Featured Articles

Get the answers to your questions and stay up to date about apartment building management with our featured articles and NOTB guides, on topics such as service charges, right to manage, buying your freehold, major works, building insurance and other issues about blocks of flats.

Tragic Fall of 5-Year-Old Boy in East London Highlights Window Safety Concerns

A heart-wrenching incident unfolded in East London as a five-year-old boy, Alam Makial, tragically fell 150 feet from the 15th floor of Jacobs House. Alam's mother had reportedly raised concerns about the safety of the window multiple times with Newham Council before the accident occurred. The tragic event happened around 6am, with neighbors hearing anguished cries from a man and a woman shouting "my boy" as they stood over Alam's lifeless body. Alam's aunt, Maryan Hadafow, confirmed that his mother ha

Employers warned payrolling of benefits is to become mandatory

Expert accountants and business advisers at Whitley Stimpson are forewarning employers that they will be required to report and pay income tax and Class 1A National Insurance Contributions (NIC) on benefits in kind through payroll.  The change which is set to start from April 2026 aims to simplify and modernise the tax system.  Tracy Gill, Payroll Manager at Whitley Stimpson Accountants and Business Advisors, highlights the key considerations for employers. Currently, taxable benefits and expenses must be

Turning the property sector green

The real estate and construction sector is currently responsible for almost 40 percent of final global energy use1. Luke Maidens, a Partner and Head of the Real Estate Litigation team at Blacks Solicitors, shares his insight on the current government legislations, frameworks and initiatives that aim to reduce the environmental impact of commercial real estate.  Issues for the real estate sector At the current rate of development, 80 percent2 of buildings standing today will still be in use within the next

ADDINGTON CAPITAL ANNOUNCES NEW OPERATIONS DIRECTOR FOR ADDLIVING

Matt Pears Joins Resi Lettings and Property Management Business from Wildheart Residential Management Ltd The founders of Addington Capital, Martin Roberts and Matthew Allen have recruited Matt Pears as the new Operations Director of AddLiving, Addington’s sister residential lettings and management business. Matt joins AddLiving from Wildheart Residential Management Ltd where he was a Property Director.  Wildheart RML manages 1,000 AST units and 4,000 Leasehold units across the country on behalf of corpor

flatfair and Dandara in new partnership deal

Leading deposit alternative provider flatfair has announced a major new partnership with Dandara Living, one of the UK’s leading independent property development firms and a renowned name in the Build to Rent sector. Dandara joins an impressive list of well-known players in the industry who are already using flatfair’s deposit platform, including Greystar, Native Residential and urbanbubble. With flatfair Deposits, residents have the option of flatfair’s popular deposit alternative alongside a traditional

Thrills, Skills, and Goals Galore: Highlights from the NOTB & Impero Facilities Football Championship 2024!

We would like to extend a huge thank you to all the teams who participated in the NOTB & Impero Facilities Football Championship 2024 at Powerleague Shoreditch on 15 May 2024.  With a total of 23 teams, the competition was fierce, and the atmosphere electric as each group battled it out throughout the day. The final standings for the tournament are as follows: Winner: Impero United, representing Impero Facilities Runner Up: JM2 All Stars, from JM2 Group Plate Winner: Not Your Average 50, proudly repre

Martin Samworth joins the Ringley Group / Una Living

Residential Asset & Property Manager and Tech specialist The Ringley Group is pleased to announce that Martin Samworth (previously Chairman of CBRE Advisory EMEA and APAC and current Chair of RICS Board has joined the business as a Strategic Advisor and Non Executive Director.    Martin will have specific focus on helping support the growth and development of the groups stake in the living sectors: the asset management, operational oversight and property management parts of the business. In particular M

Whitley Stimpson shines as finalist for top national award

Service Charge Accountancy specialist Jonathan Walton of Whitley Stimpson has been recognised for his outstanding work in the field by being shortlisted for a prestigious property industry award. Jonathan has been selected as a finalist in the Service Charge Accountant of the year category at the 2024 ACE awards, organised by The Property Institute.  This professional body for residential property managers aims to highlight the best in the industry and celebrate those who are making a positive impact on t

Lichfields welcomes new talent to boost strategic planning expertise

National planning and development consultancy Lichfields has announced the appointment of a new planning director and associate director to its London office. Anna Snow has joined as a Planning Director, bringing extensive experience in managing large, multidisciplinary teams on significant urban developments across the capital. Sakhi Sumaria has been appointed as an Associate Director, bringing a wealth of expertise in complex infrastructure projects and economic planning. Matthew Spry, Head of London Of

Building Consultancy led by Award Winning Chartered Surveyor Expands Leadership Team, Bolstering Presence in the Midlands

Leading Chartered Building Surveyors, Fourth Wall Building Consultancy, have further strengthened their team with the appointment of Chartered Surveyor Pete Nichols BSc (Hons) MRICS, seeing the company expand their presence in the Midlands.  This comes following the appointment of Liam Piercy BSc (Hons MRICS) as a Director in early February, a former Building Surveyor at Buckingham Palace, and sees the business more than quadruple its headcount since its inauguration in 2020. Pete joins Fourth Wall from H

Folk Co-Living picks up prestigious RIBA Award

Folk Co-Living has taken home a prestigious RIBA award for its Earlsfield property - Folk Sunday Mills. The design - from the team at Assael Architecture - draws on the industrial history of the River Wandle to revive and open up the once dormant site, creating 315 co-living rooms and a thriving community hub for residents and the public. The RIBA (Royal Institue of British Architects) awards has been celebrating outstanding work for over 180 years, with the internationally regarded awards and prizes, rec

Simple upgrade to boost efficiency in multi-occupancy buildings

Finding ways to boost heating efficiency and cut energy wastage is currently front of mind for many people. However, this can become even more prevalent in accommodation with shared communal areas.  Housing provider, Together Housing, which manages homes for rent, shared ownership, and sale across the North of England, had a challenge to improve energy efficiency at its Kilburn Court site. In looking for a solution, the company turned to the team at Resideo for support and advice. Geoff Wallis, Repairs Te

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