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The idea of seeking out and logging CPD opportunities used to be daunting. However once started, it’s really quite easy, lots of fun and gives you an edge over non-IRPM members. A summary of elements of my CPD year follows.   January: A presentation by ILECS lift consultants – I learned about current legislation, statutory requirements and best practice for ensuring lifts are properly maintained on a day-to-day basis and long term.   February: A seminar by Tetra Consulting about the changes in the

Over the years we have seen the block management market change and mature substantially, from a job to a fully-fledged career opportunity.     Ten years ago there were a number of specialist managing agents, many of which were residential management departments bolted on to surveying firms whose focus was predominantly commercial property. Interestingly many took flight and sold their operations in residential block management only to complete a full circle starting new department, forging teams and c

You may well ask why a lawyer is writing about professional indemnity (PI) insurance. The answer is as legal advisers to the property management industry, we regularly see managing agents with inadequate or, worse still, no PI insurance in place. And a badly worded (or non-existent) insurance policy can impact heavily on an agent’s ability to defend claims from disgruntled clients. Simple errors can lead to substantial negligence claims that can not only hit your coffers but also do long-term damage to pr

ONLY 23% of the 1,252 large apartment buildings across inner London (containing 30+ residences) has either a Concierge or employs a full time porter, but more would readily welcome and subscribe to a similar service. This is the finding of recent detailed research into the ownership, services, management and running costs of apartment buildings in London. This figure is noticeably higher in prime central areas such as Kensington (where 80% of buildings have a Concierge) and Marylebone (with 60% of bui

“The landlord seeks to recover money from the tenant. On ordinary principles there must be clear terms in the contractual provisions said to entitle him to do so.” (Gilje v Charlgrove Securities) If there is any ambiguity in a lease, it will be construed against the landlord. The obligation to contribute towards an expense must arise “clearly and plainly from the words that are used”. If it does not, it will not be recoverable. A well drafted modern lease will expressly allow the landlord or manag

The most proactive way to deal with Section 22 of the Landlord and Tenant Act (LTA) 1985 is to be open and transparent with lessees about service charge expenditure from the outset so you as an agent voluntarily provide an alternative procedure to allow clients and lessees to scrutinize expenditure and reduce the possibility of service charge disputes. Section 21 LTA 1985 gives leaseholder(s) or secretary of a recognised residents association a statutory right to seek a summary of the service charge

Harlow based property management company Warwick Estates have recently agreed to build an orphanage in the West African country of Sierra Leone. Warwick Estates have invested over £100,000 in Sierra Leone over the last 2 years. Managing Director Craig Stevens talks enthusiastically about the new project. “When we first found out about the Mahanaim orphanage there were about 12 children being looked after by a remarkable lady called Melrose. Melrose herself is in a wheelchair. To my dismay there are no

A recent decision from the London Leasehold Valuation Tribunal highlights the problems caused when an individual leaseholder persistently brings service charge litigation with little or no prospect of success. The case concerned an application brought by Mr. and Mrs. Aitken for the Appointment of a Manager. They own two out of the 84 flats in Park South in South West London. Mr. and Mrs. Aitken had been responsible for a considerable amount of previous litigation concerning the building. The Aitken’s ha

A recent Lands Tribunal decision, Beitov Properties v Elliston Martin, has held that it is not sufficient for a written demand for payment of service charges or other sums, such as ground rent or administration charges, to contain the landlord’s name and the address of the landlord’s agent. Section 47 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1987 requires such a demand to contain the landlord’s name and address. For an individual that should be the landlord’s place of residence or place he carries on business; for

Specialist legal property management firm Brady Solicitors has secured the national Law Society’s law management quality mark, Lexcel, becoming one of only a handful of legal property management firms with the accreditation.   Lexcel is an optional, recognised accreditation scheme for law firms and in-house legal departments, which gives assurance that a practice meets high client care and business management standards. To gain and retain Lexcel accreditation, practices must undergo a rigorous initi

Your essential guide to recruitment. Some of this features articles include: Block management from job to career My CPD year Client and candidate tips for interviews Independent industry practitioners offer some advice in our comprehensive pull out and keep supplement about recruitment.

Bournemouth-based blocks of flats insurance broker Deacon has further demonstrated its commitment to supporting local young homeless people, by presenting a cheque for £13,717.07 to New Forest Nightstop Co-ordinator, Jude Todd (pictured third from the right). Ringwood-based New Forest Nightstop provides emergency overnight accommodation for homeless people aged between 16 and 24 via a network of volunteer households, throughout the New Forest. Deacon’s Marketing Manager, Dave Hitchins says, “As a spec