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James Massey, the Managing Director of Facilities Management at MRI Software, delves into key tech trends he is seeing as we begin the year, shedding light on how they are poised to revolutionise the industry in 2024 As we step into a new year, the Facilities Management (FM) and Property Management (PM) landscape is set to undergo a tech-driven transformation that promises to redefine the way teams operate and maintain our built environments. Spearheading this evolution are three key trends: the widesprea

Issue 128 of News on the Block has now been published and is available for subscribers to read online now. This issue includes a special Property Management Awards 2023 feature and includes some of the following articles. Mixed reactions to lease reforms in King’s Speech The importance of staying compliant  Spotlight on small operators AI second that emotion! Insurance commissions: could they be at risk? BAC to the grindstone! Why resident engagement strategies really matter Landlords... beware o

Kevin Sims, Director of Sales & Marketing at SO Resi:   Location, location, location “With the market proving to be unpredictable as ever this year, one thing which buyers are sure of is being strategic in the places they buy. Proximity to London and amenities help to reduce commuting times and costs whilst in turn aiding our strategy in where we provide affordable housing. “This means that the Thames Valley region is proving to be a property hotspot this year, with a markedly denser population than its h

The King’s Speech on 7 November 2023 has finally provided some welcome clarity about the key elements of the Government’s next phase of residential leasehold reform. The proposal for the Leasehold and Freehold Bill shows an ongoing commitment by the Government to reform leasehold and fulfil its promise to make extending your lease or buying your freehold ‘easier, faster, fairer and cheaper' for leaseholders.  The proposal for a Bill outlines a number of reforms to the leasehold system, which will extend r

The leasehold industry is a complex area and one that’s full of challenges. It is a great sector to work in. The leasehold industry is a complex area and one that’s full of challenges. It is one of the worst sectors to work in. Which of those statements is true? In short, both. Whichever way you view it, the leasehold sector is challenging, not least due to the complexities of the Law. If you ask someone today how they feel about this sector, you may hear a completely different answer to the same one aske

Leases are, essentially, a bundle of rights and obligations between two or more parties. Some of those rights and obligations require the parties to do things by a given date. The following are typical examples: the tenant’s obligation to pay rent (usually on a fixed date or on given dates – e.g. “the Usual Quarter Days”); the landlord’s power to instigate a rent review; the landlord’s power/ obligation to serve an interim rent demand; the tenant’s obligation to pay an interim deman

2023 has by any method of measurement been a challenging and game-changing year for the residential property management sector.  In just 12 months we have seen changes to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order, and changes to Building Regulations, the largest developers and house builders have (mostly) signed the remediation contract with the government, and the sub 18m storey height Cladding Safety Scheme has been launched and of course the Building Safety Act (BSA) has sent property managers across t

Six months ago, an independent consultant called several England and Wales managing agents operating in the block management space, asking what ‘fair value’ meant to them in the context of insurance remuneration. Almost all agents replied with blank faces. We knew there was work to be done. A better deal for leaseholders Against a backdrop of calls to ban commission sharing between brokers and managing agents (and brokers and landlords), the FCA is using the “carrots and stick” approach to promote best pr

The season of goodwill is also a period can be a worry for property owners. No amount of digital information can replace human eyes, intuition and experience. For example, seven years ago, when I moved out of agency into proptech, the buzz words were ‘digital twin’. But, as usual with such things, the gestation period seems very long. The issues being wrestled with are the same as for any other digitisation – finding a common language and dataset to be trusted by everyone.   Remote monitoring of sensors a

Tickets for the return of a renowned property management residential conference have been released. The Oxford Weekender is organised by Property Management Legal Services in partnership with the Institute of Residential Property Management. It will take place next from March 22-24, 2024, and is one of the most popular events in the property management calendar. More than 40 key-note addresses, workshops and updates from industry experts will be included at the conference based in historic St Hugh’s Colle

New research from a leading construction professional body shows a large proportion of people would not buy a newly built property due to concerns over quality. The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has published its ‘New Build Housing: How regulation can improve the consumer journey report. It explores public perceptions of new build homes along with levels of awareness of the standards housebuilders must adhere to and where to turn for help when they’re not met. Its findings highlight how housebuil

As promised in November’s Kings Speech, the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill (“the Bill”) has now been laid before Parliament.  Amongst other things, the Government has stated the aim of the Bill is to make it easier and cheaper for leaseholders to extend their leases and buy their freehold.  Many clients are asking what this bill means for them. In particular, leaseholders want to know if they should bring a lease extension or enfranchisement claim now, or if they should wait – a question which is very