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Melissa Briggs, the leasehold campaigner and co-founder of CARLEX has returned to the front line after a period of absence for health reasons. Talking to News on the Block, Melissa has warned landlords and managing agents around the country to beware: now, she does not only have just the retirement sector in her sight. Melissa has unveiled a three-pronged assault on the leasehold sector, from a political, management and legal perspective.  CARLEX has been re-launched and re-branded as the Campaign Again

Residential and commercial property management firm, Chainbow, is expanding outside the Southeast with the announcement of its Leeds-based satellite office in North England, opening in February 2011. Chainbow currently manages 114 developments with more than 4,800 units throughout London and surrounding counties but demand for consultation work in the north has prompted the company to relocate longstanding staff member, Shebhani Hegde, to Leeds.   Roger Southam, Chairman and Chief Executive of Chainbo

“You might expect to get your money back if you just bought a new TV that did not work, or milk that was off, now you can expect this from Ringley”, says Mary-Anne Bowring, Managing Director of the Ringley Group. The Ringley Group manages nearly 10,000 properties throughout London and the South East and provide “on-line software for blocks who want to self manage” as well as a national “Service Charge Administration service” to smaller blocks. Ringley say that the guarantee is a response to the ever incre

A recent survey by block managers Urban Owners, has revealed that 70% of leaseholders are unaware of their Right to Manage their block. This is in spite of government legislation designed to give leaseholders more control over the management of their properties. The 2002 Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act is a no fault procedure allowing flat owners to take control of their block from their freeholder. The survey also showed that only 30% of leaseholders are satisfied with the management of the property

The UK’s digital switchover is moving forward with many regions having already switched and the remainder to follow by 2012. Research by Sky has indicated many private apartment blocks are not prepared since landlords have delayed preparations due to cost or are unclear about the preparations that are required. To prevent delays in the schedule, Sky has introduced a specialist switchover team to oversee a “smooth and affordable switchover”. Sky’s Shared Dish system, delivers digital TV signals to apartmen

The association of retirement Housing Managers (ARHM), in consultation with the Welsh Assembly, has officially launched a new Code of Practice specifically developed for the management of private retirement and sheltered housing in Wales. The ARHM Code aims to promote best practices in the management of retirement housing, from both private companies and housing associations, setting out clearly what must be provided by law and what else needs to be provided as good practice. The ARHM Code for Wales adopt

The federation of private residents associations (FPRA), a member of the end fuel poverty coalition, is backing the National energy action (NEA) Warm Homes campaign to protect the most vulnerable households from fuel poverty. The FPRA comments that millions of people still struggle to keep their homes warm, leading to health impacts and general wellbeing. The government has announced a programme aimed at addressing energy efficiency. The FPRA is now calling for changes to the landlord and Tenant act in al

Examiners marking the first ever masters’ degree in property management has spoken of the “high quality of the written assignments” that was received. The course, which is offered in conjunction with De Montfor University’s Leicester Business School was developed by the Residential Management Group (RMG). Hugh McGeever, Managing Director at RMG - who have also recently relaunched their corporate website - said: “RMG is passionate about raising standards within the industry and we look forward to a time wh

Leading property management firm Sanford comments that prime central London lettings are still met by excess demand, increasing double digits year-on-year. Landlords are beginning to return, driven by higher yields, increasing credit availability and strong capital gains going forward. Demand for rental properties continues to grow, but may slow in the second half of 2011 as more properties enter the market and reduce competition.

The leasehold advisory Service (LEASE) have recently updated and re-launched one of their key guidance booklets regarding services charges within Section 20 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985. The booklet is produced in cooperation with managing agent trade body, ARMA. Section 20 procedures apply to major works on leasehold blocks of flats when the contribution towards those works by any one leaseholder exceeds £250 or when a landlord plans to enter into a long-term agreement for the provision of servi

The federation of private residents associations is lobbying Government for clarification of The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 as it applies to leaseholders. The FPRA says that existing guidance can be confusing and sometimes misleading for those that are responsible for fire safety in ‘common parts’ of the buildings. In particular, the FPRA is critical of the fact that the law does not address fire safety within individual flats; the person “responsible” within a block for conducting fire ri

The reset certification Scheme (www.rcscard.co.uk) is an innovative and secure system that aims to revolutionise how the competences of individuals are verified when entering workplaces, construction sites and security conscious locations such as airports, retail centres and hospitals. The individual registers as a cardholder and their qualification certificates and documents are verified and uploaded to the RCS database. An RCS card can be then be verified by simply accessing the RCS website, allowing