Countrywide Estate Management, second only to Peverel / FirstPort in terms of size, did not apply to join ARMA-Q before the January 1 deadline and is therefore no longer a member of the trade body. ARMA itself had repeatedly declined to clarify the status of Countrywide, which last month was dumped by Bovis Homes at […]
ARMA membership … find out on Twitter!
January 20, 2015 By
In piecemeal fashion, ARMA is announcing companies that have signed-up to the new regulatory regime ARMA-Q on Twitter. These are the new criteria for membership of the trade body. The decision marks an abrupt reversal of a decision last week by Michelle Banks, the CEO, to announce the accredited companies in February once all applications […]
London LEASE conference on February 4
January 16, 2015 By
The annual conference of the Leasehold Advisory Service takes place on February 4. The free evening conference for leaseholders takes place from 18.15 and the venue is: etc venues, 200 Aldersgate, St. Paul’s, London EC1A 4HD Those wishing to attend need to pre-register here LEASE says: “This conference aims to inform, educate and offer support […]
Interview with LEASE chairman Roger Southam
January 16, 2015 By
Campaign against retirement leasehold exploitation / LKP welcomes the appointment of Roger Southam, a successful block managing agent, as chairman of the Leasehold Advisory Service. Changes have long been required at the quango, and at least we can now have dialogue with someone who has publicly and repeatedly acknowledged that there are defects in the […]
Peverel Retirement up before the ARMA regulator before it can join ARMA-Q
January 15, 2015 By
A complaint about Peverel Retirement is being considered by ARMA regulator Keith Hill even before the trade body rules on whether it meets the criteria of ARMA-Q. The complaint comes from Alex Ellison, whose mother lives in Mere Court, in Knutsford, Cheshire. It concerns Peverel’s ownership and disposal of house managers’ flats.
Gateway Property Management takes over as Countrywide is dumped by Bovis Homes
January 14, 2015 By
Gateway Property Management has taken over the Swindon sites of Bovis Homes after Countrywide was given its marching orders last month. Owing to the intervention of the Leasehold Knowledge Partnership, Bovis Homes finally lost patience with Countrywide and dumped it at all sites across the country.
How can we stop Peverel spending £20,000 on fire alarm upgrade?
January 12, 2015 By
Can readers share their experiences to help this gentleman? (Prompts to use commercial services may be removed) Hello Sebastian, Thank you for your prompt reply to my email about Homepine House in Kent. I would like to understand more about their problems as we may have a similar problem looming here. I live in XXX. […]
ARMA-Q members to be revealed next month
January 11, 2015 By
Has Peverel / FirstPort made the cut to join ARMA’s ethically enhanced membership scheme? Or Countrywide? We won’t know until next month, unless the companies themselves indicate that they are accredited – as is the case with the LKP member HML Holdings plc.
Leaseholder Association Pt 2 (Originally headlined: I don’t like our RTM, but what can I do?)
January 2, 2015 By
This article initially addressed this reader’s question (below), but evolved into an extended discussion of the Leaseholder Association again. This was the initiative of the Leaseholder Association itself, with replies from website readers, rather than of Campaign against retirement leasehold exploitation. Hopefully discussion of the Leaseholder Association can now cease until there is something of relevance […]
Campaign against retirement leasehold exploitation tells minister leaseholders should be included in Flood Re insurance plan
December 19, 2014 By
Most flat owners remain excluded from Flood Re, the government’s scheme to ensure that flood-prone properties are covered by some form of insurance. Campaign against retirement leasehold exploitation has written to DEFRA Minister Dan Rogerson expressing its strong disappointment. Flood Re is a government-brokered deal with insurers that aims to ensure that those in homes […]
Roger Southam is new chairman of LEASE
December 15, 2014 By
… and Countrywide executive appointed to the board (which means there is still no representative of leaseholders) The colourful property manager Roger Southam, of Chainbow, is today announced as the new chairman of the Leasehold Advisory Service. Mr Southam, a chartered surveyor, founded Chainbow but sold out most, perhaps all, its residential management contracts to Trinity […]
Leaseholder Association: Is secret mediation really the cure-all for leasehold?
December 10, 2014 By
UPDATEDudley Joiner demands removal of Leaseholder Association leaflet published on LKP / Campaign against retirement leasehold exploitationDudley Joiner, of the Leasehold Association, has insisted that the letter explaining the organisation be removed from the LKP / Campaign against retirement leasehold exploitation websites.He claims it is a breach of copyright to reproduce the document, which was […]
