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Brett Williams, chairman of the Association of Residential Managing Agents urged managing agents to work closer with solicitors and surveyors in helping flat owners maximise the values of their properties. The remarks were made at a conference organised by the Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners (ALEP) at its Autumn Conference. Alex Greenslade, Honorary Secretary of ALEP, added: “Managing agents have regular contact with their clients, the flat owners, and are in a great position to exp

A new online forum has launched for ¯at owners, managing agents, landlords and their respective professional advisors. Flats Forum (www.¯atsforum.co.uk) allows users to discuss and debate the most important issues about owning and managing a ¯at. The forum is free to join and is offered in association with News on the Block.

Sky TV has thrown a lifeline to private sector managing agents (MAs) struggling to get their blocks ready for the digital switchover, by creating a new team dedicated to helping them. The Sky Switchover Team will offer a unique package of advice and support to help MAs choose the right digital communal TV solution for their blocks, and ensure it is installed and working before the digital switchover happens in their region. For more information about the Sky Switchover Team MAs should register their detai

Once the Right to Manage has been acquired by a block of flats the hard work really begins. As the Right to Manage process has usually been instigated as a result of unsatisfactory management of the building, it is not uncommon to find the flat owners apathetic towards Managing Agents in general due to previous bad experiences. The flat owners will need to decide whether to self-manage or instruct a managing agent of their own choosing. Generally, in all but the smallest buildings, it is advisable to inst

Residents at our retirement development in Bristol were becoming increasingly dissatisfied with our management company.  Dissatisfaction reached such a point that in November 2008 we decided that we had to take matters into our own hands.   Seven of us formed a working party to examine the options available to us and to explore in particular the potential benefits of Right To Manage. During our research we were recommended to the Kingsdale Group Limited; they manage some 2,000 properties across the countr

Firstly there is a physical test; the block must be a selfcontained building or part of a building. If it is not detached, 3 sub-tests must be met: 1. There must be vertical divisions with the adjoining buildings, 2. It must be capable of being redeveloped independently and 3. If there are shared facilities or services, they must be capable of being provided independently without significant interruption. As to vertical divisions, in the Finland Street case, the Lands Tribunal said that a minimal dev

Technically there is no need for leaseholders to prove mismanagement by a landlord. The right to manage is available, whether the landlord’s management has been good, bad or indifferent. But let us face facts, the only real reason for leaseholders replacing their management company is because they are not happy with the current situation. Often, there is history of mis-management or service charge complaints – and so the Right To Manage process can be somewhat adversarial. Usually, freeholders have a ve

The Right to Manage is a useful legal mechanism for flat owners to take control of their building where it has previously been mismanaged. The special In Depth feature in Issue 47 will explore the Right to Manage procedure, the role of the surveyor, and, importantly, life after the Right to Manage has been acquired. Normally, it is the landlord’s obligation to manage the common parts of the building and a managing agent is customarily instructed to carry out this function. Since 2003, flat owners in resid

One of the key ingredients for harmony in a residential development is to ensure that everyone gets on. It follows therefore that harmony among residents, will improve the chances of establishing a successful relationship with their managing agent. One of the main drivers for commonhold when it was introduced in 2002 was that it enabled residents to have more control and a greater influence over the management of their block or development. However what use is this, if there is continual discord among t

Does it look like the cleaners only ever vacuum and dust the stairways in your apartment block? It may well do, but look a little deeper and you may discover a whole lot more. Start at the front door, is it clean? The dirty finger marks from last week have gone, and the entrance steps are clean. Look inside, there aren’t any take away food menus, or home improvement leafl ets anywhere, the skirtings are clean, and so is the floor. Switch on the lights, they all work, and the light switch is clean.You ta

When advising our clients of their budgeting needs it is sensible to anticipate what major works may be required beyond the next 12 months This allows a reserve or sinking fund to be maintained at levels that avoid significant fluctuations in charges payable when works are due. This has been so successful with our managed clients that our building surveyors are continuously instructed on a number of properties for non-managed clients. The intention is to avoid unpleasant surprises and prioritise works in

The UK is officially in recession and property prices have reached an all time low; this is not great news. However, this grey cloud may have a silver lining for flats owners with long leases. With a stabilisation of property prices still to come, long leaseholders should seriously consider taking advantage of the slump in property values now and get their leases extended.WHEN CAN A LEASE BE EXTENDED? Subject to a few exceptions, all long leaseholders who have held their lease for at least two years hav