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Premier Estates has won the prestigious Times & Sunday Times Best Block Management Gold award at the Letting Agency of the Year Awards 2014. A panel of 21 independent experts, chaired by the Property Ombudsman, reviewed several hundred entries from across the UK before deciding to bestow the honour on Premier Estates. “An extremely good all-round company with an inherent desire to provide excellent service” is how the panel described Premier Estates. It also praised the firm’s “excellent service”, its f

The UK’s largest property management firm, Peverel Group is rebranding as KnightSquare. As part of the changes, its operating property management companies are being brought together under one brand, to be known as FirstPort. Janet Entwistle, CEO of Peverel, said: “Bringing all ten property services brands together as FirstPort is a new chapter for the business. By uniting our businesses under one new brand, our customers will find it far easier to deal with us. “As a result of the hard work and commitm

QUESTION  I am a tenant in a privately rented flat. The flat was built in 2002 and I have been renting for 10 months. I have been informed by the property estate managers that they need to carry out plumbing works which are to bring the water mains that enters the flat directly into the kitchen sink, rather than via the storage tank as it currently does. This is to ensure we get wholesome water to the flat. My query is, if this hasn't been noticed since it was built, and my ten months of tenancy has been

QUESTION We are a medium size Managing Agents and we have had a similar issue come up with two blocks that we manage for independent freeholders. The first is a block of four flats  which needs major roof works and decorations. A condition survey has been carried out revealing many breaches of lease in the top flat in particular such as poor quality windows fitted without consent and holes punched in the brickwork to prevent condensation. We have served the first stage consultation letters to the le

The Livingcity Group of Companies has achieved certification in both BS OHSAS 18001:2007 - the international standard for Health and Safety that offers guidelines and tools to provide the best working conditions; and in ISO 9001:2008 - which is the international standard for Quality Management. OHSAS 18001:2007 helps organisations to identify potential hazards and implement preventative procedures which aim to reduce accidents, illness and therefore costs. Attaining certification shows that Livingcity’s H

With 18% of families renting privately in the UK, investors and pension funds are waking up to the opportunities of the Private Rented Sector (PRS) as an asset class. A panel of experts speaking at RESI, Property Week’s annual housing conference in Newport, Wales, said that a professionally built and managed PRS has much to offer both consumers and investors. Richard Greening, Chair of Islington Council Pension Fund, one of the first UK pension funds to invest in residential property said: “This is an a

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 us - editor@newsontheblock.com  To view a pdf of the Hot 100 in this issue please

RESI 2014 will be held on 10-12 September at Celtic Manor, Wales and they have announced that Brandon Lewis MP, Minister of State for Housing and Planning will be delivering a keynote address at RESI next week. You can read more about Brandon Lewis on their website and check out the full conference agenda. It’s not too late to book your place at RESI 2014 and we look forward to seeing you at the Celtic Manor. You can keep up to date with all the latest RESI information on their website and follow them

Sixty-five ALEP members and guests took part recently in the first annual ALEP Quiz & Fizz at Searcys Champagne Bar at the St Pancras Grand in London. Seventeen firms battled to win the ALEP Quiz Cup, completing general knowledge questions on subjects ranging from world travel to literary opening lines. Teams also faced multiple choice enfranchisement questions set by ALEP’s Honorary President, Damian Greenish, of Pemberton Greenish.  The winning team, Secret Seven, comprised valuer and solicitor member

RESI 2014, Britain’s largest residential property conference, has published its programme for this September’s event. More than 1,000 delegates are expected to head to Wales to hear leading voices from the property and political worlds speak. Notable guests include Housing Minister Kris Hopkins, former Housing Minister Mark Prisk, Capco’s Earls Court Planning Director Annette Simpson, Greystar Managing Director Mark Hafner and Grainger’s Development Director Michela Hancock. The event will be hosted once

There’s only one thing worse than a big bill. And that’s a surprise big bill. And worse than that, one where you’re not quite sure what you’re paying for. Yet it often happens when landlords carry out major or cyclical works. In many cases leaseholders find the Section 20 process confusing. Yes, it tells them works are taking place, but the emphasis on contractor selection and the prescriptive wording can mean they are left not knowing when, why or exactly what is going to happen. So what can you do to

Some certainty has been brought to anyone arranging terrorism insurance for a leasehold block of flats following the recent Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) decision in Qdime Ltd and Bath Building (Swindon). The property in question is a modern purpose built block of flats in Swindon. The freeholder, Qdime Ltd, was obliged by the lease to insure the building against (1) “.. the usual comprehensive risks in accordance with the CML recommendations ... from time to time”; and (2) “.. any other such risk as th