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Law firm Winckworth Sherwood is advising the UK’s largest housebuilder, Barratt, on the acquisition of Cannon Wharf, a major redevelopment site in Surrey Quays in London’s Docklands.  The site will see the construction of 679 homes, including 117 affordable homes, together with 70,193 sq ft of retail and commercial space. The development scheme will see the construction of nine housing blocks, including two towers 20 and 23 storeys high, an on-site nursery together with outside play-space and resident

The Rt Hon Keith Hill, the new Chair of ARMA-Q (the self-regulatory body for ARMA members), recently spent the day with award winning Kent managing agent, AMAX estates. During his day, Keith inspected a local site and toured AMAX Estates’ offices, which included spending some time with the accounts department, block management team, their  apprentices, firm surveyor and the founder and owner, Maxine Fothergill. The exercise was part of Keith’s induction to the property management industry as he and hi

Sussex-based Right to Manage Federation (RTMF) has successfully assisted the leaseholders of a multi-storey London residential apartment development – Metro Central Heights - to win the biggest Right to Manage (RTM) case the UK has ever seen. Metro Central flat owners were motivated by wanting more control over decisions and expenditures and despite many flat owners living overseas, 248 out of 422 leaseholders supported the RTM application.  RTMF’s Nick Bignell commented: “It’s a brilliant example

Law firm Boodle Hatfield has called for new legislation to enable the new and emerging residential property estates across London to build and maintain better places to live and work.  Partner, Andrew Wilmot-Smith, explained: “Placemaking is more than delivering just homes; it is about putting in place the structures that protect long term amenity and value. The traditional ‘great estates’ – for example Grosvenor and Howard de Walden are successful because they are more than just chunks of real es

One lucky Sky subscriber in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire has been revealed as Sky’s one millionth customer within a Sky enabled block of flats, and has been given a free Sky World package for the next year as recognition of this achievement by the company. When Kim Cleaver, who lives in the Canada Fields development in Broxbourne, learnt of being the millionth customer she was delighted at her luck, ‘This is amazing! I’ve had Sky for years now, but there was a period of a year when we didn’t have it and

Despite Government opposition, Baroness Hayter successfully tabled an amendment to the Enterprise Bill in the House of Lords that will introduce statutory regulation of letting agents of residential property.   The move was welcomed by the British Property Federation. Ian Fletcher, director of policy at the BPF said, “We hope that the Government will now work with the wider sector to put in place clauses it feels it can support. As with any legislation it is important that we get the detail right, and

Whilst “an unexpected result” has been the prevailing view amongst lawyers and other professionals not directly involved in the Supreme Court decision, some of the lawyers advising the leaseholders in the case have shared their unique insight with News on the Block. Stephen Crossick, Managing Partner at JPC Law, the firm of solicitors who represented one of the leaseholders, told News on the Block: “Contrary to first impressions, this case spells neither disaster for lessees nor triumph for landlo

Whilst the dust settles on the Supreme Court ruling in Daejan v Benson, reaction from around the industry has been forthcoming.  Cass Zanelli, from Brady Solicitors, told News on the Block, the “...outcome leaves a bitter taste for the leaseholders involved but essentially brings a healthy dose of common sense to property management law-making. Daejan sets a precedent for considering the degree of prejudice suffered by the leaseholders rather than the degree to which the consultation requirements were bre

>> Landlord awarded £230,000 for cost of major works >> Each flat owner liable for £46,000 >> Landlord to pay flat owners’ legal costs The Supreme Court has upheld an appeal of the Landlord today in the long-running case of Daejan v Benson.  But it was not an outright victory, as the Supreme Court reduced the amount the Landlord was claiming by £50,000 and ordered that the Landlord pay the leaseholders legal costs. The case involved just under £280,000 of major works at Queens Mansions, in Muswell

Build to let will be crucial in meeting the UK’s future housing need, Housing Minister Mark Prisk and Shadow Housing Minister Jack Dromey told the British Property Federation Residential Conference today as they underlined the government’s support for the growing sector.Prisk said that the government’s flagship build to let policy – which provides a £10bn debt guarantee and a £200m equity finance for house builders and developers – will encourage a wider range of investors to build homes for private rent.

Grosvenor Systems will be hosting their latest Propman seminar in Manchester on 5th March 2013, to showcase Propman X3, the latest version of their cutting edge property management software. Propman combines powerful accounting functionality with the day to day property management tools that all successful Block Managers require. Since its first release in 1991, this simple, easy to use application has provided the ideal solution for Block Managers looking to manage their portfolios more effectively, and

The next ALEP conference will take place on Thursday 7 March 2013 at the IET in Savoy Place. The event will be held in conjunction with ALEP’s event partner, Kerry London Limited, which was announced at the Seasonal Drinks Reception in December 2012, enjoyed by 140 guests. The conference will also be supported by News on the Block. Kerry London are Insurance brokers and are able to offer all ALEP members a discount on block insurance policies and undertake the insurance element of their enfranchis