salvesen, Director of Residential at Dorrington and Paul Winstanley, Partner, Residential Valuation, at Allsop as the two new vice-chairs of its Residential Committee. Current Chairman, John Coles, Co-owner of Evenbrook, steps down at the end of April, after five years at the helm, at which point Salvesen will become Chairman of the committee. Alan Collett of M&G Real Estate, Coles’ predecessor and vice-chair, also steps down. Melanie Leech, Chi

Daniel Tang has joined Judge & Priestley solicitors as the Head of Enfranchisement.  Daniel has previously been a Partner of two separate enterprising law firms, and has successfully managed complex freehold purchases and contentious property disputes as well as assisting developer clients and those with portfolios. Daniel also has particular experience with property management affairs. It is through this work that Daniel was privileged to win the “highly commended” Solicitor of the Year Award at News

International residential interior design firm YOO has brought in one of India’s foremost designers, Sussanne Khan as Creative Director. YOO says the new partnership is aimed at “creating desirable homes and hotels that result in increased value for developers and residents alike”. Khan has led many high-profile international projects, creating home, restaurant, office, retail, spa and outdoor spaces. John Hitchcox, founder of YOO said: “This partnership creates a unique opportunity to promote the very