Roadshow
Flat Living on the road The first of Flat Living’s Leaseholder Roadshows took place in London in November Visitors to Flat Living’s first roadshow at One Wimpole Street in Westminster, were treated to presentations from our team of experts who spoke on a broad range of subjects – all of interest to anyone living in or managing a leasehold property. The Leasehold Advisory Service and specialist insurer Residentsline also exhibited at the roadshow and received a high level of interest.
What is leasehold and managing your block? ARMA technical officer, Geraldine Shortall, gave visitors to the roadshow an overview of the leasehold market and the role of ARMA. Of the 6 million flats in England & Wales, 1.8m are privately owned, 720,000 self manage and 1.08m use a managing agent. Of these, 900,000 employ an ARMA member. ARMA exists to represent the interests of managing agents and their clients – leaseholders, landlords and Resident Management companies.
How to extend your lease Samantha Bone, a partner with commercial law firm Wallace LLP, gave attendees a clear insight into the process for acquiring individual lease extensions, explaining the formal process for tenants in residential blocks to acquire a 90 year lease extension on their properties. Wallace works closely with surveyors to advise landlords and tenants on their respective rights. The company has extensive experience in this specialist area and handles hundreds of leasehold enfranchisement cases each year. Chartered surveyor John Byers from Langley Byers Bennett explained how lease extension costs are calculated. LBB are a professional practice of chartered surveyors specialising in lease extensions, leasehold enfranchisement and building surveying as well as offering property litigation advice.
Service Charge Disputes Challenging service charges is complex and requires a detailed understanding of the subject. David Sillitoe from the Service Charge Company spoke to attendees at the roadshow on the reasons why it pays to consult the experts if you are unhappy with the charges being levied by your landlord.
Leasehold enfranchisement Graham Jaffe is a property lawyer heading up the leasehold enfranchisement team at commercial and private client practice Jaffe Porter Crossick. Graham explained lease enfranchisement versus Right to Manage, guiding roadshow visitors through this rapidly developing area of the law. John Byers from Langley Byers Bennett followed Graham’s presentation with details of how enfranchisement costs are calculated.
Stay healthy – and safe Simon Cooke from Aviva Risk Management Solutions introduced visitors
to all the important aspects of health and safety that residents in blocks of flats and RMC directors in particular should be familiar with. His presentation looked in detail at asbestos, gas and fire safety legislation, managing maintenance and carrying out risk assessments.
Service Charge Arrears SLC Solicitors is a niche law firm specialising in the fast growing residential block management sector providing services to recover service charge and ground rent arrears. Alison Mclachlan explained how to instruct a solicitor, the way in which the debt recovery process works and how to access the LVT.
All about insurance If your property’s sum insured is inadequate a major loss could be a life changing experience. Martyn Barrett from buildings insurance valuation specialists Barrett Corp Harrington explained that in order for insurance policies to provide the protection that leaseholders need, sums insured must be set at the right level. Martyn warned of the perils of having the wrong cover and explained BCH’s new ‘flat rate’ service.
The Right to Manage The Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners (ALEP) was established to ensure that valuers, solicitors, intermediaries and others involved in leasehold enfranchisement adhere to an agreed level of conduct and service. ALEP member John Midgely, a partner with Seddon’s Solicitors talked to visitors about the Right to Manage from both the leaseholder and landlord’s perspective, bringing clarity to an often misunderstood process.
What is the FPRA? The Federation of Private Residents Associations (FPRA) exists to offer its 500-plus members impartial advice on a range of legal and other problems concerning their lease and the management of their blocks, whether their tenancy is Long Leasehold, Rent Act, or Assured Shorthold. Chief executive Robert Levene spoke at the roadshow about the role of the FPRA and the range of issues it is currently tackling on behalf of its members. To download any of our experts’ presentations, go to www.flat-living.co.uk
Bournemouth Roadshow Our next Leaseholder Roadshow will be held at the Wessex Hotel, West Cliff Road, Bournemouth on 7 May. To sign up for more information and to get your tickets, go to www.flat-living.co.uk or call 0845 257 6374
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