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Alexandre Boyes were awarded silver in the Best Single Lettings Office South East and shortlisted for the Best Block Management Office by the Times / Sunday Times Property Awards. The Judges Report stated: “This agency is well run, offering a wide ranging and appealing level of services.” Kate Boyes commented that ‘this is a particularly exciting recognition for our estate and block management discipline, a department in its infancy, with lots of exciting developments planned.’

The Institute of Residential Property Management is celebrating as Gemma Tracey (Marr-Johnson & Stevens) became the Institute’s 2,000th member. Anthony Essien, Chief Executive of LEASE said “the IRPM have played a major role in raising standards within the property management profession.  I congratulate them in achieving this significant membership milestone”. Landlords and Residents’ Management Companies are increasingly expecting their managing agents to demonstrate that they employ appropriately qual

Specialist service charge and ground rent recovery solicitors, J B Leitch LLP has celebrated the opening of their new office in Liverpool City Centre. The firm recently purchased an additional 3,000 sq ft of lower ground floor office space on Kent Street, close to their existing offices in the Ropewalks district of Liverpool. Jonathan Leitch, managing partner of the firm said: “On top of the £250,000 investment in the refurbishment, we are also planning a further IT investment to ensure our IT infrastr

ONE of the North West’s largest independent corporate insurance brokers, Bridge Insurance Brokers Limited, has announced the launch of a London office. Well established as a national and international broker and risk adviser, Bridge is capitalising on 40 years of success in the industry. The Award winning firm have recently designed an exclusive and specialist insurance facility for blocks of flats, called FlatGuard. FlatGuard provides an all round insurance solution incorporating wide-ranging bespoke

The FPRA and The Leasehold Advisory Service teamed up for a Leaseholder Residents Rights Workshop organised and chaired by local Walthamstow MP Stella Creasy. Stella Creasy said: ‘Over the course of the last few months a number of subjects relating to leases have been raised with me by local residents. These include increases in Service Charges, the poor performance of management companies, the requirement to take insurance cover with the management companies preferred insurer, and most recently increas

Over the last 6 months of reported cases, the Ombudsman Services: Property has investigated 9 cases of complaint against managing agents. In reaching its final decision, the Ombudsman required the managing agent to apologise (in three cases), to pay compensation of between £50-100 (in three cases), to take remedial action (in eight cases) and to take no further action (in one case). The complaints presented included: failure to provide a service charge certificate with the accounts, failure to upkeep the

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ARMA, the trade body for managing agents, has stepped up its search to replace David Hewett as Chief Executive. Peter Dening, Chairman of ARMA has stated that the association is “...at a crossroads ...”. Specialist recruitment agency, Saxton Bampfylde has been retained for the search. Hewett’s successor will be reporting to the Council of ARMA, and tasked with recommending and implementing policy amongst other key responsibilities. Salary and the number of candidates who have so far applied have not been

The role of the managing agent is central to the management of a Residents Management Company (RMC) or Right To Manage (RTM) block. Often the role of director is taken by an unpaid volunteer with little or no prior knowledge of company law, their duties, responsibilities and potential personal liabilities. The board of directors will expect the agent to carry out its wishes and it is therefore imperative that the agent fully understands the relationship and also the company’s constitution. Every company

12 Property Managers at the Residential Management Group have passed the final examination to become full members of the IRPM. This represents 10% of the total number of all examinees, and means the candidates can now utilise the designatory letters MIRPM. Special mention goes to Charlotte Howlings who completed both Parts 1 and 2 of the examination within a few months of each other. In addition, Alex Mawson-Murphy achieved 88% which was the highest mark of the 12 RMG employees.

A 191 page guide to fire safety in blocks of flats has been published by the Local Government Group. The document also includes relevant case studies that focus on some of the common issues found in blocks of flats with suggested fire safety solutions. FPRA Chairman Bob Smytherman, who was also a member of the reference group that produced the guide, said: “The previous advice covered most types of property, but it was never sufficient for common parts of blocks of flats and some landlords and residenti

Construction has the highest number of fatalities for the year (50, with a rate of 2.4 deaths per 1,000 workers). The life of a construction worker can be extremely hazardous – with fatalities involving electrocution, being hit by falling objects and being trapped underneath vehicles according to statistics compiled by the Health and Safety Executive and analysed by No win no fee lawyers Claims Direct. In the services sector there were 47 fatal injuries (0.2 deaths per 1,000 workers).