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APM (Association for Project Management) has already been heavily involved in driving positive change following the Grenfell tragedy. APM’s Head of Qualifications and Standards, Gill Hancock, chaired the group that introduced new competences for project managers in the built environment, as required by the Building Safety Act. Gill Hancock said: “The long-awaited final report into the Grenfell Tower tragedy could be one of the most significant documents to be published this century with regards to buildin

Ex Chair of The Property Institute and ex ARMA CEO, Nigel Glen, joins 30 Seconds Group Ltd as a Non Executive Director. 30 Seconds Group today announced the appointment of Dr Nigel Glen to their board as a non-executive director. Nigel will be supporting the business with strategic guidance, specialist industry knowledge in areas such as compliance, and advising on the value proposition. “With extensive experience within the property management industry, Nigel is uniquely situated to work alongside

Holidaymakers are being urged to make sure they don’t bring home unwanted guests this summer. Experts at British Pest Control Association are encouraging householders to check their luggage carefully and wash holiday clothes at 60° to help prevent bringing bed bugs into the home. The insects are often prevalent in densely populated buildings, particularly those with a rapid resident turnover such as hostels, hotels, holiday camps and blocks of flats. They will hide in bed frames and mattresses but have al

The latest analysis by Cushman & Wakefield shows that the UK will need a minimum of four million new homes by 2040, with an increasingly large role for the private rented sector (PRS). The PRS is projected to see growth of 43%, from 19.1% of the total share of dwellings today to 24.6% by 2040. However, the attention-grabbing figures are only one part of the picture, according to UK rental guarantor service Housing Hand. Managing Director Graham Hayward explains: “Four million new homes are just the start.

August saw a promotion for Chelsea Austin at Earl Kendrick Chartered Surveyors. Chelsea is already known to many in the industry from her role as Executive Assistant to the firm’s Senior Leadership Team. And she will continue to assist Group Managing Director Julian Davies and Group Operations Director Zoë Walheim by managing busy diaries and wrestling with ever-pinging email inboxes. Over the past year and a half in that role, however, Chelsea also showed a creative flair for marketing. And especially fo

Planning permission has been granted by Manchester City Council’s planning committee for the room2 Hometel project, a pioneering £78 million development set to transform 12-16 Piccadilly in Manchester. The approval of the application – which was led by global real estate advisor, Avison Young, on behalf of developer, Lamington Group – marks a significant milestone in the creation of the UK’s first net zero carbon tower, which will combine contemporary design with historic preservation to deliver a unique

UK householders can use an interactive tool created by British Pest Control Association (BPCA), to help them identify potential infestations. The ‘House of Pests’ is an online resource that maps out where common pests are likely to be found and provides links to further information on specific species within the BPCA’s A-Z of Pests guide. Anyone who suspects there may be a pest present in their home can visit bpca.org.uk/HouseofPests and use the tool to help narrow down what the issue might be. Natalie Bu

Just released, a letter sent form the Minister of State for Housing and Planning Matthew Pennycook to the Mayor of Cambridgeshire & Peterborough, Leader of South Cambridgeshire District Council, Leader of Cambridge City Council, and the Leader and Deputy Leader of Cambridgeshire County Council. The letter shows a continuing commitment from the new Government to growth in Greater Cambridge – but this is not without its challenges. William Nichols, Regional Director in Lanpro’s Cambridge office comments: In

QUESTION  I (with my partner) currently own a leasehold flat - built in 2017. We have a lease which currently has 140 years remaining on it.  Within our lease, and what I am mostly querying, is my ground rent charges, and the likely difficulty we would face should we come to remortgage/sell.  My ground rent from 01/01/2014 (despite not being built until 2017, as it was when the lease was originally drawn up) was set at £250 PA. Within the lease, there is a clause to rent reviews each 10 year period rising

Future Group are thrilled to announce that Jason Webb has been promoted to Managing Director of Future Fire Systems, a recognition of his exceptional contributions and unwavering dedication. Jason joined Future Group in 2020 as a Senior Fire Systems Engineer, bringing with him a wealth of experience and expertise in the field of active fire protection. Over the past four years, Jason’s relentless hard work and innovative thinking have driven significant growth within the department. Under his leadership,

Despite the many positive developments in modern residential management, a major and long-term industry issue remains largely unaddressed. Today, residential landlords are still having to pay exorbitant lettings fees charged by many property agents. These can be as high as twenty percent once tenant finding, management, contract and referencing fees are taken into account. It is time to champion the needs of the landlord in a market where many high street agents are still hiding their fees and often doubl

What is in the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024? Essentially, all of the much talked about changes are there including the 990-year lease extension, abolition of the two-year rule and the change in qualification criteria for mixed use buildings. In addition, we will see the end of marriage value for leases under 80 years and the end of the ability for the landlord to recover their costs from the tenant under a standard statutory claim. There are also changes that relate to property management. The v