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QUESTION In an enfranchisement process, Solicitors and Surveyors acting for the Leaseholders fail to communicate between themselves. As a result it is only ascertained after abortive Initial Notices have been served, that because of the design of the building within which the leasehold flats are situated, enfranchisement is not possible.  The leaseholders are now required to pay the legal / survey costs of the Freeholders incurred as a result of the abortive enfranchisement (£10,000.00 +) What are the

QUESTION We are still having problems with parking in our block and the only way out of this problem would be to make residents take a permit, but what I would like to know is if we would be able to charge the residents concerned who have extra vehicles. This way, they would have to pay just like if you go to a car park and pay and display. So is it possible as we do have the right to manage? Brian from Essex ANSWER  As to whether a charge can be made will really depend on what the lease

Success in the estate management profession results from ones ability to ‘serve’ those who actually own the properties for which the managing agent is responsible, rather than just managing the properties themselves. People have quipped that ‘estate management’ would be an easy task “if it weren’t for the people”.  However, managing agents need to embrace the opportunity to involve their ‘customers’ at every opportunity.  Managing agents have been given a degree if bad press in recent years with appearanc

Mary-anne Bowring explains the latest innovation in block porterage. With residents becoming more demanding these days and innovation being key to keeping them happy, a new Virtual Concierge product aims to add value to blocks. In essence, it’s a plasma screen installed at the entrance of a block, displaying useful information for visitors and residents alike. Only about 23% of apartment blocks in Central London boast a concierge, so at the moment there are pretty much just two types of blocks of flats,

With residents becoming more demanding these days and innovation being key to keeping them happy, a new Virtual Concierge product aims to add value to blocks. In essence, it’s a plasma screen installed at the entrance of a block, displaying useful information for visitors and residents alike. Only about 23% of apartment blocks in Central London boast a concierge, so at the moment there are pretty much just two types of blocks of flats, those that have concierge and those that don’t. Well that’s about to c

Bedbugs are becoming an increasing problem in flats throughout the UK. This is thought to be due to people travelling more often. Bedbugs can be easily picked up in hotels and transported back. Bedbugs are small, oval, flat, hard-bodied, flightless insects. They have well developed walking legs, so can spread easily between rooms or climb into suitcases so can be easily transported from one location to another. When they have not recently been fed a bedbug’s body is paper-thin and red-brown. After feeding

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Melissa Briggs, the leasehold campaigner and co-founder of CARLEX has returned to the front line after a period of absence for health reasons. Talking to News on the Block, Melissa has warned landlords and managing agents around the country to beware: now, she does not only have just the retirement sector in her sight. Melissa has unveiled a three-pronged assault on the leasehold sector, from a political, management and legal perspective.  CARLEX has been re-launched and re-branded as the Campaign Again

Residential and commercial property management firm, Chainbow, is expanding outside the Southeast with the announcement of its Leeds-based satellite office in North England, opening in February 2011. Chainbow currently manages 114 developments with more than 4,800 units throughout London and surrounding counties but demand for consultation work in the north has prompted the company to relocate longstanding staff member, Shebhani Hegde, to Leeds.   Roger Southam, Chairman and Chief Executive of Chainbo

“You might expect to get your money back if you just bought a new TV that did not work, or milk that was off, now you can expect this from Ringley”, says Mary-Anne Bowring, Managing Director of the Ringley Group. The Ringley Group manages nearly 10,000 properties throughout London and the South East and provide “on-line software for blocks who want to self manage” as well as a national “Service Charge Administration service” to smaller blocks. Ringley say that the guarantee is a response to the ever incre

A recent survey by block managers Urban Owners, has revealed that 70% of leaseholders are unaware of their Right to Manage their block. This is in spite of government legislation designed to give leaseholders more control over the management of their properties. The 2002 Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act is a no fault procedure allowing flat owners to take control of their block from their freeholder. The survey also showed that only 30% of leaseholders are satisfied with the management of the property

The UK’s digital switchover is moving forward with many regions having already switched and the remainder to follow by 2012. Research by Sky has indicated many private apartment blocks are not prepared since landlords have delayed preparations due to cost or are unclear about the preparations that are required. To prevent delays in the schedule, Sky has introduced a specialist switchover team to oversee a “smooth and affordable switchover”. Sky’s Shared Dish system, delivers digital TV signals to apartmen