Featured Articles

We read the newspapers to find the latest news, views and gossip about flats… It's a rich man’s world… flat prices reach unprecedented levels. Where will it end? The Times A recent piece in The Times reports on a new record price being reached when luxury apartments in Knightsbridge, developed by Candy & Candy, sold off-plan for a record £4,200 per square foot, turning the developments penthouses into Britain’s most expensive residential property. The apartments have the exclusive address of One Hyde

News on the Block and our experts at Brethertons Solicitors are here to help you this month with your questions, queries and concerns about the apartment sector. Have a question? Contact us at: editor@newsontheblock.com with question in the subject line, or by telephone at 08700 600 663, or by post at News on the Block, 8 Wyndham Place, London W1H 1PP. The question: The lease contains a provision against lessees having pets in their property. A lessee asked for permission to have a guide dog and under t

County Estate Management (CEM), a leading residential managing agent is developing a system to promote green practices and encourage energy conservation at their properties under management. It is part of a comprehensive range of carbon footprint assessments executed at property level and aimed to improve efficiency and make homes greener. Andreas Palikiras, marketing director at CEM told News on the Block: “The human impact on the environment is a largely debated issue and one that will not go away. We

Satellite TV is becoming a must have for people living in flats. Below is the first part of a step-by-step guide to selecting and installing the best and most cost effective communal TV system for your block. What are the options? Free Shared Dish: For blocks with less than 49 flats, Free Shared Dish is a simple way of giving Sky TV to those residents that want it. • The installation and equipment is free, subject to survey; • The only cost to you is for electrical earth bonding by a qualified electrici

Over 10 years ago, London Electricity was sold to the New Orleans-based company Entergy for £1.3 billion. Two years later, in 1998, it was acquired by French utility giant Electricité de France (EDF) for £1.4 billion. It It looks as though the new owners of London Electricity, EDF, will be causing headaches to leaseholders in London and possibly beyond as well. An Islington leaseholder has raised an issue with his own authority, which has now been referred to London Councils (formerly the Association of

The property sector faces a number of challenges over the coming year, says Caroline Turnball, and Asset Skills is working with employers, professional bodies and trade associations to address the skills and qualifications required to meet the needs of the future. With the UK population hitting the 60 million mark and a large proportion of those living alone, the provision of housing on a shrinking land supply means that developers have to look at new and innovative ways to address the housing shortage

When John Hills was asked by communities secretary, Ruth Kelly, to review the social housing sector and what role it could play in 21st century housing policy, housing professionals saw an opportunity to re-think the purpose, the delivery and the outcomes of social housing. The resulting report, Ends and Means, was published on 20th February and the debate is set to continue. Social housing plays an important role in the overall landscape of housing provision in this country, with just under four millio

In the first of a series of plain-English legal articles, Shaun Jardine of Brethertons Solicitors highlights an area of law of most interest to landlord and tenant – getting paid for major works (if you are a landlord) and making sure you only pay the legitimate amount due (if you are a tenant). This month’s article looks at the legislation from the tenant’s perspective. Next month we look at the same subject but from the landlord’s point of view. The laws under the spotlight are: Commonhold & Leasehol

On 25 January, DCLG issued a consultation paper, Home Information Packs: Towards 1 June, setting out how DCLG intends to ensure the “smooth introduction of HIPs on 1 June”. The following changes have been proposed, says John Mills of the Association of Retirement Housing Managers. The first marketing of a property will be allowed with a smaller number of documents such as an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), Sale Statement, Evidence of Title and Index provided there is evidence that other documents h

John Peartree, recently appointed chief executive of the Federation of Private Residents’ Associations, talks exclusively to News on the Block Q: Tell us a little about your background and how you came to your role at FPRA? A: Much of my working life was spent abroad, in the employ of food companies, initially in marketing and advertising and later in general management, which lead to involvement in property. I worked for a wine and spirits’ company in South Africa, a frozen food company in Australia an

Leaseholders win the battle but not the war, issue 30. I read with interest your article on the recent decision by the Lands Tribunal in Sportelli.  Mr Goldstone is quoted as saying: "The Sportelli decision is fundamentally flawed because it applies the same 5% rate whether dealing with a flat in a prime block in Chelsea or a small flat in a deteriorating block in a suburban area". I feel this misses the point.  All ground rents are very secure against the asset on which they are paid.  It therefore matt

The Little Red Book – Who’s Who in Property Management With the May issue of News on the Block magazine (no.33) we will be launching a new, separate publication called The Little Red Book – Who’s Who in Property Management.   This will be a comprehensive listing in the form of a directory of property management agents in England and Wales, A5 in size. The publication will be updated and published again in November. If you would like your property management company to be listed in The Little Red Bo