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.

How could UK housing market trends influence the European property market in 2024?

With Google searches for overseas holiday homes up 52 per cent this year compared to 2022, a group of international property experts at Your Overseas Home has revealed six ways the dynamic UK housing market could continue to affect overseas property purchases in mainland Europe in 2024.  Whether you’re selling up to move or retire abroad full-time, buying a holiday home with the family, or investing in buy-to-let properties abroad, the UK housing market can have a direct impact on the overseas buying mark

Expert provides guidance for landlords setting up limited companies amidst surge in demand

Letting agency, Hamptons has released data highlighting the number of limited companies set up to hold buy-to-let properties reached record highs in 2023, with 50,004 limited buy-to-let companies set up in the UK last year.  Below, James Mole, Director of property funding and insurance firm, J3 Advisory provides expert insight into what this could mean for UK property developers who are investing in buy-to-let properties, and what is driving this change in the market.  “Landlords have two options when it

Opportunities for Hotel to Residential Conversions

Commercial property has historically been viewed as the more profitable asset class but more recently, residential property values have taken over. This is evident in the number of companies, across the board, converting commercial to residential property – from John Lewis investing in Build to Rent homes, to the many former office blocks that have been converted to residential units.  We deal with several such properties: an example of this is Peartree House, a former office block in Harlow, Essex. LRG r

Reform urgently required to improve local plan review process and increase number of up-to-date plans

An absence of up-to-date local plans stemming from the uncertainty surrounding the current requirement to review existing policies is causing difficulties for developers and local authorities alike, according to new research from planning and development consultancy Lichfields. While the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) was meant to address the problem of outdated local plans by requiring a review of plans every five years, the new research has found that this process is not operating effectively

Hiring for the future: New findings highlight how to attract best in market talent to your business

The annual report, ‘Hiring for the Future’ supports business owners within the property, real estate and construction industries approach recruitment and talent solutions in 2024. Key findings: ·      78% of employees would not sacrifice 5% of their salary if their employer was carbon neutral. ·      36% of employees find dedicated career pages most valuable when researching a company. ·      62% of employees prefer to be employed by a mid-sized company. ·      57% of businesses said they are most active

Principle recruits experienced property manager to help grow south portfolio

Molly Wheeler joins Principle from Remus, where she worked for nearly three years as a property manager and more recently as a senior estates manager. Ms Wheeler, a qualified member of the Institute of Residential Property Management and a Certified Practitioner at the Chartered Institute of Housing (CertCIH), had also previously worked as a property manager with GH Property Management Ltd. Polly Dyer, property director at Principle, explained that Ms Wheeler would now be working closely with new  senior

Foxtons sees 46% jump in London homebuyer activity

London's largest lettings and sales estate agent brand*, Foxtons, has revealed that the firm has seen a sharp uplift in both the number of sales applicants entering the London market in the last 30 days, as well as the number of viewings being scheduled across the firm’s 50+ branches.  At the start of 2024, data from independent industry source, TwentyCi, found that Foxtons has been the fastest growing sales estate agent in the top 10 in 2023, increasing market share by 28% year on year. Foxtons were also

Construction starts on hundreds of new homes in Oxford

Work will shortly begin to deliver hundreds of affordable homes, retail spaces and community facilities across Blackbird Leys, now formal planning permission has been granted by Oxford City Council. The council’s planning committee approved plans to carry out the transformational redevelopment in August, following more than four years of engagement with the Blackbird Leys community and more than 1,500 pieces of feedback from local residents and stakeholders.  The plans by housing association Peabody (form

Quarter of tenants turn off heating to pay rent

Hard-up rental tenants are going without heating and food in order to pay their landlords, a new survey has found.  The study by Quotezone.co.uk revealed that 26% of tenants have turned their heating off to ensure they can meet their monthly rent.  A further 15% said they had gone without food so they could pay their rent with another 7% admitting to turning off electrical items to save on energy bills.  The cost of living crisis and high cost of fuel along with soaring rents means tenants are under sever

The Hill Group acquires 71 acres to deliver landmark development in South-East Buckinghamshire

Award-winning housebuilder The Hill Group has today announced the acquisition of 71 acres of land with outline planning for a significant new settlement in Little Chalfont, south-east Buckinghamshire. The acquisition of the former golf club site and neighbouring property was facilitated by the acquisition of two local landowner companies, Biddulph (Buckinghamshire) Ltd. and Homestead (REL) Ltd. The sale was undertaken by CBRE. Nestled in the serenity of Home County countryside, Little Chalfont Park will b

Tips to save money with heat networks

Keeping heating bills as low as possible is always desirable. In today’s highly volatile energy market that’s particularly important. With ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, it’s wise to anticipate future energy price shocks - and that means reining in costs wherever possible. There are a number of ways to do this. However, often the biggest impact is achieved through improving equipment performance.  Waste not, want not When heat networks perform optimally, they use significantly less ener

FirstPort achieves five-star grading in British Safety Council audit for eighth year in a row

Property management company FirstPort has achieved a five-star grading in the British Safety Council’s Occupational Health and Safety Audit for the eighth consecutive year.  The five-star grading demonstrates FirstPort’s dedication towards the continual improvement of its occupational health and safety management systems, policies, and processes.   The latest best practice accreditation, carried out in November 2023, involved British Safety Council auditors visiting FirstPort developments and meeting wit

© 2025 News On The Block. All rights reserved.

News on the Block is a trading name of Premier Property Media Ltd.

We use cookies to improve your experience on our site. By using our site you consent cookies.