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In 2013 a new First Tier Tribunal, Property Chamber will be introduced which will comprise: Rent Assessment Committees; Rent Tribunals; Residential Property Tribunals; Leasehold Valuation Tribunals; and Agricultural Land Tribunals. The Tribunal Procedure Committee of the Ministry of Justice is currently conducting a consultation exercise to seek views on the proposed rules for the Property Chamber. The proposed draft Property Chamber Rules 2013 aims to consolidate and reform the rules of procedure governi

QUESTION I have a query about the rationale for service charge amounts and whether they can be changed. I live in a block of 50 flats, where the owners have share of freehold. When I purchased my flat, I knew what percentage I paid and could see what other flats paid, but not on what basis. I assumed it was by size of the flat. I have since learned that there is no logic: it's not by square footage, floor, or anything that might make sense. Apparently, the original owner distributed the service charg

Ellodie Gibbons from Tanfield Chambers has become the first barrister to join ALEP (the Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners). Alex Greenslade, Honorary Secretary, ALEP explained: “On the basis that Tanfield Chambers and some fifty other barristers can lay claim to expertise in leasehold enfranchisement, we have amended our constitution in order to welcome barristers to the association.” Ellodie Gibbons said: “Philip Rainey QC and I were happy to assist the directors of ALEP in devis

Specialist legal property management firm Brady Solicitors has opened an office on London’s Tottenham Court Road, making it the closest firm to the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal and marking the firm’s first expansion outside of Nottingham. Managing Director Clare Brady explained: “We will be scaling up our London presence over the coming months and are confident that it will prove to be an important investment for the firm. It’s been a busy month as we have also launched our new website.”

Bournemouth - based blocks of flats insurance broker, Deacon, has announced that it has won a contract to insure a major new residential block; the Regent, situated in London’s trendy Battersea. Built on a brown-field site, 200m from the Thames and situated close to one of the capital’s best known landmarks, the iconic Battersea power station; the Regent is a new-build development by Linden Homes comprising 108 residential and commercial units. Managing Agent, Pentland Estate Management Limited ha

Property recruitment specialist Deverell Smith Recruitment hosted an Olympic Forum at the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) HQ, bringing together over 100 invited guests and a stellar industry panel which included: Liz Peace, Chief Executive of the British Property Federation; Dan Labbad, CEO of EMEA Lend Lease and Vernon Everitt, Managing Director for Marketing and Communications at Transport for London.  Andrew Deverell-Smith, Managing Director and Founder of Deverell Smith Recruitment

Simon Van Houten, a former property manager with managing agents Rendall & Rittner, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for a £122,000 fraud. Van Houten, a Parish councillor from Essex, pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to the scam in which he created phony bills for maintenance works to dupe his employers for over two years. A spokesman said: “Mr Van Houten abused the trust of clients and colleagues. Rendall and Rittner immediately reimbursed the small number of clients involved. We are delighted the pol

Two MP’s have recently raised issues of leasehold inequity in Parliament. The high profile comments mirror concerns raised by Baroness Gardner in the House of Lords (see News on the Block, Issue 60). Sir Peter Bottomley MP, who was later praised by Barry Sheerman MP, referred to leasehold property ownership and going to the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal as “...legal torture...”. He continued: “There are scandals that need exposing. We need publicity and better adoption of rules and guidance and, if nec

Government Minister, Baroness Hanham struggled to cope in the House of Lords as she faced intense questioning from Baroness Gardner and other Peers on legal protection for leaseholders.  When persistently asked why the Government had not yet implemented legal protection for leaseholders and when they planned to do so, Baroness Hanham uttered a selection of tepid responses including:  “We do not believe that it is necessary...” “...this was not our legislation: it was the legislation of the pre

The Supreme Court is today starting to hear the joint appeals of Day v Hosebay Ltd and Howard de Walden Estates v Lexgorge Ltd.  The issue being concerned is an important one in enfranchisement law, as it concerns what qualifies as a "house", and the decision could have far reaching implications.   To watch the hearing live, please use this link http://news.sky.com/info/supreme-court.   To read more about these cases, click here http://www.newsontheblock.com/buying-your-freehold/2241/hosebay-lim

Simon Van Houten, a former property manager with managing agents Rendall & Rittner, may be sent to prison after pleading guilty earlier this week at the Old Bailey to fraud.  Van Houten now awaits sentencing.

Vincent Tchenguiz, Chairman of Consensus Business Group, has been informed by the Serious Fraud Office that he is no longer being treated as a suspect in their long running investigation into the collapse of the Kaupthing Bank in October 2008.Tchenguiz was arrested by the City of London Police in a dawn raid on 9th March 2011. He was held for 14 hours, questioned for less than one hour, and released without charge the same day.Vincent Tchenguiz explained: “It is nearly 15 months since the SFO had me arres