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Katie Cohen, has joined Child & Child as a Partner in the Leasehold Enfranchisement Team working alongside Claire Allan and Lubna Islam.  Acting on behalf of a variety of property companies, private landlords, UK based and international investors and private leaseholders, Katie has significant experience in all aspects of leasehold enfranchisement claims and has specialist expertise in advising landlords and tenants in respect of voluntary and statutory lease extensions, collective enfranchisements and th

The Lord Chancellor, the Right Honourable Chris Grayling MP, has appointed Siobhan McGrath as President of the Property Chamber of the First-tier Tribunal. She will be based in London with effect from 1 May 2013, and will be known as Judge McGrath. The Senior President of Tribunals has agreed that until this time Judge McGrath will serve as Chamber President Designate. Judge McGrath was called to the Bar in 1982. She was appointed as a Fee-paid Chairman of the Social Security Appeal Tribunals between 1996

Put your mind to it and you can directly employ and source any of the services you need in property management. However, being able to do this largely depends on how much time and expertise you have, as well as the corporate infrastructure to manage direct employment. One of the property management services that have the most temptation for direct employment is porter, concierge and caretakers. Since the business climate is constantly changing, businesses must adapt and adjust operational functions to mi

JLT Specialty Limited, (JLT) has announced that Penny Jepson will be joining to manage JLT’s new Residential Real Estate offering. JLT is one of the leading players within the UK commercial real estate sector. Nigel Todd, Head of the Real Estate Practice at JLT said: “Penny is recognised as one of the leading players in the Residential Real Estate Insurance market and we are delighted to welcome her on board. By launching a specific UK Residential Real Estate Practice, JLT can focus our product offering t

Ground Rents Income Fund plc, a listed real estate investment trust (REIT) investing in UK ground rents, has announced it is now 50% invested following its IPO in August 2012. The fund has recently invested in several landmark new-build developments including Clapham One in South West London (for £1 million )and One Park West in Liverpool, acquired for £2.7 million. James Agar, Investment Director of Braemar Estates, Adviser to the Company said: “The Company has been successful in acquiring assets which

The Government has been challenged in the House of Lords on the existing costs limit in the LVT.  In a Parliamentary debate, Baroness Gardner asked Government Minister Lord McNally whether he was aware that “...when the leasehold valuation tribunal was set up, the aim was to make it within the reach of every leaseholder to be able, for the amount of £500, to bring his case to the tribunal?” and “...that now many landlords-whether they win or lose, even if they have no hope of costs-are charging their heav

A frosty chill settled on managing agents, landlords and flat owners across the country in January 2013 - and it was not caused by the snow.  Instead, the impact of the recent High Court decision in Phillips v Francis has caused confusion, doubt, despair, and even anger as a coach and horses was effectively driven through the existing major works regime.   Giving one of his final judgements before retiring on 10th January 2013, Sir Andrew Morritt, the Chancellor of the High Court ruled that, without app

The recent High Court case of Phillips and Goddard v Francis (2012) arguably turns the current agreed approach to Section 20ZA(2) major works on its head, with a requirement to consider qualifying works as a whole when seeking recovery of the costs through the service charge. Cass Zanelli of specialist property management law firm, Brady Solicitors, explains the potential impact of the case for property managers. Whilst major works on an estate have always been somewhat of a hot potato for managing agents

In recent weeks, there have been many column inches filled with people’s views about managing agents and how ‘regulation’ is needed to solve leaseholders’ problems. Whilst I agree that something needs to be done, I get upset by the common notion that “managing agents” are ripping off leaseholders – and “managing agents” need to be controlled. The upsetting part is the concept that “managing agents” are all the same – managing agents are all ‘bad guys’ – and by implication, I am a bad guy. In my 30+ ye

The winners of the The Blockinsure News on the Block’s Property Management Awards 2012-2013 (the PMAs) were revealed at a glittering award ceremony held at The Troxy and hosted by celebrity, Dominic Holland on Thursday December 6th 2012. We received a huge amount of entries for this year’s The Blockinsure News on the Block’s Property Management Awards, demonstrating the dedication and passion (and competitive nature!) of those working in the industry. During a gruelling session, the independent judgin

Vincent Tchenguiz and others are claiming around £200m in damages from the Serious Fraud Office. The damages  arise in relation to the unlawful entry search and seizures at the offices of Consensus Business Group and Vincent Tchenguiz home in March 2011 as well as the arrest and investigation connected to this. The BBC has previously reported that the annual budget for the SFO is just £33 million. Vincent Tchenguiz, said: “My reputation suffered serious damage during the 15 months between my arrest an

Ground rents are often described as providing a seemingly risk-free, high-yielding investment to the owner; however this is a common misconception amongst smaller investors or owners that have inherited a small portfolio or own them as bi-product of developing. The legislation of ground rent management is extensive. Designed to protect leaseholders from overcharging, it provides opportunity to dispute such matters at little cost. This can result in smaller freeholders being left out-of-pocket for i