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A new standards board, which will regulate the Home Condition Survey (HCS) and develop associated products, has been launched. The Property Surveyors Standards Board (PSSB) is the result of a joint venture by three industry bodies: SAVA (Surveyor and Valuers Accreditation), BRE (the Building Research Establishment) and the RPSA (the Residential Property Surveyors Association). The HCS provided by RPSA members, through its specialist panel of surveyors, is a detailed, comprehensive yet easy to read survey

Simon Woodroffe, the entrepreneur who founded Yo!Sushi is stepping into the residential apartment development world with a brand new concept called Yo!Home.  Inspired by design ideas he picked up when creating his Japanese influenced “capsule-hotel” - Yo!tel, Yo!Home utilises many innovative features to maximise limited living space.  These include a sunken lounge with flip up seating, a bedroom elevator and a disappearing guest bed. The stunning prototype, which cost Woodrofe a reported £200,000 to c

Residential Management Group has been appointed to manage the Lister Mills apartments, near Bradford in Yorkshire, a development by award-winning regeneration company, Urban Splash. The successful tender followed a tough selection process with eight other agents presenting to and being interviewed by both Urban Splash Directors and residents of Lister Mills. Janet Shane from Urban Splash, explained: “RMG currently manages in excess of 1,500 properties on behalf of Urban Splash, demonstrating our c

According to a recent survey, 71% of those living in flats have been disturbed by noise in the past 12 months compared to just 39% of those in detached houses. More than one in ten (11%) Britons who have been regularly disturbed by noise in the past 12 months complained about the din from neighbours walking on wooden floors, rising to one in four (25%) of those living in flats. The research was conducted by insulation specialist Rockwool. Paula Bateman, Corporate Affairs Director of Rockwool UK said: “Noi

In a major shake up of the private parking industry, the British Parking Association (BPA) has appointed London Councils to deliver a new, Independent Appeals Service (IAS) for motorists parking on private land. The agreement will provide an appeals service similar to that which is currently available to motorists who receive parking tickets on public land. Currently, if a motorist wants to challenge a parking charge received on private land, they must appeal to the parking company directly and if they st

The Office of Fair Trading, which has been investigating exit fees in the retirement leasehold sector, has said that the charges  were likely to be in breach of the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999 (the UTCCRs). Also known as transfer fees, the charge is incurred by the flat owner at the time of sale.  Fairhold, a major player in retirement homes sector, disagrees with the OFT’s view, but has provided undertakings to them that they will change how they charge and enforce transfer fee te

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Crabtree Property Management Company have become the first managing agent to set up their own law firm using the new alternative business structure (ABS). The new firm, called Crabtree Law, recently received its licence from the Solicitors Regulation Authority and began trading in September 2012. The Co-Operative is the only other non-lawyer business operating a law firm under the ABS structure.In-house lawyer, James Naylor, a director of Crabtree Law explained his belief that there is demand in the indus

Prime Minister David Cameron has appointed Mark Prisk MP to be the new Housing Minister following the promotion of  Grant Shapps MP to Co-Chairman of the Conservative Party.  Shapps will also attend Cabinet as a Minister without Portfolio.  The move comes as part of the September Government reshuffle. Cornishman Mark Prisk is a Chartered Surveyor by profession, having worked in several large property practices including Knight Frank.  He also ran a successful business consultancy for 10 years before m

Dispatches, the Channel 4 investigatory program, recently broadcast it's investigation into flat living: Property Nightmare - The Truth About Leaseholds. The 30 minute tv show primarily focused on problems relating to maintenance and major works in blocks of flats - privately or publicly managed. Whilst the show was an excellent insight into some of the issues flat owners face, it only scratched the surface in terms of the information that could have been shown.  Leasehold ownership is a wide topic with m

An influential independent think tank has suggested that millions of leaseholders in Britain should be protected by an independent regulator and that this can be achieved for as little as £2 per flat owner. The policy recommendation came as part of CentreForum’s extensive report: “A new lease of life: making leasehold fit for the 21st Century” and coincides with the broadcast of the Channel 4 Dispatches investigation, Property Nightmare: The Truth About Leaseholds. Report Co-Authors, Chris Paterson an

Rendall and Rittner recently entered two teams for the Sense annual dragon boat race near Canary Wharf, London.  Rendall and Rittner supported this charitable event for the deafblind as part of their corporate social responsibility.  There were 18 teams in total. Each Team had 10 rowers and a drummer.  Team Rittner made the final, although Team Rendall was not far behind. The event raised some £27,000, of which R&R have were the highest fund raisers at nearly £5,000.  R&R is also involved in the y