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“We are working towards each Head of Business taking complete ownership of their individual divisions and the business leadership training programme is already proving beneficial in that respect.” Explains Nick Sharp, Group Managing Director at Barbon. He continues: “In a relatively short period of time, it has highlighted areas that need further strengthening, including the fact that our Heads of Business are still too hands-on -perhaps due to a skills gap across middle management in some divisions. “

According to Homebuyer Online’s recent studies, a quarter of all purchasers will end up out of pocket to the tune of £1,000 because of their own misunderstanding relating to the Homebuyer Report, designed to highlight potential problems with their new property. Homebuyers are under the impression that a bank or building society mortgage valuation and a Homebuyer Report are one and the same. "This is simply not the case", says Homebuyer Online's managing director and surveyor Hugh Greenhouse. "A mortgage

Paul Shamplina, Founder of eviction specialists Landlord Action believes decisions such as this simply encourage others to use the human rights laws to avoid eviction. “I am astounded by this decision. Many will be asking the obvious question: what about the rights of the landlord? In recent months, we have presented many case studies where landlords are facing, or are close to facing, repossession of their rental property due to tenants falling behind on the rent” Mr Shamplina, who founded Landlord Act

Freeholders living on a private estate with obligations to pay service charges for the upkeep of common areas, do not enjoy the same protection as leaseholders even though they are paying for the same service and possibly even into the same fund. The Government has passed a number of Acts of Parliament giving rights and added protection to leaseholders of flats that pay service charges which do not apply to freeholders. Indeed there is even a different legal term for a freehold service charge: 'rent char

Interviewed exclusively for News on the Block, Rebecca Bridle said it is “business as usual” for the operating companies within the Peverel Group after all the holding companies in the Group were put into administration in March 2011. The Administration happened soon after Peverel’s high profile owner, Vincent Tchenguiz was arrested by the Serious Fraud Office.  Mr. Tchenguiz was released without charge by the SFO and the administration was not directly connected with Mr Tchenguiz's arrest.   What was

Housing minister Grant Shapps recently gave a written answer to Parliament, confirming the Government’s preference for self-regulation of residential managing agents.  Shapps was quizzed by MP’s John Pugh, Laura Sandys, and Justin Tomlinson.   In providing his answers, Mr. Shapps said, “It is important that landlords and managing agents as well as other businesses operate in a socially responsible manner....We have considered the issue of regulation in the leasehold management sector and believe that the

The High Court has today dismissed an application from Kaupthing Bank to strike out the claim by the Tchenguiz Family Trust for damages in excess of £1 billion from Kaupthing Bank in administration.  Mr. Justice Burton explained in his judgement that the English Court has jurisdiction to hear the claim, which is subject to English law, and there are reasons why the English Court should determine the substantive rights between the parties – including liability for damages.  Vincent Tchenguiz said that he

Melissa Briggs, leader of the CarlEX campaign has responded to the announcement yesterday that Peverel have been placed in adminstration.  Speaking to News on the Block, Melissa Briggs said: "This is hopefully a great day for leaseholders everywhere in the UK and may now prove that the Peverel Group of companies has not been very well managed. However, we do not know who will take over Peverel - will it be out of the frying pan into the fire? "It is now a very good time to seek to form a Right to Manag

Further details have now emerged regarding the background to how Peverel has found itself in administration.  The day after the Serious Fraud Office raided the offices of Vincent Tchenguiz, Peverel owner, the Bank of America Merrill Lynch demanded repayment of a £124.6 million loan (plus accrued interest of some £11.4 million) within 24 hours. As a consequence, the Board of Peverel Group Ltd, a guarantor to the loan, had no choice but to appoint an Administrator. Vincent Tchenguiz, Chairman of Consensus

The Enfranchisemant & Right to Manage Awards 2011 are now open for entry.  The Awards recognise excellence in all areas of this important aspect of residential leasehold work.  There is no charge for entry and there a variety of award categories including: Barrister of the Year sponsored by Pemberton Greenish Chambers of the Year London Solicitors of the Year sponsored by Tanfield Chambers Regional Solicitors of the Year Solicitor of the Year sponsored by Knight Frank Legal Assista

Restructuring experts Zolfo Cooper have announced that they have been appointed Administrators of Peverel Limited (PL), Peverel Group Limited (PGL), Aztec Opco Developments Limited (AODL) and Aztec Acquisitions Limited (AAL). The announcement comes just days after Vincent Tchenguiz, the high profile owner of Peverel and its related companies, was dramatically arrested by the Serious Fraud Office in a dawn raid on his home and Central London offices. The Administration is not directly connected with Mr Tch

The dramatic arrest attracted worldwide publicity, and although comment on forums and in the blogoshpere has been mixed, commentators in national newspapers are exercising more caution in their reporting. Cahal Milmo writing in The Independent said: "It would be foolhardy to write them off just yet. Both men issued a strongly worded denial of any wrongdoing while teams of police officers were still combing their offices close to the Dorchester Hotel in Mayfair."   And Stephen Foley, writing in the same pa