News & Views

Stamp out the fire

London Fire Brigade (LFB) has pledged to reduce property fires in the capital city over the next three years.

Under its latest safety plan, agreed by the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, LFB has said it will slash the number of blazes in homes by 2% on current levels between now and 2013. Over the same period, the brigade will also attempt to slash fires in non-domestic properties - such as business premises - by at least ten per cent.

It has set even tougher objectives for the decline of fires in rubbish by aiming to cut the number of incidents by 40 per cent. The amount of calls to bogus alarms as a result of faulty equipment will also be slashed by a tenth under the LFB pledges.

Ron Dobson, London fire commissioner, said: “We are constantly updating the ways that we provide Londoners with the most effective fire and rescue service.”

In an attempt to improve the efficiency of its fire fighters, LFB is also in the course of equipping its crews with new life-saving emergency care packs.

Still no ‘news’ on key accounting regulations

Brett Williams, chairman of ARMA, comments on the delays

In the last edition we wrote, perhaps somewhat over optimistically, that the new service charge accounting requirements relating to annual service charge summaries and separate bank accounts, were expected to be implemented on 6th April. Now it is Mid-May as I write and the new regulations are still not out and we have no firm indication when they will be. And with the intervening general election, some bets are now on for as late as 1st October.

It is not just a real disappointment that the new Regulations have yet to see the light of day, it is also a disgrace. A disgrace that two of the most important sections of the Act and arguably the key elements to reforming the leasehold system are still not in, eight years after the Royal Assent. It is not just about the chaos this delay has brought to the sector for managing agents, Right To Manage and Residents Management Companies; it is also about thousands of lessees who, until the new Regulations are finally implemented, are not getting the full and transparent protection of their service charge monies that they so deserve.

Let us hope that the new government do not turn their back on the leasehold system and will put this firmly at the top of their agenda.

CARLEX founder for top job

Melissa Briggs, a co-founder of the Campaign Against Retirement Leasehold EXploitation (CARLEX), stood at the general election as an independent MP in West Sussex on the issue of leasehold reform.

CARLEX is a self-help group of leaseholders, tenants, their relatives and other interested persons in a loose association who are affected by or concerned about the actions, financial issues and operational practices of developers, landlords and management companies of retirement developments. Its aims on behalf of elderly and vulnerable people are to seek fairness and justice through the law and, ultimately, to achieve changes in legislation.

IRPM exam success

Institute of Residential Property Management (IRPM) Exam success enhances Mainstay staff skills. Mainstay is a successful property management company based in Worcester.

All at Mainstay have been delighted by the recent success of their colleagues in the IRPM Level 1 exam. Overall, 41 staff sat the exam - by far the largest ever exam intake from Mainstay, and 81% passed first time.

The management at Mainstay thanks the IRPM for their support, and for making special arrangements for the exam, which was held at Mainstay Head Office, in order to cater for the number of candidates.

David Clark (MD) commented, “we are delighted with this result, which shows our commitment to ensuring our staff have the best possible support and training. It is only by having highly qualified and dedicated staff that Mainstay can be sure of delivering the best quality property management to its customers and clients. Congratulations to everyone and especially to Rachel Satchwell and Dawn Williams, who shared the highest mark with 89%.”