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.

Advice for Landlords on Energy Efficiency and Sustainability

In September the Prime Minister announced that landlords will no longer be required to meet the minimum EPC minimum energy rating of C by 2025 (for all new tenancies) and 2028 (for existing tenancies). Despite a consultation starting back in 2020, the proposed legislation hadn’t progressed through Parliament and no doubt many landlords who faced increased costs and a shortage of tradespeople to carry out the necessary work heaved a sigh of relief.  But it is important to realise the respite may only be te

UKAA announces new Investor and Lender Forum Chair and committee

The UK Apartment Association (UKAA) has appointed Ashley Perry as the new Chair of its Investor and Lender Forum. Perry, who is investment director at UK living real estate investment manager Apache Capital, was previously Vice-Chair of the Forum and replaces CBRE’s Jason Hardman, who has completed his two year period as Chair.  Perry has been with Apache Capital since 2022, helping to shape the company’s investment strategies which include a 6,000+ home multi-family build-to-rent (BTR) joint venture with

Real Estate Industry Ranks Sixth Most Stressful in the UK

A recent study has identified real estate as one of the most stressful sectors to work in, in the UK, shedding light on the challenges faced by professionals in the industry. Conducted by personal injury specialists at Claims.co.uk, the study analysed data from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to determine the prevalence of stress-related illnesses among workers from March 2022 to March 2023. Real estate emerged as the sixth most stressful industry, with 2,070 reported cases of stress-related illnes

Hilco’s specialist bridge lending division expands team with another appointment

Hilco Real Estate Finance (HREF), that launched in 2023, is further strengthening its team with the appointment of experienced investment professional Charlie Job who will work across the UK, assisting the specialist real estate lender as it builds its presence nationwide. With over five years’ experience across real estate, credit and M&A, Charlie joins HREF, part of Hilco Global, as an associate. He started his career at NatWest Markets before joining Arrow Global where he worked on numerous distressed

What Is Subsidence? – The Signs and How to Prevent It

Subsidence is one of the most serious problems that homeowners can face. The consequences of subsidence can be disastrous for the safety of the property and can lead to some very expensive damage costs. Knowing the signs of subsidence can help you feel more at ease and safer in your home. By knowing the signs, you will be able to spot potential damage and act fast to prevent further damage. In this article, property and construction expert Natalie Mitchell at HomeHow.co.uk goes over everything you need to

Winckworth Sherwood appoints new head of residential property and leasehold enfranchisement

Winckworth Sherwood has strengthened its dedicated residential property and leasehold enfranchisement team with the appointment of partner Leigh Shapiro. Leigh joined the firm in February as a Partner and Head of Leasehold Enfranchisement and Residential Property. She was previously a partner and head of the enfranchisement team and led the London residential property team at Irwin Mitchell. With her specialist leasehold knowledge and property litigation background, she brings considerable strengths and e

A foolproof checklist for finding the best corporate knotweed eradication services

In this article we deep dive into the services any reputable knotweed contractor should offer and provide a checklist to help with making an informed choice. Why is this important now? Surprisingly, the knotweed growing season is already upon us, and it's early for the third year in a row. Is this evidence of changes in UK climate affecting species growth patterns? Well, that's another important topic! But let's focus on getting you the right help with knotweed first. What does early knotweed look like? T

The hidden cost in social housing: over 75% of residents are met with no or inadequate floor coverings

The latest Resident Voice Index™ (RVI) survey reveals that over three-quarters of social housing residents had no or only partial floor coverings in their new home when they moved in, with 75% of these residents indicating a negative sentiment towards this practice. Now into its fifth study commissioned by MRI Software, which offers social housing solutions as part of its global PropTech offering, the RVI survey asked over 8,000 respondents their opinions on the common policy of removing flooring from soc

The industry heavyweights heading to the Oxford Weekender

The full list of speakers for the highly-anticipated Oxford Weekender in March 2024 has now been released by Property Management Legal Services (PMLS). Highlights include addresses from Andrew Bulmer, the CEO at The Property Institute, the UK’s leading professional body for residential leasehold and multi-family property management. He oversaw the merger of the IRPM and ARMA which created the organization, and is dedicated to raising standards across property management to make the sectors an ethical forc

Revolutionising Leasehold: The Road Ahead for Owners and Managers of Blocks of Flats

The United Kingdom stands on the precipice of a historic overhaul in property ownership. With the King's speech unveiling the anticipated leasehold reform, an age-old system is set to be redefined. This article reflects on the legislative changes proposed and explores the transformative path ahead for owners and managers of blocks of flats. The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) estimates there are around 4.98 million leasehold homes in England, of which 70% are flats and 30% are

Property expert slams 1% mortgages as Government considers introduction

The Government’s proposal to introduce a new 1% deposit mortgage scheme to help young people onto the property ladder is unworkable in practice and could saddle a generation with risky levels of debt, writes Charlie Davidson, a residential property expert with London law firm Bishop & Sewell.  A 1% deposit mortgage would see prospective first-time-buyers contribute just 1% of the value of the property as a deposit, meaning they need to repay 99% of the property’s value through their mortgage payments.   W

Ensuring Building Safety Compliance: How to make this a reality

With the next deadline for the UK’s new building safety regulations looming, owners and operators of high-rise residential buildings face mounting pressure. Daniel Foryszewski, Director of Investor Solutions at MRI Software, explores how embracing technology can streamline compliance efforts and unlock broader benefits. As the 1 April 2024 deadline for the next phase of the UK’s building safety regulations draws near, owners and operators of high-rise residential properties cannot afford to delay. While m

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