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Latest industry research suggests that over half of the blocks of flats in the UK are still unprepared for the digital switchover. This could mean that many thousands of leaseholders will be struggling to find a television signal when the analogue signal is switched off in 2012. The research was carried out by Sky’s Communal Television team. Sky’s specialist team visited 129 blocks, each containing between 4 and 66 separate flats (a total of over 3,000 individual homes), and undertook in-depth physica

From 6 April 2009, changes to the often criticised Home Information Pack came into effect. Sellers of leasehold property will not be obliged to provide any further information regarding their flat in additionto the standard HIP other than a copy of the lease (the inclusion of which became mandatory in January 2009). Although mandatory answers to questions about the management of the property were mooted by the Government, this has now been indefinitely waived. Kate Nicholls of The Council of Property Sear

As part of its ongoing strategy to increase focus on service delivery and efficiency, Deacon - one of the UK’s leading specialists in insurance for blocks of flats - has given its Claims Department a complete overhaul. Under the guidance of Claims Manager, Matt Wyatt, the inhouse Claims Department has implemented a major recruitment drive, recently taking on a team of new handlers. Combined with the introduction of new operational and administrative initiatives, the Claims team is able to ensure that p

Thousands of flat owners can sleep somewhat easier now that the Government has taken steps to protect their service charge deposits. In Issue 43, News on the Block’s headline article (Are your service charges safe?) reported about the risk posed to service charge funds held in the deposit account of a bank or building society that fails. Now, the Government has confirmed that service charge funds are eligible for protection under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) up to a maximum of

Consumer rights television programme, BBC Watchdog, has recently broadcast two programmes about the management of common parts in blocks of  flats. Disgruntled flat owners from around the UK appeared on the programme to complain about the poor levels of  service they had received from their property management companies. Flat owners appealed for help to protect their interests and advice was given from industry experts including the Federation of Private Residents’ Associations. Consideratio

The Enfranchisement Awards 2009 were held at a Central London venue on 18th May 2009.  The Awards celebrated excellence in the UK leasehold enfranchisement and lease extension industry and were presented by award winning BBC radio sports presenter, Garry Richardson. The independent panel of judges was comprised of Paul Marsh, the President of the Law Society of England and Wales, Robert Levene the Chief Executive of the Federation of Private Residents Associations and Georgiana Hibberd, the Associate

The Enfranchisement Awards 2009, are aimed at recognising excellence in the industry, and are the first independent awards in the residential leasehold property sector. The Awards are sponsored by Langley Taylor, Pemberton Greenish, Tanfield  Chambers, Bircham Dyson Bell, Marr Johnson and Stevens LLP and Wallace LLP. Interest in leasehold enfranchisement and lease extensions has been fuelled by a variety of factors over recent years including the recent property boom, changes in legislation and an active

BBC Watchdog - Property Management Program on Managing Agents Property management and the regulation of managing agents has been given high priority by consumer-rights program BBC Watchdog. In a program first broadcast on 20th April 2009, BBC Watchdog, focussed on groups of leaseholders who had experienced problems with their managing agent. The program was a follow-up to an earlier program called Mould Growing in Flats about leaseholder Carrie Murray and the problems she was facing in her building

1 Obtain information Firstly locate your lease. If you cannot find it, try your solicitor or thereafter the Land Registry. The lease should define the physical areas of your flat and the costs for which you are responsible by way of service charge. Collate all the service charge documents you have received from your landlord (and managing agent), in date order. 2 Consider the documents Read the lease and service charge documents and note how, for example, they show estimated or actual costs incurred

One of the problems of living in a managed block is that not everybody has reason or time to go looking in the bowels of the property for problems. Even if they did, they may not have the skills to be able to recognise the signs of low level pest activity. It is also difficult for one neighbour to tell another about rubbish disposal or maintenance issues without seeming to be personally critical. An external contractor can make these suggestions without there appearing to be any implied criticis

The law requires landlords to consult with tenants before incurring expenditure for works or entering into long term agreements for services.  Consultation is required if costs exceed prescribed limits. Landlords and management companies are often presented with a dilemma when urgent works arise but time does not allow for the consultation process to be followed. In appropriate cases, landlords and management companies can apply to the LVT to dispense with all or any of the consultation requ

In these days when ‘the credit crunch’ is a well used expression, it has never been more important to make sure that directors of self-managed resident management companies (“RMCs”) and managing agents keep firm control of service charge credit control procedures.January is the busiest month for service charge demands and RMC directors and managing agents are finding out this month that non payment is increasing. Undoubtedly block management is affected as money becomes less readily available and reduced