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Birchgrove, the UK’s leading provider of rented retirement homes, has celebrated its latest construction milestone with the topping out of Pepperpot House, a new 52-unit development in Godalming, Surrey. The ceremony was attended by over 30 guests, including a number of residents who have reserved apartments, providing them with the opportunity to meet each other alongside their friends and families for the first time. Honor Barratt, CEO of Birchgrove, was also in attendance alongside John Whelan, CEO of

Xtra Maintenance Limited are delighted to be the newly appointment out of hours contractor for a leading block management company. This new contract sees Xtra Maintenance providing a 24 hour telephone service in house vetting our clients calls, instructing contracted site providers and handling all other emergencies. We took a moment to catch up with CEO Ricky Weston who commented “it is a real achievement being appointed on this contract, it shows our high-level customer service and professionalism is be

Leading Birmingham property agency Siddall Jones has expanded and fully refurbished its Jewellery Quarter offices in the wake of its new acquisition. Siddall Jones announced its purchase of Bromsgrove-based 4D Property Management last week, a move which will increase the staff numbers as well as allowing the company to recruit additional staff to help with the influx of new instructions. As a result, Siddall Jones has now doubled its office space at The Mint at 95 Icknield St, from 1,100 sq ft  2,200 sq f

Spike is proud to announce that it has become the first PropTech company to join the UK Single-Family Association (UK SFA), a not-for-profit organisation committed to advancing industry standards and best practices within the Single-Family Rental (SFR) sector. Through its membership with the UK SFA, Spike will actively participate in initiatives aimed at addressing key challenges facing the sector, and champion the role of technology in enhancing property management, tenant relations, and increasing opera

Birchgrove, the UK’s leading provider of rented retirement homes, has secured planning permission from Hounslow Council to redevelop the site of a former police station on Chiswick High Street into a fifty-unit retirement living community. Originally opened in 1972, the police station at 209-211 Chiswick High Road closed in 2021 and was sold by the Metropolitan Police to Birchgrove in April 2022. Redevelopment plans were originally submitted later that year, and, following two public consultations, planni

With an increase in hybrid and remote working, and many people having spent more time at home over the past few years, a recent survey by Resideo2 has highlighted that 32% of homeowners feel more concerned about home security than they did pre-pandemic. The survey of 1,000 homeowners investigated the level of concern felt by homeowners, as well as looking into the technology and features that now held the most appeal when it came to choosing an alarm system. Greater anxiety regarding home safety was consi

Acis Group and MRI Software have won a prestigious award in the ‘Most Innovative Property Service’ category at the National Housing Maintenance Federation (NHMF) Awards 2024 held on January 23. The annual conference is devoted to housing maintenance and is run by asset management professionals. Acis Group, is a prominent housing, education, and skills provider operating in Lincolnshire, South Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, and Derbyshire.  The award recognises the success of its collaborative partnership wit

The UKAA (UK Apartment Association) has confirmed David Reid as the Chair of its committee for the Build to Rent (BTR) single-family housing sector. Reid, Managing Director of Legal & General’s Suburban Build-to-Rent business has long been seen as a leading figure in the rapidly growing market for suburban build-to-rent houses and is committed to supporting the sector to deliver high-quality new houses that meet the needs of institutional investors and operators, whilst providing secure, professionally ma

Martyn Gerrard, recently hailed as the Best London Estate Agent at The Negotiator Awards, is today announcing the acquisition of Palmers Green-based estate and lettings agent Range Homes. The near £1 million deal will see the highly regarded services offered by Range Homes, which include lettings valuations and management, guaranteed rent packages, and property management, integrated into the comprehensive lettings services already offered by Martyn Gerrard across north and northwest London, and beyond. R

The majority of UK homeowners (57%) have experienced obstacles that have prevented them from carrying out energy efficiencies   The majority of homeowners (57%) have reported the following barriers from carrying out energy efficiency improvements, according to the latest research by HomeOwners Alliance.  More than one third (36%) of homeowners have not undertaken work because of the cost of improvements, one in five (19%) say the lack of grants/ incentives is a barrier and a similar proportion are not

St Basils Homelessness Charity is thrilled to announce the return of the Woof Run to Brueton Park in Solihull. This family-friendly and fur-tastic event is set to take place on Sunday, 3rd March, promising a day of canine fun and community spirit, all while supporting a crucial cause. About St Basils Woof Run: The St Basils Woof Run is not your ordinary doggy event; it's a thrilling 2.5K obstacle course designed for dogs of all shapes and sizes. Taking place against the scenic backdrop of Brueton Park Nat

Issue 129 of News on the Block has now been published and is available for subscribers to read online. This issue of News on the Block includes a special Back to Basics feature with Guest Editor Benjamin Hume, and sponsored by TNA Building Services.  Some of the articles in this issue include:  Ground rents ‘a problem’ say majority of ALEP members What are the options available to agents for an out-of-hours service? What you need to know about starting your own block management business Beyond balance