Issue 103

Issue 103

Your planet needs you!

5 ways you can do your bit

The Magazine For Apartment Living

£4.50 Issue 103 / 2019

Why security should be seen as an investment

Prop Tech & Security Latest updates and all you need to know to stay ahead The recipe for the perfect major works

contents ISSUE 103

12 Block Management Companies Challenged By Unprofitable Growth Exclusive preview of the Fixflo Leasehold and Block Management Market Report infocus ALEP conference The conference, which tackled a wide range of issues, attracted 280 delegates 9 Landlords back plans to merge NLA and RLA The UK's largest landlord organisations are to merge 11 Appointments Latest appointments in the industry news 5 ‘Name and shame’ threat to tower block owners Owners who have failed to replace dangerous cladding could be named and shamed 7 Record numbers turn out for

inresidence

15 Your planet needs you! 5 ways you can do your bit to help the earth 17 Three core skills to look for in property managers Look out for the 3 Cs, advises Peter Bigge 18 The Recipe for the Perfect Major Works Project Questions and feedback from property managers and solicitors

inbox

20 Resident’s

concerns and Call of the month! Readers ask the experts

How many Build to Rent units does your company manage?

Specialists in the installation and maintenance of smoke control and fire safety systems

Emergency Lighting Fire Safety Signage Remote Monitoring Smoke Vent Systems Dry Risers Fire Risk Assessments Fire Alarm Systems Fire Hydrants Portable Fire Extinguishers

Further discounts for multiple services UKAS - SSAIB - BAFE Third Party Accredited • Safe Contractor, Construction line and CHAS Accredited • Members of the Fire Industry Association and Smoke Control Association • Fully Insured

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ISSUE 103

@newsontheblock News on the Block

News on the Block is the leading independent magazine providing help and advice to flat owners, landlords, managing agents and their professional advisors. www.newsontheblock.com SMS US: 0786 002 1858

FORMORE INFORMATION www.newsontheblock.com

Prop Tech & Security

Prop Tech & Security

inpractice 35 My Month: Nathan Caley JB Leitch’s director of IT describes how one of his months recently panned out 37 Court rules on management company dispute Andrew Morgan looks at a recent High Court ruling

23 PropTech’s role in helping our high streets Residential property could offer real opportunities in Britain’s dwindling town and city centres 25 Stand out from your competitors If you get your block management software right, you can make a real difference 27 Opening up about entry system upgrades! Vernon Taylor explains all you need to know about the array of entry systems that are available

intheknow 39 Upcoming events in the industry There’s a packed calendar of events in the next fewmonths

29 Why invest in property risk

management software? If health and safety and compliance work is slowing you down, it's time to look at a solution, argues Peter Moore 31 How secure is your PropTech? If you are using technology you need to consider how safe it is to use 33 Why security should be seen as an investment Azeem Rashid urges property management companies to swallow the cost of training security staff

directory 40 Help at hand A selection of companies offering help to leaseholders

Stand out from your competitors

recruiting property people

RECRUITMENT COMPANY OF THE YEAR

PARTNER OF THE YEAR

37 - 39 High Holborn, London, WC1V 6AA www.abbatt.co.uk + 44 (0) 20 7430 0088

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ISSUE 103

DILLONS

Don’t gamble with your block management Dillons have many years of block management experience and a range of services including the collection of service charges, annual accounts preparation, staff supervision, organisation of small & major repair works, liason with lessees & preparation of section 20 notices.

So you can be sure with Dillons managing your block your’re in safe hands.

For full details of our property management service please contact us.

Your Local Residential Managing Agent 619 Holloway Road, London N19 5SS t: 020 7561 5230 f: 020 7561 5231

e: [email protected] w:www.dillonsproperty.co.uk

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ISSUE 103

news

‘Name and shame’ threat to owners of tower blocks

O wners of tower blocks named and shamed within weeks. The claim comes after it was revealed some developers still have no clear plans to remove flammable cladding – five months after ministers pledged £200m to remove it from 170 privately owned high-rises. Housing secretary Robert Jenrick told a Conservative Party conference fringe event that unless developers came up with a clear plan, he could name and shame them soon, The Mirror reported. Admitting the issue had given him “sleepless nights”, he said: “I think now that the taxpayer is paying for that there is absolutely no justification whatsoever for further delay. “And I’ve said that if in a couple of weeks or so we don’t have a clear plan for every one of those privately- owned buildings, then we’re going to get d into the business of naming and shaming who owns those buildings. And asking them to explain very publicly why they’re not taking further action.” who have failed to replace dangerous cladding could be

Mr Jenrick has already indicated that he could name and shame tower block owners but did not set a time limit. For more than a year after the Grenfell disaster that claimed 72 lives, the government said it was for private developers to fund the repairs themselves. • Grenfell Tower survivors have been living in a block of flats with a high risk of fire, according to a risk assessment report commissioned by a resident. In July 2018, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea acquired 31 flats on Hortensia Road, London, for survivors of the tragedy. The new- build property was bought from a private contractor as part of the 300 homes for Grenfell survivors. A fire risk assessment completed last month concluded that current provisions were not satisfactory and that the building was at high risk of fire. Sarah Jones MP, the shadow housing minister, said: “No one should be living in unsafe buildings, but of all people, putting Grenfell survivors at risk of another fire is a complete disgrace.”

A swimming pool that will be the “float” 115ft in the air between two apartment blocks is set to be opened next summer. The pool – which is being dubbed the world’s first sky pool – will join two blocks together in Vauxhall, south London. Residents will be able to swim between the blocks at the Embassy Gardens development in the 25-metre long pool. Breathtaking images showwhat the pool, which is currently undergoing final testing in Colorado, will look like once completed. Brian Eckersley, the man behind the pool’s engineering said: “Once you swim off, you can look right down. It will be like flying.” Prices of the 2,000 apartmentswill range from £600,000 to £5m for the penthouse suite. Alongside the pool – which will hold 400 tonnes of water – residents will also have a number of other amenities available to them, including a gym and spa, and a cinema that can be hired out for private parties. Sky pool idea set to float!

Arrest after man’s threat to ‘blow up’ flats

A man who allegedly threatened to blow up a block of flats has been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and intent to endanger life. Police forced their way into the east London building and detained the man

“blow it up” at about 8.40pm. Residents were evacuated from the 12-storey building and were gathered at a local community centre. Firefighters and paramedics were also sent to the scene at Earlsdown House in Wheelers Cross.

after hours of attempting to negotiate with him. Officers were called to reports that a man had barricaded himself inside a seventh floor flat in Barking. He was threatening to burn the block down and

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news

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ISSUE 103

news

Record numbers flock to attend ALEP conference

A woman who has lived in an leave and find a new home. Lynn Bell and 16 other tenants at the building in Trent Vale, Stoke-on-Trent, have received letters telling them the landlord has sold the property. Now Lynn, who lives on her own, is waiting for the council housing team to find her a new home. The 67-year-old said: “What has happened is disgusting. They should have given us more warning, two months doesn’t seem a long time, and I wanted to spend the rest of my life here. I don’t want to be dealing with this at this time of my life.” A spokesman from the company that has bought the block, Fairhome Group, said: “We have acquired the properties and plan to refurbish them to provide high- quality supported living accommodation for people with learning difficulties.” Woman given two months to quit her home of 20 years apartment for 20 years has been told she has just two months to

A record-breaking number of property influencers flocked to this year’s Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners’ (ALEP) Annual Conference. The conference, which attracted 280 delegates, tackled a wide range of issues as the sector gears up for some of its biggest changes. Commonhold and regional relativity emerged as the main topics at the September meeting.   Mark Chick, ALEP director, said: “The ALEP Conference is one of the sector’s biggest events where delegates expect debate on timely, pertinent topics. The sector is facing its biggest changes yet, and the ALEP Conference provides a platform for speakers and professionals to voice opinions, A n investigation is continuing after a fire broke out in a block of flats near Grenfell Tower. Around 70 fire-fighters and ten fire engines rushed to the blaze in Markland House, Notting Hill, in the shadow of the site of the tragic two years ago. Footage showed smoke rising from a flat, with Grenfell Tower R eal estate software firm MRI Software has revealed it has given its business a major boost after making a triple acquisition. MRI will bolster its offering after acquiring PropTech innovator Leverton, which provides an artificial intelligence-powered >Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48

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