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Estate agents delivering poor levels of customer service will be forced out of business by 2020 as a result of the growing number of quality, online based agencies emerging in today’s market. That’s according to Henry Sherwood, MD of The Buying Agents, who says high street estate agencies can no longer afford to charge high fees and deliver poor customer service. Sherwood said: “We are seeing an emerging trend in the growing number of sellers who opt for an online agent as a result of their own buying e

Legislative changes are coming into effect which will impact how energy inefficient properties in the private rented sector can be legally let. And the financial costs associated with these changes could prove significant for landlords. In the next three years the regulations, recently announced by Energy and Climate Secretary, Ed Davey, will require all private rental properties to meet a minimum energy efficiency standard - an EPC rating of at least ‘E’. If ‘F’ and ‘G’ rated properties are not upgraded

It is usual for either the landlord or Residential Management Company (RMC) to be under an obligation to place a policy to insure the structure of a building that is multi-let.  This obligation is usually dictated by the terms of the occupational lease granted in respect of the apartment and the lease will define the insurable perils to be covered by the policy. The practical operation of the insurance policy and claims handling administration can pose a number of challenges for managing agents.  Agents

New rules have been introduced to promote professional standards within the pest control industry. Members of trade body the British Pest Control Association (BPCA) must now meet strict criteria relating to their professional credentials. Simon Forrester, Chief Executive of the BPCA, believes the decision will help raise the bar both for members and their customers in the housing industry. He said: “The pest control sector is awash with people who are not true specialists in the field and that can creat

Government action to crack down on nuisance calls and aggressive cold-calling would provide a significant boost for small businesses. That’s according to call answering service alldayPA, which says some companies being targeted with as many as 30 cold calls a day. The firm says the significant increase in such calls is becoming a real problem for business owners, wasting time and therefore money as well as tying up lines needed to service customers. It is encouraging frustrated businesses to add their v

All limited companies must have articles of association. These set the rules company officers must follow when running their companies. They also regulate the rights of shareholders and are vitally important, particularly in the absence of a shareholder’s agreement. However, when the development of a new build block of flats is underway or when tenants launch a collective claim to acquire the freehold, the articles of association of that freehold owning company are unlikely to top the priority list. As

Chartered building surveying practice, Lc Building Consultants has launched a new unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) service, which uses drones to survey building elevations in real time. Clients will be able to use the Ascent service in areas including those where access would otherwise prove difficult or prohibitively expensive. It provides a unique perspective for Condition Surveys, Dilapidation Surveys, Roof Surveys, Defect Inspections and Specification Compliance jobs, and is an alternative to existing a

Britain has a rich history of architecture spanning through the ages with over 374,000 UK listed building entries. Due to the historical interest or special architectural design of these buildings, local planning authorities protect them to ensure they are not demolished, extended, or altered without special permission. One of the most famous modern day renovations of a listed building is the current conversion of the Battersea Power Station into residential apartments. This inspired the team at Able Skil

JJ Homes and Folio UK will be hosting a tennis tournament in the south of France in aid of property industry charity LandAid. The event will take place on Wednesday, March 11, from 10am until noon, at the Cannes Tennis Club. Well-known names from the industry will battle it out in a doubles match, while there will also be the opportunity to take part in a round-robin competition. There will also be hospitality to enjoy, sponsored by Assael Architecture. The action will begin with Darry Flay (Essential L

In a decision that will undoubtedly be applauded by the property management industry, the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) has found that a landlord may recover the fees of its managing agents, in connection with a claim, by leaseholders, to collectively acquire the freehold of a block, under Part 1, Chapter 1 of the Leasehold Reform, Housing & Urban Development Act 1993. The case concerned a block of 63 flats (and four commercial units) in central London. The leaseholders in the block served a notice on t

As the number of regulatory disciplinary cases against companies grow, so does the responsibility to maintain compliance at the property level. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has emphasised its tough approach to enforcement along with its drive to achieve “credible deterrence” – and its activity over the past year is certainly consistent with these intentions. 2013 showed a 50% increase in fines imposed during the previous year and 24 firms were fined a total of £467 million. 17 separate disciplin

Everyone who knows about property understands the importance of a Planned Maintenance Programme (PMP). Regular, carefully planned maintenance of a property is essential to minimise deterioration and ensure the building serves its purpose and retains its value over time. A good PMP covers everything from structural checks to redecorating and gutter clearing. This not only prevents any unpleasant and expensive surprises when things unexpectedly go wrong, but when a group of leaseholders are collectively r