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Andrew Cleverley, a service charge accounts team leader for Principle Estate Management, has hit his fundraising target three times over for a charity skydive. He has raised £3,465 in support of their chosen charity for this year, the Alzheimer’s Society.   The skydive was held on September 22nd at Old Sarum Airfield in Salisbury. Andrew said, “After a weekend of uncertainty due to poor weather, I was really worried the jump wouldn’t go ahead at all, but the hours of waiting were worth it; once I was suit

Rising concern over mould and damp in rental properties is a real issue which wetter UK weather is only making worse – as the last 18 months are declared the wettest on record. A survey conducted by experts at Quotezone.co.uk has revealed 43% of renters have reported issues with mould or damp. 65% say they have experienced hazards in their homes while renting, with almost one in five saying despite their complaints, the problems remained unsolved. Landlords are being warned that failing to maintain their

This week the Legal 500 rankings for 2025 were released, which sees JB Leitch hold its high position in Tier 3 for property litigation, alongside some of the largest firms in the country.  For over 30 years, The Legal 500 has been analysing the capabilities of law firms across the world, with a comprehensive research programme revised and updated every year to bring the most up-to-date vision of the global legal market. The rankings are based on a series of criteria including notable cases, capability and

In today’s fast-paced property management world, fire and safety risk management is more critical than ever. Property managers and risk assessors rely on digital solutions to ensure safety and compliance, but not all risk management platforms deliver the same results.  That’s where RiskZen comes in - a platform that sets a new benchmark for innovation, efficiency, and ease of use. RiskZen is more than just another software tool. Designed by a team of seasoned professionals with considerable experience in

Congratulations! You've created your first batch of Resident Engagement Strategies, and you’re now hoping to move on to the next item on your to-do list - but did you actually seize the opportunity that creating your RES presented? A good RES should help Boost Engagement A well-executed RES, combined with the power of technology, should act as a catalyst for increased resident engagement.  In my former role as Head of Operations overseeing 10,000+ homes, I used to hear from fellow property managers that “

The final report of the Grenfell Inquiry confirmed what we have known for some time. Serious reform is needed to ensure a disaster like the Grenfell Tower fire can never happen again. That’s why there was all party support for the Building Safety Act 2022, which is now in force. For good reasons, the Act 2022 places significant duties on those responsible for looking after higher-risk buildings (those over 18m and seven storeys). Indeed, those duties might be considered burdensome. That’s why the Act expl

Principal Accountable Persons for high-rise blocks have been able to complete a Safety Case Report that “summarises the safety case for a high-rise residential building…identifying the building’s safety risks and explaining how the risks are being managed” since October 2023. It’s likely that most PAPs have now completed their safety case reports and have either been invited to apply for their Building Assessment Certificate or are waiting for their notification. Here we’ll be explaining what will go into

The FirstPort Group, the UK’s leading provider of residential property management services, has appointed Rocco Archidiacono as its new Head of Business Development to lead the Group’s new business services and bolster client partnerships. Rocco has joined The FirstPort Group from real estate firm Hamptons where he was pivotal in expanding its business development team across its network, playing a key role in aligning the company's residential and commercial arms. In his new role, Rocco joins the Busines

Construction is now underway on 189 low-energy affordable homes for local people at Deptford Landings in southeast London.   The fully affordable development will include 130 homes for social rent and 59 homes for shared ownership, providing housing opportunities for local people, including those on the council’s waiting list.   Residents will enjoy high-quality living spaces across three eight-storey buildings, complete with private balconies, a central landscaped courtyard, and large roof terraces on tw

Building safety regulations in the UK have undergone a significant transformation in recent years. Property managers, alongside the wider industry, have been tasked with navigating complex statutory changes which guarantee additional measures are in place for the safety of their residents.  The recent fire in a high rise building in Dagenham is a poignant reminder of the importance of fire safety in all residential buildings. Fleur Bowen, The FirstPort Group’s Director of Health and Safety, reflects on th

Adam Sanders explains why block managers should use consultants to help with safety cases, but that the key to success is the effective implementation of in-house management systems. In January I wrote an article discouraging hysteria about safety case reports, and promoting a more effective strategy for building safety in blocks of flats. My argument is that building safety legislation (the Building Safety Act and 31 pieces of associated secondary legislation) focuses on ensuring we know how buildings wo

Just a matter of weeks since the release of the Grenfell Inquiry phase 2 report we are seeing a lot of activity and commentary on the impact this has for the construction industry and wider implications for building regulations. Whilst we are now dealing with the wide-ranging regulations brought in with the Building Safety Act, it is becoming evident that the remediation of at-risk buildings cannot happen soon enough. Building regulations are detailed and complex documents, and their recommendations are u