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QUESTION Dear Sir I have a problem persuading the other Directors/leaseholders of the Residents Company which owns the freehold to bring the existing lift back into working order. While the lift has been inoperative for many years its repair has always been deferred because of other expenditure despite a full obligation to the lift in the leases which were recently extended without variation. The majority of the 10 flats would benefit from the lift. Having got estimates including a reasonable renov

In the current climate of uncertainty relating to recovery of contractual legal costs the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) has provided welcome clarification via a recent binding decision. The case of Liverpool Quays Management Ltd v Moscardini involved three points of appeal.  Of significance was the decision made by the President George Bartlett QC on the issue of legal fees incurred for service charge collection. The Upper Tribunal had to determine whether the construction of the lease permitted the man

Cleaning and gardening are the two most contentious services that constantly get challenged for delivery of service. Gardening, work becomes ‘visible’ once the gardens have been mowed and the trees and shrubs pruned. The same cannot be said for cleaning and sweeping. It only takes a pair of muddy shoes to mark a clean and polished floor or a gush of wind that blows sand and litter on grounds that have been swept. Cleaning contractors are constantly up against complaints for not cleaning to an acceptable

The hunt is on to find the Best Builders’ Breakfast in Britain. Online tradesman-finding website MyBuilder, which has over 63,000 tradesmen on its books, is seeking nominations from plumbers, electricians, plasterers and painters for their favourite breakfast vendor, whether it is a traditional ‘greasy spoon’, transport café, hotel or a van by the side of an A-road. The winning café/diner will be named on 27 November 2012 and presented with a trophy.

Two property managers will soon be testing their levels of endurance in the aid of charity. Will Taper of Willmotts Chartered Surveyors will be attempting to cycle across the USA on a 2600 mile journey in 30 days, averaging about 90 miles per day. He is using the cycle ride to raise money for the Royal Free Charity and London Youth. Will has been saving for a long time to pay for all the expenses of this challenge, so all the money donated will go directly to the charities themselves. For more information

A new standards board, which will regulate the Home Condition Survey (HCS) and develop associated products, has been launched. The Property Surveyors Standards Board (PSSB) is the result of a joint venture by three industry bodies: SAVA (Surveyor and Valuers Accreditation), BRE (the Building Research Establishment) and the RPSA (the Residential Property Surveyors Association). The HCS provided by RPSA members, through its specialist panel of surveyors, is a detailed, comprehensive yet easy to read survey

Simon Woodroffe, the entrepreneur who founded Yo!Sushi is stepping into the residential apartment development world with a brand new concept called Yo!Home.  Inspired by design ideas he picked up when creating his Japanese influenced “capsule-hotel” - Yo!tel, Yo!Home utilises many innovative features to maximise limited living space.  These include a sunken lounge with flip up seating, a bedroom elevator and a disappearing guest bed. The stunning prototype, which cost Woodrofe a reported £200,000 to c

Residential Management Group has been appointed to manage the Lister Mills apartments, near Bradford in Yorkshire, a development by award-winning regeneration company, Urban Splash. The successful tender followed a tough selection process with eight other agents presenting to and being interviewed by both Urban Splash Directors and residents of Lister Mills. Janet Shane from Urban Splash, explained: “RMG currently manages in excess of 1,500 properties on behalf of Urban Splash, demonstrating our c

According to a recent survey, 71% of those living in flats have been disturbed by noise in the past 12 months compared to just 39% of those in detached houses. More than one in ten (11%) Britons who have been regularly disturbed by noise in the past 12 months complained about the din from neighbours walking on wooden floors, rising to one in four (25%) of those living in flats. The research was conducted by insulation specialist Rockwool. Paula Bateman, Corporate Affairs Director of Rockwool UK said: “Noi

In a major shake up of the private parking industry, the British Parking Association (BPA) has appointed London Councils to deliver a new, Independent Appeals Service (IAS) for motorists parking on private land. The agreement will provide an appeals service similar to that which is currently available to motorists who receive parking tickets on public land. Currently, if a motorist wants to challenge a parking charge received on private land, they must appeal to the parking company directly and if they st

The Office of Fair Trading, which has been investigating exit fees in the retirement leasehold sector, has said that the charges  were likely to be in breach of the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999 (the UTCCRs). Also known as transfer fees, the charge is incurred by the flat owner at the time of sale.  Fairhold, a major player in retirement homes sector, disagrees with the OFT’s view, but has provided undertakings to them that they will change how they charge and enforce transfer fee te

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