ARMA APPOINTS NEW CEO

The Association of Residential Managing Agents (ARMA), the only body in England and Wales to focus exclusively on residential leasehold management, has today announced the appointment of Michelle Banks as its new chief executive. The appointment follows the announcement on 12th October that David Hewett would be retiring after 15 years. Michelle leaves her post Read more

Our call for new high standard of management for blocks of flats head to the House of Lords

The Federation of Private Residents Association (FPRA) have today welcomed news that Conservative Peer Baroness Gardner of Parkes has taken up the FPRA campaign calling on the Coalition Government to introduce a minimum standard for private sector property management for blocks of flats Baroness Gardner’s question calling for a new statutory code of practice for Read more

TIME RUNNING OUT ON SKY SWITCHOVER SUBSIDIES

Managing Agents urged to act now to prepare for digital switchover The UK’s digital switchover is now in its final stages, with major TV regions such as Meridian and London set to switch by 2012. Sky has developed a specialised Communal TV Solutions team to help managing agents prepare for the Digital Switchover (DSO) and Read more

Sky Homes Launches Communal TV Specifications for New Build Sector

Sky has developed new detailed specifications for communal TV systems aimed at helping new build developers. The specifications outline all elements needed to install a coaxial Integrated Reception System (IRS) and are in line with industry regulations. The specification PDF can be downloaded for free from www.sky.com/newbuild. Offering entertainment options such as Sky TV can Read more

Property managers put consumers first at major leasehold conference

This year’s annual conference of leasehold property managers, organised by the Association Residential Managing Agents (ARMA), has focused even more closely on making life better for people living in blocks of flats. A ground-breaking initiative to further raise standards in the property management sector and fill the void left by government’s failure to regulate, was Read more

Keynote speech by Alison Seabeck MP and advice “surgery” is FPRA’s focus of 40th Anniversary Event for leaseholders

The Federation of Private Residents’ Associations (FPRA) is 40 years old in November and in association with Sky Homes it is celebrating by expanding its AGM to invite current and prospective members to attend an event where there will be a keynote speech from Shadow Housing Minister, Alison Seabeck MP; presentations by industry experts and Read more

JPC Law take solicitors awards

Graham Jaffe, senior partner with JPC Law, was named Solicitor of the Year at the third annual Enfranchisement and Right to Manage Awards (ERMAs) organised by News on the Block earlier this year. The annual awards, this year attended by more than 200 professionals, seek to recognise those firms and individuals who have excelled in Read more

ARMA urges residents to take action on concealed flues during Gas Safety Week

As the very first Gas Safety Week gets under way, the Association of Residential Managing Agents (ARMA) is urging people living in blocks of flats to act now to ensure concealed gas flues are safe. Some properties, particularly flats and apartments, have been built with gas flues behind walls or within ceilings. “Concealed flues can Read more

CHU acquires Residentsline

On 1st July 2011 Residentsline was acquired by one of the largest international specialist flats and apartments underwriting agencies – CHU Underwriting Agencies (UK) Limited. CHU are part of the global QBE Insurance Group. CHU is an Australian company that designed the very first flat specific insurance policy in Australia over 30 years ago. Today Read more

LONG-LEASEHOLDERS RESIDENTS GROUP WELCOMES NEW FIRE SAFETY GUIDANCE FOR FLATS IN ENGLAND & WALES

Following pressure from the FPRA and others the new fire safety guidance has been published today which will hopefully improve fire safety in blocks of flats. The Federation of Private Residents Association along with a variety of industry professionals have been working with The Local Government Group who were commissioned to put together specialist advice Read more