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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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Volunteering as a director of a Residential Management Company (RMC) can be interesting and rewarding, but it can come with its own hazards. In taking this role you expose yourself to personal financial risk. If you make a decision that turns out to be wrong and creates a financial loss, you could be sued. If you fail to comply with regulations – whether you know they exist or not – you can open yourself to legal prosecution. The likelihood of this happening is small, but the consequences can be serious

Managing agents are often tasked with being a Jack-of-all-trades when in actual fact, one of their primary roles is knowing where to go for help and guidance. A case in point is communal boiler systems most often found in ageing residential blocks that provide hot water and/or heating to the flats in the building. Most experienced property managers will know what it means to manage a building with communal boiler plant - this is especially memorable if the plant has unexpectedly gone down leaving residen