Featured Articles

This month David Foster explains what you need to do to ensure your building is compliant with new smoke free legislation. There comes a time to us all when we have to take a deep breath and tackle a task so contentious and provocative that the very thought makes the knees go weak. This is my moment when I address the subject of the recent no smoking legislation and how it impacts on residential buildings. I am very aware that no topic is likely to raise emotions higher and that the opinions of the re

The average selling price of a flat has risen by 59% during the past five years, according to the latest Halifax quarterly regional house price index. During this period, the average flat price has risen from £125,587 during 2002 quarter 3 to £199,389 during 2007 quarter 3. Regionally, Northern Ireland has seen the sharpest increase in flat prices during the past five years with a rise of 106%, nearly double the UK average. Scotland (103%) and the North (94%) have recorded the next biggest increases. The

The team behind News on the Block has announced the launch of a revolutionary new service, www.yourblockonline.com This new website will offer property owners the opportunity to create their very own website, bespoke to their building or development. It will offer leaseholders, freeholders, resident associations, resident management and right to manage companies the chance to manage their property in an innovative and time-saving manner. Paperwork could soon become a thing of the past in blocks across the

Grainger keeps growing Grainger plc has bought a portfolio of 309 homes in East Dulwich, London SE22, including vacant units that will be brought back into use. Two thirds of the properties are subject to assured-shorthold tenancies and over 50 are subject to regulated or assured tenancies. The majority of properties are situated around a private garden square. Grainger intends to refurbish and let 14 vacant units on assured shorthold tenancies, putting much needed homes back into the local market. Commen

Robert Plumb, CEO of HML Holdings plc, likes to keep his property management business simple and streamlined, but always with an eye on growth and acquisition. Tell us how you came to work in property management? I started my career as a chartered accountant with Ernst & Young before moving into financial services. In 2000 the company I ran was sold and I was headhunted to run a property services business called Hercules. It was the forerunner of the Erinaceous model. The management had an acquisition str

News on the Block reports on the 12th annual ARMA conference, and considers how far the event has come since the inaugural gathering in 1996. This year’s annual conference of the Association of Residential Managing Agents (ARMA) was a far cry from its first event in 1996. Twelve years ago there were a mere 75 delegates, last month there were more than 520; the first venue was a small hotel on the A1 north of London, now it is at the flagship venue of the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in Central Lon

John Mills from the Association of Retirement Housing Managers (ARHM) discusses what the digital switchover means for the UK’s elderly population. The prospect of digital switchover is a major concern for managers and residents of retirement housing. With an average age of owners reaching nearly 80 and many in their 90s with no close relatives, some could be left without any TV pictures. There may be a new generation of silver surfers but many owners of retirement housing are not bothered about the multit

Samantha Simpson, property manager at Countrywide Property Management, explains the specific challenges when managing property that happens to float on water. There is a bit of Arthur Ransome in most of us, and messing about in boats is one of our favourite national pastimes. Whether we’re serious sailors, weekenders, or simply someone who enjoys a gin and tonic watching the world go by as they sit on their static craft – like us, our boats need a home, somewhere to be moored. From gin palaces and sle

It has been an action packed month. We have had Resi ‘07 down at Celtic Manor in Newport, Wales, which was the first major conference for the residential sector. Thank goodness that at long last it appears the importance of block management is starting to move up the agenda. Mainly because of the potential for adverse situations to arise if it is not done properly. Chainbow has played host to the Department of Communities and Local Government for a day to show them what block management entails and to hig

Welcome to the second volume of The Little Red Book – who’s who in property management. The directory lists more than 130 managing agents, as well as providing expert advice on how to select the right managing agent for your block, what questions you should be asking and what to do if your relationship with your current agent breaks down. As well as publishing News on the Block magazine, we have launched a new website at www.yourblockonline.com – this provides an innovative new service that allows residen

Whether purpose-built or a converted house, buildings containing long leasehold flats do not manage themselves, writes David Hewett of the Association of Residential Managing Agents (ARMA). The management of long leasehold residential property is a complex business requiring a full understanding of the structure and meaning of leases, a thorough knowledge of the statutory requirements of the various landlord and tenant legislation and compliance with the recognised Codes of Practice. In addition, the

How to cut through the minefield of managing agents. Richard Benson provides his expert advice on the questions you should ask. When choosing a managing agent, you can be faced with a minefield of agents to choose from, but how do you know who will provide you with the best service? How long has the company been managing blocks of flats? You need to establish that they are a competent managing agent and that they manage properties similar to yours. Find out the structure of the property management team,