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Brethertons solicitors, has undertaken the task of looking at the property management industry in detail to provide a benchmark of statistics that can be used for companies to identify where they sit against their peers. The survey was independently undertaken with a guarantee of confidentiality to reassure participants. The ‘State of the Property Management Nation’ survey was undertaken for the first time this summer by a team of 5 independent researchers to gain a better understanding of how the indus

Taking time off work, to let in a tradesman or receive a home delivery is often a problem for many busy apartment residents. Now, WaitingIn, offers busy professionals a convenient way to manage their more inconvenient domestic appointments. Alan Harding, a consultant from Notting Hill, said, “We needed a plumber fast, but my wife and I both work full time and it was impossible to take time off. We booked a WaitingIn sitter, and were very impressed. This is a fantastic service that offers peace of mind,

Rapidly growing residential managing agent, JJ Homes, has secured 2 large contracts (totalling 450 units) within 3 weeks. Managing Director Anthony Tokatly. said: “One of the new clients gave the new prospect a reference simply saying they were actually astonished at how fast the handover process was (4 days) and how the JJ team work ethic was in a class of it’s own”. One of the main reasons staff at JJ Homes are highly driven to impress clients is that they operate an employee equity share scheme, profit

Residential Property Trading Plc has announced the launch of an Investment Fund trading in UK residential property. The fund is aimed at sophisticated investors.

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