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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

In an era where environmental consciousness is on the rise, individuals and businesses alike are seeking ways to minimise their ecological footprint. Buildings, being responsible for about 42% of annual global CO2 emissions, are largely contributing to global warming and other environmental factors. Chris Martin, Sale's Director at Skip Hire UK said: “Landlords, being key players in the housing sector, can make a significant impact by fostering a greener mindset among their tenants. This not only contribu

Linz Darlington is the Managing Director of lease extension specialists, Homehold and feels very passionate about the topic of the Leasehold Reform Bill.    Linz commented, "A key policy objective of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill is to make it cheaper and easier for people to extend their leases and buy their freeholds.  However, the legislation is deafeningly silent on the prescribed rates that will dictate the cost of doing this. Instead it delegates this important task to the Secretary of Stat

Leading Birmingham commercial property agency Siddall Jones has purchased Bromsgrove-based 4D Property Management, which specialises in asset management. Ed Siddall-Jones, the managing director of Siddall Jones, explained that the strategic purchase meant the business could now serve an even broader range of clients across the West Midlands and further afield. 4D Properties Limited was established in 2001 and is a successful niche company specialising in high-net-worth clients who invest in, or already ho

One of the South-Wests largest independent property agents celebrates its 30th year this month and owner & founder Darren Stocks MIRPM, AssocRICS says, "It’s been a long road, I started as a young 24 year old lad by opening a small office on the same day my daughter Rebecca was born I might add, 12th February 1994 and we remain in the same road that we trade from today albeit we have moved into larger premises". Mr Stocks adds, “the key to Crowns success has always been people and not property, most of my

Abloy UK has delved into multi-residential access trends and key market drivers in a new whitepaper, “The future of multi-residential access management”, encompassing environments such as apartments, university accommodation, care homes, and more. Chris Pike, Business Development Manager – Multi Occupancy at Abloy UK, explains: “Multi-residential housing - or multi-family as it’s also known - is Europe’s second-largest real estate sector, and we are seeing digitalisation gathering pace in this arena with

The private rented sector is a vital part of England’s housing market. Around 4.6 million properties are privately rented, representing nearly one-fifth of households in England. The Government is taking a closer look at the sector through the introduction of the Renters Reform Bill, which aims to improve conditions for both tenants and landlords. The reasoning behind this decision draws upon the fact that some renters face "a precarious lack of security" while landlords are being "undercut by a minority

Heat network specialist, Insite Energy, has been awarded a contract  by London housing association, Notting Hill Genesis (NHG), to deliver credit billing services to 2,857 customers following a competitive tender.  Commencing this month, the services contract covers a five-year initial period, followed by an expected extension of an additional five years. The anticipated 10-year period is more than three times the average tendered contract length for this scope of services. The contract will see Insite

A fire in a west London apartment block has engaged the efforts of approximately 125 firefighters and twenty fire engines. The incident, reported on Elm Road in Wembley this afternoon, resulted in part of the building's roof catching fire. Although the cause of the blaze is currently unknown, the London Fire Brigade (LFB) has announced that it was brought under control around 10 p.m. As a precautionary measure, the affected block and adjacent buildings were evacuated, with all residents accounted for foll

Title Guardian, a leading provider of smart property protection technology, announces a new partnership with the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) which will allow the NRLA’s membership to benefit from Title Guardian’s anti-fraud, digital monitoring tool. This collaboration will provide landlords with advanced tools to combat the rising threat of property fraud, including unauthorised sub-letting, properties that are illegally used as business addresses, and title fraud. You can read more

The Leasehold & Freehold Reform Bill has reached the committee stage after its first and second readings, with sittings diarised through to 1st February. It will then make its way through the House of Lords, before coming back for amendments to be considered, and ultimately Royal Assent. The government’s consultation around capping ground rent that most leaseholders currently pay closed on 17th January and the feedback is being analysed. So what is proposed? Leasehold & Freehold Reform Bill Numerous chang

Leasehold properties make up a substantial proportion of properties available to tenants in the UK. It’s estimated that there are approximately 4.86 million leasehold homes in England, of which 69 percent are flats and 31 percent are houses. But how are leaseholds managed and what are the key things tenants and landlords need to know? Anushka Nicholas, Head of the Leasehold Enfranchisement team at Blacks Solicitors, shares her best advice for landlords and tenants of leasehold properties. What is a leaseh