Darren Bagnall from Manage Your Block looks at the important issue of fire prevention in blocks of flats. Fire safety in residential blocks is built on several principles, with compartmentation considered one of the most important. Compartmentation refers to the way buildings are divided into separate, fire-resistant sections. Each section is designed to stop fire…

Darren Bagnall from Manage Your Block explores how shared spaces, community events and resident engagement can help build a welcoming, safe and homely environment. Leaseholders living side by side and sharing communal spaces does not necessarily make for a supportive, communicative environment. In fact, for many, it can mean the opposite. For many leaseholders, living…

Darren Bagnall from Manage Your Block provides some useful, eco-friendly interior design tips. Creating a stylish, comfortable home does not have to be achieved at the expense of the environment. As leaseholders in the UK look for ways to reduce their carbon footprint, styling flats with sustainability and energy-efficiency in great way to combine good…

Darren Bagnall from Manage Your Block outlines the issues commonly faced, including how to determine where responsibility lies and how to go about your repairs. Historic buildings are full of character and charm but they require careful maintenance. Leaseholders in older properties often face issues with damp, timber decay and structural movement, all of which…

Darren Bagnall from Manage Your Block explains these changes and highlighting relevant legal cases heard in 2024. 2024 has been a year of widespread change for the leasehold sector. These changes have impacted leaseholders, freeholders and managing agents alike. The changes have been made to address longstanding issues around transparency, excessive fees and poor management…

Darren Bagnall from Manage Your Block explains what RTM and Enfranchisement entails and makes you aware of key factors that may factor into the decision-making process. Effective management is key to maintaining the value of your block and the standard of living for your fellow residents. When residents choose to take control of a block…

Darren Bagnall from Manage Your Block, explains what can be done to demonstrate to insurers that the buildings maintenance and inspections are in hand, and that any risks are being pointedly reduced, if not avoided, by block managers. Insurers don’t just evaluate the structure of the building when considering a suitable policy. The overall condition…