Featured Articles

Property Manager, Jennie Roos looks after some of FirstPort’s most prestigious residential developments, working primarily with Resident Management Companies (RMCs), alongside other clients, to provide the support and expertise.  Here, she shares insight about working with RMCs and how property managers like FirstPort can provide the additional support needed to help Resident Directors fulfil their duties and obligations.  Can you tell us about your career in property management?  I have worked in various

It’s estimated that there are approximately 4.86 million leasehold homes in England, of which 69 percent are flats and 31 percent are houses.  Leasehold reform has been a hot topic since King Charles’ speech in November 2023. Fast forward to May 2024 and the unexpected call for a General Election led to the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 (“the 2024 Act”) receiving Royal Assent.  Anushka Nicholas, Head of the Leasehold Enfranchisement team at Blacks Solicitors, discusses the Leasehold and Freehold

Bridge Insurance Brokers Ltd is welcoming Robin Gleeson as MD at its London office. Robin brings 20 years of real estate insurance experience to his new leadership role at Bridge. He will join the business at the start of July after 14 years at Towergate Insurance Brokers; leaving his Real Estate division MD role there to run the City office of Bridge. Once he has met the team, clients and insurers, his role will be to shape the strategy and activate the tactics that will deliver on the overall business o

The Leasehold and Freehold Reform reached the Statute Book at speed, having been first introduced in November last year and enacted in the pre-general election ‘wash-up’ in late May. This article considers the impact of one significant change to the new legislation, namely the proposal to raise the 25% non-residential limit in collective enfranchisement claims to 50%. This change was welcomed by leaseholders. But the amendment, whilst not as controversial as other proposed changes, will have a much greate

The 4.9 million residential leases in England and Wales now face significant change following the enactment of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill. The legislation may have been a long time coming, but was  then sped through Parliament with ministers clearly keen to get the reforms on the Statute Book before the general election. Almost 80% of lawyers and property professionals support leasehold reform, including the Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners (ALEP) of which I am a member.

Leading managing agent Rendall & Rittner is thrilled to have received two prestigious awards at this year’s ACE Awards: ‘Managing Agent of the Year (15,001+ units)’ and ‘Resident Engagement Initiative’. This marks the fifth occasion that Rendall & Rittner has received the renowned Managing Agent of the Year award in the 6 years the awards have taken place. This achievement also follows the company’s recent ‘Property Manager of the Year’ award win at the RESI awards, meaning Rendall & Rittner currently hol

Over 60s property specialist Churchill Estates Management (“CEM” or “Churchill”) has completed the biggest ever single expansion of its portfolio with the acquisition of 32 retirement developments from Housing 21. Taking effect from 1st July 2024, this acquisition brings a total of 1,035 leasehold retirement properties across the country into Churchill’s portfolio, growing the company’s total units under management to over 10,000. Churchill takes on the ownership and management of the 32 developments foll

Specialist bridge lender Hilco Real Estate Finance (HREF) has provided a £13m development exit loan to an experienced developer against 24 high quality apartments in Denmark Hill in the London Borough of Southwark. Developed by Craftworks, an architect turned developer which has delivered many successful schemes over the last 25 years, the high spec apartments provide luxury accommodation and have been designed to outstanding architectural standards. The exterior of the building is visually-striking and t

The Association for Rental Living (ARL) has opened nominations for the ARL People Awards 2024. Recognised as the pinnacle of Build to Rent (BTR) sector achievement, the awards honour individuals who are leading the way in making significant contributions to the sector, as well as delivering outstanding customer experiences. The ARL People Awards will focus on three categories in 2024: Lifetime Achievement/Recognition Rising Star Industry Shaper Winners will be announced at the ARL Annual Conference i

The 2024 ACE Awards winners were unveiled at a spectacular event held at Old Billingsgate in London on Friday, 21st June.  Set against the stunning backdrop of the River Thames, this year’s theme transported attendees back to the roaring 1920s, featuring an evening of live music, exquisite dining, and thrilling entertainment, creating an unforgettable experience. With over 700 property professionals in attendance—a testament to its growing prominence, the evening also garnered a record-breaking number of

FEMALE-run block management company LRPM has achieved a 30% growth in its client base in London in the last year, through word-of-mouth referrals­­­. The firm, that has a firm commitment not to take kickbacks from service providers, has seen particularly strong growth in London with residential blocks in Canary Wharf, Earls Court, Hackney, Mayfair, Twickenham, and Wandsworth. As part of its expansion, Lucie Thomas has been promoted to the position of Associate. In her new role, Lucie will oversee critical

Renting a property can be a long, difficult, and often confusing process. What do I ask? What do all these confusing terms mean? And how can I ensure that I’m getting the best terms?  According to the experts at Grainger plc, the UK’s largest listed provider of private rental homes, that’s why it’s so important to arm yourself with a practical plan of action from the start.  One of the best ways to do this is to compile a list of ‘must-ask’ questions going in. This will help you gather all the information