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Curry & Partners have announced a merger with Bigwood to form a new partnership that will be known as CPBigwood. The new partnership will have a turnover of in the region of £8m, with a staff of 125 creating the largest independent Practice in Birmingham. Bigwood’s auction business and professional services side will combine with Curry & Partners speciality in residential and commercial property management.

The Federation of Private Residents Association (FPRA) has lobbied the Energy Bill Committee to make changes to current Government policy on energy efficiency.   The FPRA claim that the current policy discriminates against around two million leasehold flat-dwellers who are excluded from carrying out many home insulation initiatives as a result of conflicts with legislation or because there is no provision for this in their leases. Bob Smytherman, Chairman of the FPRA said: “...without further important

A decision of the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal (LVT) concerning the premium payable for a new lease on a flat in Birmingham which departed from the established principles of the Sportelli decision has been successfully appealed by Midlands Freeholds Ltd. The LVT had applied a deferment rate of 6%, “...expressly based on the fact the the location of the [flat] was less attractive than the one in Kelton Court and was nothing to do with the question of additional management responsibilities” which did not

Chainbow has collected another Block Management Award following the Letting Agency of the Year 2011 Awards. Judged by a number of high profile industry leaders, the awards this year included the category of Block Management, highlighting the increasing importance of managing agents in the residential sector. Chairman and Chief Executive of Chainbow, Roger Southam, commented, “It is an honour to receive an award for block management among letting and estate agents and proves we continue to be at the forefr

The Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) has decided in favour of landlord, Southall Court (Residents) Ltd, in a service charge dispute concerning roof repairs at a block of 48 flats. The Leasehold Valuation Tribunal said the building, “...has probably been the subject of more applications to the Tribunal than any other property in the country. In most years since 1999, there has been at least one application of one sort or another to the Tribunal..[and] ..the County Court”. The Tribunal reminded tenants of

Landlord Action has successfully gained possession of a property after one landlady’s six month battle against a serial offending tenant, highlighting again the crucial need to carry out thorough tenant referencing. In August 2010, landlady Mrs Finberg rented out her two bedroom apartment. Her rogue tenant, after paying two months’ rent up front, made no further payments, and made ‘decorative’ changes to the property without permission, and moved her furniture into the garden where it rotted in the winte

The Crabtree Group have been working closely with Carbon Footprint Limited to achieve status of carbon neutrality. Company owned vehicles were assessed, as well as air conditioning, refrigeration and recycling. They have successfully off-set their emissions and are now a proud carbon neutral company. Every member of staff is involved and encouraged to reduce their own carbon emissions.

Propman, the fully integrated property management and financial accounting software solution created by Grosvenor Systems in 1991, is celebrating 20 years of success. Since its launch, Propman has grown to be installed at over 175 client sites throughout the UK and is now producing version 12 of its software. The company provides personalised training and support to every single client, from single-user clients, through to organisations running 70+ users. Over the last 10 years Grosvenor Systems turnov

Managing agents, Chainbow and Ringley have both collected trophies for Block Management at the Times/Sunday Times Lettings Agency of the Year Awards 2011. Chairman and Chief Executive of Chainbow, Roger Southam, commented, “It is an honour to receive an award for block management among letting and estate agents and proves we continue to be at the forefront of the industry.” Ringley won the Gold Award and Chainbow won the Silver Award. Ringley Managing Director Mary-Anne Bowring was delighted, “At Ring

The law regulating the wording for Ground Rent demands required by Section 166 of the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002 has been amended in England, but not in Wales. Paragraph 3 of the Notes for Leaseholders should now refer to an unpaid amount of “....more than £350...”. Landlords and managers sending out notices, and leaseholders receiving them, should refer to the correction advice issued by the Stationary Office for the correct form of wording to be used. By law, ground rent is not payable u

Coutts & Co have developed a new method that shows the full economic cost of owning a home. Coutts predicts that house prices are likely to come under further downward pressure as interest rates are increased over the coming year at the same time as real incomes are still contracting. Coutts say the ratio of prices or mortgage payments to average incomes – are sending conflicting messages and mortgage costs alone as a measure of affordability do not take into account the full economic cost of owning a h

HMRC Transactions are currently running at less than 61% of the long term average, indicating just how quiet the housing market currently is. David Newnes, director of LSL Property Services, owners of Your Move and Reeds Rains said: “According to our research, the greatest fall in transactions has been for flats, which are the property type most frequently purchased by first-time buyers. They’re being hardest hit by the mortgage drought - despite the number of mortgages currently offering repayment rate