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Chainbow, a leading residential property management company, is rallying behind its new business manager, Pauline Southam, who has been selected for a 2009 Ice Warrior Expedition to the Geomagnetic North Pole and will attempt to achieve two world firsts. Pauline aims to claim the title of the oldest lady to reach the Geomagnetic North Pole and will be part of the first all woman’s team of trained novices, if she successfully completes her mission in April next year. Pauline explains: “I wanted to do some

Wayne Morris of Towergate Risk Solutions, block of flats insurance providers, recently completed a 12,500 foot skydive on behalf of a number of charities. His team’s efforts raised more than £8,600 by the end. Wayne told News on the Block: “The experience is one I definitely want to repeat although it’s a bit hairy dangling legs out of the airplane at such a great height just prior to falling out – can’t go back now.”  If you would like to make donation call Wayne at Towergate Risk Solutions, North Lo

Prime Central London bucks the trend With all of the major house price indices reporting falling capital values, some encouragement came from the FT House Price Index that showed that London property prices are faring better than those elsewhere in the country. The index, which tracks completed sales rather than agreed mortgages, highlighted house prices across the UK dropped by 0.3% in July, but that the fall would have been double if the London data was removed. The report showed that London property p

7.18am: Find an overnight email that a property has had a flood. Why they don’t ring the Emergency number escapes me. They usually say they don’t want to bother anybody. I yearn to tell them the emergency number isn’t only for Tsunamis. 8.43am: I’ve volunteered to train a group of property managers for their IRPM exams. Hard work for them but there are incentives for passing. 9.27am: Relieve those manning the phones. Incoming calls “hunt” round the office until someone is found who can answer. Receive a

As a property manager you need to act fast because Mr Smith is angry, and quite rightly so, but you need to determine some facts because although graffiti is, in most people’s opinion, unsightly and an act of vandalism, some tags as they are known as, need to be removed quicker than others. You need to find out if the tag is in a prominent area where most people will see it, does it contain swear words, is it a racist comment or slogan, is it aimed at a particular person or community – if the answer is ye

The starting point is the case of Cadogan v Morris [1996] 4 All ER 643 a Court of Appeal decision in which it was held that simply putting forward a nominal figure (such as a pound) which could not represent adequate compensation in the particular case would invalidate the notice. Following Morris tenants have been advised (no doubt correctly) to obtain valuation advice in order to ensure that they put forward a ‘reasonable offer figure.’ This point was considered further in 9 Cornwall Crescent (London)

How can insurance provisions be challenged? Where the lease provides for inadequate or often no provision for insurance, Lease Variations should be considered (either by consent of all parties or by making an application to the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal).    With regards to landlords receiving often excessive commissions from insurers, where this is the case, it is often hard to challenge these although evidence can be used to show that the landlord is not negotiating the insurance premiums at arms le

Just when I’m about to drown in the sea of petty troubles of Seagull Towers, I see a lifeboat on the horizon. Managing agents! At last we’ve had our AGM and the choice of agent has been unanimously endorsed by all the residents. My fellow director, Jim Austin, did not resign, and Brian Thorogood, ex-director, ex-company secretary, ex-treasurer, serial resigner and prophet of doom, said nothing in opposition – despite the times in the last six months when Jim has told me anxiously ‘Brian says you’re going

Q Dear Sir As residents of Kings Court we unanimously agreed to self manage. Regrettably our landlord is also our managing agent. Having informed him of our decision he is refusing to hand over paperwork relating to the ongoing management of Kings Court, and funds held in our name. What pressure can we bring that will encourage him to forward the documents? Can we report him to the FSA regarding funds? The secretary, Kings Court A I assume the reference to self-manage is actually to the right to manage

Mr Wood and a number of his fellow leaseholders applied to the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal (LVT) for a determination of their service charge liabilities for the years 2004 – 2007. The extent of the challenge was described as “request fully detailed itemised dated of each charge on list (this had not been forthcoming), assess what should be covered by buildings insurances, establish which work actually carried out, and by whom. Proof of what has been paid to whom.” A list of disputed items was also attach

According to expert solicitors Eversheds, the report will deal another blow to the buy-to-let market, as the proposed new regulations, which could be implemented in 2009, are set to add administrative burden and higher costs for landlords. Under the proposed reform, all landlords will be required to join either accreditation schemes or professional associations – or use lettings agents. This is intended to offer greater protection for tenants who will be able to complain against their landlord to the rele

As the weeks roll by I see more and more why all residential managing agents end up the same. The amount of abuse and vitriol that comes from the keyboard and telephone receiver you would not believe. People shout, rant and rave and generally it is something else in their life that has triggered it! It takes a conscious effort everyday to remember why I moved Chainbow in to residential management and it takes huge motivation to protect and focus my teams. Do I regret the move? No, not at all and each