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Cotswold Property Management Services Limited has received the national customer service quality standard, Putting The Customer First. The organisation, which provides property management services to both commercial and residential clients, is the only Property Management Company in the U.K., to have achieved the standard awarded by accreditation body, Customer First UK. The Standard ensures those being assessed are putting customers at the heart of everything they do, through looking at 3 areas of wo

Trinity (Estates) Property Management Limited and Chainbow Limited announce the merger of their block management business to create possibly the largest privately owned residential management firm in England and Wales. Trinity Chainbow’ is a new business venture that amalgamates Chainbow’s London-based block management experience with Trinity Estates’ national operations to provide property management to approaching 35,000 homeowners in England and Wales. The merger aims to benefit all leaseholders by poo

The outcome of a consultation exercise conducted by the Department for Communities and Local Government on proposals for increasing leasehold upper value limits has been announced. Upper value limits determine eligibility of residential long leaseholders to rights to remain in their flats at the end of their lease terms or to extend their lease under existing legislation. Although with just 17 responses, there was a low level of response to the consultation, there was general support for updating the valu

The Olympic Games start on 25 July and are sure to be a TV highlight of the year. However, with London switching to digital TV in April, landlords and managing agents of apartment blocks that aren’t yet digitally ready are being urged to make preparations now. According to Sky Communal TV Solutions, there are still private apartment blocks in the capital not fully ready for switchover. Some landlords are unclear on what needs to be done, have concerns about costs and find the whole process confusing. Bren

The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010 impose obligations on occupiers whose properties use septic tanks or package sewage treatment plants rather than connecting directly to the public sewer. Gemma James, Partner in the Property Department at Mundays Solicitors LLP explained: “It was intended to be compulsory from 1st January 2012 for all such occupiers to ensure their tank or plant is registered with the Environment Agency but this is now only the case for Wales because a form

Hera Management Services have been appointed to manage the prestigious Streamlight Tower in Tower Hamlets, London. Hera’s Managing Director, Suzanne Wicks, said “We are very excited to sign the management contract for Streamlight Tower. This is a fantastic opportunity for us to provide a first class, customer focussed and professional service for the residents of this award winning building.” A wholly owned subsidiary of Swan Social Enterprise Group, Hera combines expertise from the private sector with

The Court of Appeal The Court of Appeal has awarded £6,452.50 damages to a flat owner who complained about the actions of a lessee controlled management company. The disputes occurred at Framewood Manor, a luxury apartment development in Buckinghamshire. The Appellant, Mrs. Newman made a number of complaints against the management company alleging breach of covenant, including one of loss of amenity as a consequence of the nearby doorway to the swimming pool being blocked up due to excessive condensation.

Flat owners at Emanuel House have won a major case against Westminister City Council. The situation arose after the original contract value for repair and improvement work at the block escalated from £2.2m to an estimated £3.6m. As a direct result of these works Westminster City Council were seeking contributions through the service charge of between £50,000 and £90,000 per flat/leasehold. Landmark Leasehold Advisory Services was instructed by 35 residents to piece together and fund professional represe

The Ringley Group have recently produced a market research report into the ownership, services, management and running costs of apartment buildings in London. Here Mary-Anne Bowring shares some highlights.Apartment buildings There are currently 1,252 apartment buildings across inner London containing 30+ dwellings, 60% of which are in Zone 1 and the Docklands constructed during the last property boom. The balance comprises 2,123 smaller apartment buildings with up to 29 dwellings and commercial premises.

A new online property portal has launched to help individuals save thousands of pounds when buying or selling a property. Housetrade.co.uk enables individuals to sell their property privately, avoiding excessive estate agency fees and putting them in control of negotiations and viewings.

The most common insurance claim in blocks of flats involves water leaks. It is perhaps an accepted hazard of high-density, multi-occupancy, urban communal living. However, as this case study shows, in extreme cases water leaks are a serious problem damaging both property and wealth. Imagine a typical new build with 80 plus units constructed in the last five years, in the midst of the housing construction boom. It could be just one of many attractive new build developments that seduced purchasers with as

The existence of a head-lease in relation to a residential block of flats has considerable significance in a claim for a lease extension. As well as arguments to the value of the head-lessee’s interest, conveyancing issues are likely. When a sub-lessee claims a lease extension, terms will be needed for provision of services after the termination of the head-lease. When a head-lessee itself claims for a particular flat, there will be a surrender of the head-lease in respect of that flat, leading to argumen