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I beg to take issue with Jane Barry concerning one notable point in her most interesting article in the last edition (News on the Block 29), Getting the Price of Enfranchisement Right. In my view and based upon my experience and that of my firm, there is no need for “specialist enfranchisement companies that will manage the entire process”. We have been involved with the enfranchisement of a considerable number of blocks of flats, over the past 13 years and on no occasion has any professional facilitator

QUESTION  I have recently bought a flat and have been offered building insurance from my mortgage lender. However, whilst looking at the service charge accounts I noticed that there is a provision for insurance, what shall I do? ANSWER It is common for mortgage lenders to provide their own insurance, however buildings insurance tends to be included within the service charges. If you are unsure then I would suggest asking your managing agent for a copy of the current insurance schedule which will prov

There is a substantial case to be made that all new Government policies and initiatives should include a ‘leaseholder impact assessment’, to identify the possible implications of the proposals, financial and otherwise, for flat-owners. Leasehold tenure is the norm for some two million flat owners, yet it is still regarded as some not-quite-mentionable minority interest by Government. Leasehold seems to be something treated separately, not to be incorporated, in general housing jurisdiction and this seem

The recent decision by the Lands Tribunal (known as the Sportelli Decision) has adjusted the cost for leaseholders of buying a 90-year lease extension or the freehold interest in their property. The Tribunal decided a deferment rate of 4.75% should be applied to houses and 5% to flats irrespective of their location. The background to this was the ‘Arbib Decision’ published by the Lands Tribunal in September 2005, which devalued leasehold properties through the reduction of deferment rates to 4.5% for a pr

Security is the number one priority for homebuyers searching for an apartment, according to new research published by housebuilder, Linden Homes. The added security of apartment living, including measures such as underground parking, gated access and videophone entry systems, ranked higher than a balcony or communal gym on the homebuyer’s wish list. The research, studying the most desirable features of apartments, revealed that 42% rated security at the top, with outside space following as the second pr

Yvette Cooper’s statement in September indicated the Government’s commitment to Home Information Packs (HIPs). The announcement of the introduction of crucial measures, underlines its dedication to introducing HIPs, mandatory from next June. The promise of £4 million of funding in support of the AHIPP roll out in November shows a renewed commitment and will have the support of estate agents, conveyancers and others who are intending to be pack providers. Mike Ockenden, director general of AHIPP, said: “We

Managing agents and commercial property owners could find themselves in breach of the law following new fire rules, which came into force on October 1st. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (FSO) is the biggest shake-up of the legislation in 30 years. It signals the end of traditional fire certificates, with managing agents and owners now directly accountable for fire risk. “Far more responsibilities are being passed to managing agents and owners”, explains Peter Gallacher, Principal Fire Saf

The award - winning Thames Gateway Forum returns to the ExCel Centre on the 22nd and 23rd November. The Forum, now in its third year, is the only event of its kind to bring together all organisations involved in the regeneration of the Thames Gateway, Europe’s largest regeneration initiative. A recent survey commissioned by Davies Arnold Cooper showed that one and two bedroom homes now account for more than 80% of housing in the Thames Gateway. This has added to the growing concern regarding small spa

There are estimated to be in excess of 1.5 million leasehold units in the UK, of which approximately 40% are believed to be ‘self-managed’. Each of these leasehold properties is a substantial asset, frequently the lessee’s primary asset. More and more lessees as well as freeholders regard their home as their pension fund, a way to raise further cash and a key component of their finances. As a result the leasehold sector is an important part of the economy as a whole and affects the lives of more than thre

It is almost always worthwhile for leaseholders to buy the freehold of their block, since they can grant themselves 999-year leases, increase the value of their flats and secure ownership and control of the building. A growing number of leaseholders are learning that they have the right to compel the landlord (or freeholder) to sell to them the freehold and to do so at a fair market price within statutory deadlines, in a process known as collective enfranchisement, as long as a minimum of half of all flat

Consolidating legislation to reduce the burden on businesses is a key platform for the Government’s regulatory review. But this comes only at the expense of dealing with a large learning curve. Now is the time for block managers to understand these changes to fire safety regulations. One expert, Phil Jones, from Quantum Risk Management, explains: “From October 2006, there will be a new Order which will mean that the onus for assessing risk in the common parts of residential building falls to the owners,

The National Housing Federation represents England’s 1400 independent, non-profit housing associations, which provide two million homes for around five million people. The event confirmed that the moment is ripe for the sector to make a significant impact, forge new relationships with government and its agencies, and to liberate its capacity to contribute to the bigger picture. The Annual Conference and Social Housing Exhibition 2006 is the most important event in the social housing calendar. Housing a