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AU TU M N 2 011

Issue 8 flat-living.co.uk

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For advertising enquiries call 0845257 6374 or visit www.flat-living.co.uk lesleyDavis Editor editor@flatliving.co.uk WarwickSmith Consultant Publisher warwick@flatliving.co.uk NeilPorteous Commercial Director neil@flat-living.co.uk SueHodnett Subscriptions Administrator sue@flat-living.com Publishedby www.flat-living.co.uk Ltd 5 Addisons Way, Lilleshall, Newport TF10 9HH Tel 0845 257 6374 Fax 0845 257 6319 email info@flat-living.co.uk

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To ensure you receive every copy of Flat Living magazine and to receive news updates, please subscribe at www.flat-living.co.uk/ products/subscribe_to_flat_living.htm Welcome to the Autumn issue of Flat Living and my first as Editor. This is our eighth issue and to celebrate two years of keeping readers up-to-date with the highs (and sometimes lows) of leasehold life, we have given Flat Living a makeover. The magazine now has a fresh, bright new look with a bold, easy-to-read design and new regular features. We are delighted with the positive feedback we receive from our readers and hope you continue to find the articles, news and comment entertaining, useful and informative.

This issue is packed full of fabulous flats and exciting interiors, with every Arsenal fan’s favourite development, Highbury Square, featured on our Lifestyle pages, plus major features on lease extensions and service charges. Our new Advice pages offer plenty of tips and expert guidance on property, maintenance and insurance issues in a new section starting on page 19.

Opinion on page 28 includes the first of a regular column from FPRA Chairman Bob Smytherman and Aston Rose’s John Williams gives us his take on professional block management. We also talk to ALEP’s Alex Greenslade about what his organisation is doing to help leaseholders get a better deal both from professional advisers and the Government and we publish your news and views in Letters on page 30.

ARMA now has its own pages, with all advice and information from the Association in one, easy-to-find section of the magazine, starting on page 35 of this issue.

Lease extensions and service charges are two aspects of leasehold life that crop up time and time again. So we have tackled both in this issue , giving readers plenty of information, links to useful websites and some tips for getting the best from the professionals. If there is one thing leaseholders should know about extending their lease, as ALEP’s Alex Greenslade points out on page 33, it is that it is never too soon to start thinking about it. On pages 47-51, we explain the process, identify the advisers you will need to help you extend your lease and we even do the maths, to work out how much extending your lease is likely to cost.

The thorny issue of service charges is in the spotlight on pages 53 – 58. The message for readers here is plan ahead – don’t be caught out by unexpected bills and if you do get into a dispute with your freeholder, the experts explain what to do next.

Finally, don’t forget to enter our crossword competition on page 62 – you could win £50 of Marks and Spencer’s vouchers.

We hope you enjoy this issue of Flat Living. We are always pleased to hear from readers so drop us a line or send us an email and let us know what you would like to see in your magazine.

lesley Davis

Editor