For apartment block managers and Residents’ Management Companies (RMC) , the administration relating to the upkeep of the building and related tasks can prove overwhelming.  But when you use purpose-designed software for managing blocks of flats, fulfilling your responsibilities and accessing block management services and resources can be reduced from a time-consuming chore to a…

More and more apartment residents are taking charge of their environments and investments by forming Residents Management Companies.  This arrangement gives occupants the opportunity to manage their building as they see fit, in conjunction with their neighbours, to create stable communities and welcoming homes. Of course, any company needs to be well organized administratively if…

Darren Bagnall from Manage Your Block explains the difference between Leasehold and Freehold. The roots of land ownership laws in England go back many centuries, and the body of law we are left with today is very complex which is why solicitors must be involved whenever you buy or sell property. When it comes to…

Darren Bagnall from Manage Your Block explains exactly what a listed building is. Most people are aware of the existence of ‘listed” buildings and the fact that there are extra controls around what can and can’t be altered by their owners, but what does being ‘listed’ actually mean? The List Being listed means just that-…

Darren Bagnall from Manage Your Block explains the importance of working smoke detectors. The importance of fire safety, both from an insurance point of view and simply for the sake of those in your household, should not be underestimated. According to Government statistics, in the year to September 2020 there were 27,797 primary dwelling fires…

Darren Bagnall from Block in a Box advises the Residents’ Management Company (RMC) must ‘take all reasonable precautions to prevent or minimise loss, destruction, damage, accident or injury and maintain the premises, machinery, equipment to a good state of repair”. Things to consider: It may be convenient to overlook any maintenance issues, even for a short…

Darren Bagnall, Managing Director of Flat Living Insurance investigates the risks to Residents’ Management Company Directors  whilst performing their duties. Those who serve on a Residents’ Management Company (RMC), Right to Manage (RTM) or Residents Association (RA) committee often do so in a very selfless way. They work with the best interests of the individual…

That dreaded time comes round when you have received your insurance renewal details through your post box… have you ever considered what Insurers look at when they are calculating your premium or what you can do to help keep the cost down? Sinead Campbell, of London Flats Insurance, discusses what insurers look at when they…

Belinda Thorpe, Managing Director at Residentsline Flats Insurance explains what policies are available to ensure your block has the adequate cover in place. Residential Buildings Insurance Residents’ Management Company (RMC) directors and committee members often take on the task of arranging buildings insurance on behalf of their fellow residents. Ensuring your block is adequately covered…

A service charge is a charge paid each year by the landlord or tenant. This money goes towards the everyday cost of running the property and is split between the number of units in the block. The service charge includes costs towards:   When issued, a service charge will lay out the costs of the…

There has never been a more tumultuous time to manage a block of flats. Between the new leasehold reforms introduced this summer to the cladding regulations affecting thousands across the nation, self-managed directors have a massive amount to keep up with. On top of this, the never-ending changes to COVID restrictions mean that managing a…