Featured Articles

Get the answers to your questions and stay up to date about apartment building management with our featured articles and NOTB guides, on topics such as service charges, right to manage, buying your freehold, major works, building insurance and other issues about blocks of flats.

Q&A - Maintenance Issues 

QUESTION We are the owner of ​a flat since 2004 ​. For all th​e years since we lived there, when we required any maintenance we never get it.​ Can you please advise us what to do​?​ N.B: I read ​that directors cannot be over 70, our 2 directors they are over 70. ​ Is this right?​ RESPONSE Thank you for your enquiry. In respect of the perceived lack of maintenance issue you may have a couple of options. The first would be to commence proceedings against the landlord for breach of its obligations under

Property Managers raise money for Age UK 

Four of Farrar Property Management's finest and fittest property managers - Laurence Davies, Alex Chapman, Luke O’Connell and Andrew Taylor have been battling it out against other teams of golfers at Bush Hill Park Golf Course, in north London. They are raising money for Age UK Enfield, a charity which inspires, enables and supports older people to help them make the most of later life. Let’s hope the rivalry on the course doesn’t drive a wedge between participants – it’s all for a great cause!

The Enfranchisement & Right to Manage Awards 2014 - Winners Announced 

News on the Block are proud to announce the winners of The Enfranchisement and Right to Manage Awards 2014 (the ERMAS). The winners were announced on Thursday 22nd May 2014 at an awards ceremony and dinner at The Underglobe in London.  The Enfranchisement and Right to Manage Awards 2014 have become an important calendar event within the industry recognising professional excellence in leasehold reform work. News on the Block are in their 6th year of hosting the awards and are dedicated to acknowledging an

Q&A - Reserve Fund for Major Works 

QUESTION  Do you have any help to offer on the subject of Reserve Fund for major works? The problem is the compensation protection for individual Stakeholders of such funding under FSCS regs. I am seriously concerned that there are serious security ramifications where a reserve fund is built up for major works as opposed to a levy as and when those works are authorised by properly constituted consultation under s.20. I am also concerned by abuse of power by Directors who extend the period of appointment

Thriving in uncertain times

In the years following the debt crisis, the grant regime for funding the building of new social homes was drastically changed and more importantly, reduced. Yet one social housing provider has ensured a successful, growing portfolio by relying on a new business model founded on three principles. Look to the private sector: Consider ways in which private investment could help to fund regeneration and build new housing. An example of this is Swan Housing Association, which set up a new private company, He

Leasehold Enfranchisement Made Easier

In less than two months’ time, tenants seeking to extend their lease, or to collectively claim the freehold of a building, will no longer have to personally sign the Notice of Claim or Initial Notice - but only in England. The Leasehold Reform (Amendment) Act 2014 received Royal Assent on 13 March 2014 and will come into force on 13 May 2014. The Act will not apply to property in Wales unless, or until, the Welsh Assembly introduces its own legislation. At a mere 41 words, it is one of the shortest acts

The Future Looks Smart 

It is only in the last ten years that we reached the milestone that 50% of the world’s population now lives in cities. The current consensus is that by the middle of the century it will be around 70%. Furthermore, 10% of the world lives in cities of over 10m population. This rapid growth increases the pressure on the economy and infrastructure - including transport, education and health. Energy and food security will be major problems in many countries in both the developed and developing worlds. Add to

OFFICE MOVE FINALISES CENTRAL LONDON EXPANSION STRATEGY

Thursday 17th April 2014 sees Crabtree PM Ltd complete the move from their offices at 114 Rochester Row taking up residency at Warwick House, 25-27 Buckingham Palace Road.   With the lease at Rochester Row coming to an end, the move to larger premises confirms Crabtree's intention to expand in Central London. Crabtree recently saw the arrival of Louise Berwin as Operations Manager in Central London. Louise has over 25 years’ experience enhancing Crabtree's already established, well trusted service. Crabtr

The day the wind blew 

Wednesday, 12 February was memorable for all sorts of weather related reasons, however the lasting memory for us at Homestead on the North West coast is of the record breaking winds. As a property management company looking after 6,000 homes in the North West we knew that we were likely to be at the sharp end when we became aware of the forecast. The Met Office had given warnings of biblical weather so even before the phones started to ring on the morning of the 12th we held a quick meeting to discuss a

The Writing's on the Wall 

On 5 April, the new version of the health and safety law poster became mandatory. Employers have a legal duty under the Health and Safety Information for Employees Regulations (HSIER) to display the approved poster in a prominent position in each workplace or to provide each worker with a copy of the approved leaflet that outlines British health and safety law. What has changed? The 2009 poster replaces the version which was published in April 1999. The new poster and leaflet are more visually appealin

Preparing for the next Insurance storm 

Insurers have struggled in the block insurance market for some years to make money. And, while this has enabled many blocks to enjoy low premiums, the reality is that many of the UK’s largest insurers have lost too much money and are exiting from segments of block insurance. Such a reduction in competition usually can only mean an increase in premiums; but, coupled with continued uncertainty over the predicted deterioration of UK weather, this will probably also mean larger excesses for weather related pe

The Water Bill - Dealing with Flood Claims

It was the wettest January in 250 years and February did not fare much better. More than 1,000 homes were flooded by either coastal, river or groundwater flooding and this number is set to increase. The estimated cost of the damage is £1 billion - however this is a rolling figure. If we put the extreme January and February aside for the moment, generally it is getting wetter. Long term averages (of 30-year periods) show an increase in annual rainfall of 5 per cent (source: The Met Office). With 5.8 milli

© 2025 News On The Block. All rights reserved.

News on the Block is a trading name of Premier Property Media Ltd.

We use cookies to improve your experience on our site. By using our site you consent cookies.