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Specialist property manager Lee Baron is pleased to announce the internal promotion of Tom Hardy to the position of Director - Head of Estates at Greenwich Peninsula. This appointment reflects Lee Baron’s ongoing commitment to building lasting relationships with clients and further strengthens its leadership team. Tom, who joined Lee Baron in January 2022, has been instrumental in overseeing the operational management of its largest mixed-use residential site, Greenwich Peninsula.   Lee Baron manages t

AI is revolutionising most if not all work industries, and construction is no exception. Advanced technologies, including machine learning and computer vision, are being implemented into various facets of the sector to improve efficiency in areas such as planning, safety, quality control and overall productivity. Although AI has the potential to revolutionise construction processes, what about areas of construction that remain beyond the reach of automation? One long-existing challenge in the industry is

Fast-growing specialist bridge lender Hilco Real Estate Finance (HREF) has closed a £17.1m loan to a London-based property developer to release capital from a mixed development of high quality apartments and a commercial unit in the capital. The loan, which was delivered at a 64% loan to value with a one-year term, has enabled the borrower to buy out equity partners and enables the developer to complete the sale of the remaining units with more flexibility to maximise their return on investment. The deal

Shaun Lundy, a seasoned health, safety, and fire risk management professional and Director at Tetra Consulting, has been appointed to the prestigious IOSH (Institution of Occupational Safety and Health) Presidential Team. IOSH is the world’s largest chartered body for health and safety professionals, boasting over 50,000 members across more than 130 countries. This global institution is renowned for setting standards, championing professional development, and leading the way in creating safer and healthie

Following the rushed Royal Assent of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024, further controversy has arisen. In the King’s Speech on 17th July, the new Leasehold and Commonhold Reform Bill was announced, but the full details of the Bill have yet to be released. We can expect more information on this in the near future. The current guidance highlights five key areas the Bill will address. We explore each of these in detail below. Enact remaining Law Commission recommendations to strengthen leaseholde

Birkett Long’s Intellectual Property department continues to grow from strength to strength with the qualification of Michael Pokrachynskyi as a Chartered Trade Mark Attorney. This milestone reinforces the firm’s commitment to offering clients unparalleled expertise in IP law, combining deep technical knowledge in patents and trade marks with the broad experience of a firm that has served clients for over 200 years. Michael has successfully passed all exams related to the Professional Certificate in Trade

It’s a well-known fact that exposure to natural light is better for our health and wellbeing, and clean windows playing a key part in this. But, clean windows do more than simply impact our health, they make a positive  contribution to the appearance of a facility, promoting a healthier and happier living environment for residents. In an era where wellbeing and mindfulness are on the agenda, this can then be a significant differentiator for property management organisations. Let’s face it, first impressio

New research from epIMS, the EPC and energy efficiency platform developed for landlords, reveals that private landlords in England are facing a total upgrade bill of close to £20 billion if they are to ensure that all privately rented properties meet the government’s minimum proposed EPC C rating by 2030. epIMS has analysed all private rental dwellings in England*, looking at what proportion currently hold an EPC lower than a C rating*, before calculating how much the nation’s private landlords are going

Comment from the Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners (ALEP) The leasehold property market has been under significant scrutiny in recent years, leading to changes and proposed reforms that could impact both buyers and sellers. Leasehold, whereby ownership is limited to a set number of years (rather than in perpetuity in the case of freehold) has faced criticism due to complicated legal structures and sometimes unfair practices. If you're considering buying or selling a leasehold property

Matthew Pennycock, Minister of State for Housing and Planning, has made a Parliamentary Statement regarding the future progress of the Freehold and Leasehold Reform Act 2024.  The Government have formally recognised the “significant complexity of the task” and that the legislation was rushed in at the end of the last parliament and as a result contains loopholes and unintended consequences that need to be resolved by primary legislation. What this means is that some provisions of the Act will not be in fo

Yesterday, Secretary of State Matthew Pennycook made a Ministerial Statement on the future of leasehold reform. Responding, Mark Chick, director of ALEP and a Partner at Bishop & Sewell LLP said: ALEP welcomes the ministerial statement which puts in place a timeframe and some objectives for the implementation of the Leasehold & Freehold Reform Act.  It is clear that government recognises that changes to leasehold legislation are more complex than were first envisaged and we welcome the acknowledgement

Commenting on the Housing Minster’s statement on Leasehold and Commonhold Reform, The Property Institute’s Chief Executive, Andrew Bulmer said: “The Housing Minister’s announcement today gives much needed detail on how and when Government will move forward with leasehold reform, which we have long awaited. This is welcome progress in bringing an improved quality of living and transparency for leaseholders. “The recognition of the need to drive up standards through mandatory professional qualifications for