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In response to Government consultation, the National Landlords Association (NLA) has advocated that Council’s should have extra flexibility to remove Council Tax relief on second homes and empty homes. David Salusbury, NLA Chairman, said: “At a time of severe housing shortage, it is imperative that empty homes are brought back into use, but this should not be at the expense of improvements which would otherwise be possible within the private-rented sector. Landlords are always keen to ensure that their pr

Residential Management Group is celebrating winning two key contracts. The property management business is continuing its longstanding partnership with CityWest Homes, following the award of a £9 million contract to provide facilities management to half of Westminster City Council’s housing stock. Darren Levy, Director of Customer Services from CityWest Homes, said: “We have worked with RMG for a number of years and have been thoroughly impressed with the high standards of service and the in-depth knowl

Crown Paints has produced a new brochure illustrating the company’s personalised products and services for block managers.The brochure includes an overview of Crown Paints’ Sustainable Smart Maintenance programme, which delivers cost savings to cyclical maintenance. Details of Crown Trade’s Timonox flame retardant systems and information on the company’s portfolio of brands are also provided, which offer a total solution for block management. Vernon Kinrade, Crown Paints Specification Sector Support Manag

Price’s Court, a 133-flat riverside development in Wandsworth, has become the first building in the UK to benefit from 1 gigabit superfast broadband speeds. The service has been provided by, Hyperoptic, the first broadband provider to make 1 gigabit download speeds happen in Britain. Alongside lifestyle benefits, the installation enhances property value as those wired with fibre will be far more desirable to tenants. It also future proofs the building. Zair Berry, Chairman at Price’s Court said, “We cou

London Assembly member Steve O’Connell AM is leading a special investigation on behalf of the London Assembly’s Planning and Housing Committee to understand the nature of service charges in London and the issues faced by the leaseholders who are required to pay them. The review will look at how work to properties is managed and consulted on, and the transparency of the charges that are levied. O’Connell said: “The issue is whether the charges are reasonable and whether they are being administered fairly a

A new edition of the RICS UK Residential Property Standards - the “Blue Book” - has been published. For the first time the Blue Book includes a section on property management to complement the RICS Residential Service Charge Code. This follows the recent launch of the RICS Residential Property Management qualification in June. The Blue Book, which has been developed in consultation with consumer groups and industry bodies, seeks to provide residential sales, letting and management professionals with bes

Following a recent spate of horrific fires in blocks of flats, a managing agent has called for greater powers to be given to property managers to take fire safety precautions. Danny Weil of managing agents, Parkgate Aspen, said: “At the moment, we have no control over the fire precautions in individual flats. As property managers, we should be allowed to install smoke alarms within the flats themselves and pay for them as a service charge item.  It takes time for the smoke from a flat fire to seep und

In a landmark case that will undoubtedly be a gamechanger for the property management industry, the Upper Tribunal has decided that managing agents must consider the financial impact of major works on lessees and whether to phase works so they become more affordable. The case (Garside & Anson v RFYC and Maunder Taylor) concerned proposed major works on the Frognal Estate near leafy Hampstead in London. Historically, the 54 unit building had not been properly maintained such that a scheme of major works

The UK’s digital television switchover is now in its final stages, with major TV regions such as Meridian and London set to switch by 2012.  Blocks of flats need to prepare for the switchover and Sky has developed a specialised Communal TV Solution which delivers digital satellite TV to each flat in a block from a single, discreet rooftop dish. Residents don’t need their own mini-dishes.  To help managing agents prepare for the switchover, Sky is offering subsidies of at least 50% on its Shared Dish solut

In the early hours of Wednesday morning a fire broke out in South Lodge, a block of flats in affluent St. John’s Wood, London managed by Parkgate Aspen.  Eight fire engines and over 40 firefighters attended the blaze, which took approximately 2 hours to get under control. [extra:quotes:boxoutcopy=1]   The London Fire Brigade explained that ten people, including two children, were rescued and approximately 150 people were evacuated from the building.  Two adults and two children had to be rescued by

A heated meeting has been held between distressed residents of Gibson Court and their managing agent, Peverel Retirement, following a recent fire which resulted in the tragic death of one resident.   Every property manager’s worst nightmare became stark reality on Friday 30th September 2011 when Gibson Court, located in Hinchley Wood, Surrey caught fire.  The building was subsequently gutted by the ensuing flames, killing one elderly resident. All of the residents (whose average age is in their mid-80

Delegates attending this year’s ARMA conference yet again heard calls for more professionalism in the property management industry, as a ‘new’ approach to self-regulation was outlined to members attending the annual trade conference.  Similar comments have been made at previous conferences. This time, Baronness Dianne Hayter of Kentish Town was tasked with delivering the keynote presentation. Baronnes Hayter, who had formerly chaired the now disbanded Property Standards Board, had been commissioned by AR