News eVents


conference2011 Flat Living will once again be attendingtheARMAConference on5Octoberwhichsoldout in record timethis year.The conference is set to address some of themajor issuesaffectingthe leaseholdsectorand will focus onimprovingprofessionalismin propertymanagement.One of the speakers will be anRMCdirector whoisgoing to be letting500-plus propertymanagers knowwhat the serviceislikefrom hisperspective andwhatheexpects ofmanaging


looking forwardto thearma


agents! Other issues will include: nUpdatesonthe latest legislation nService charge accounting nParking, clamping and towing-


away nUnderstanding the ombudsman


process and the LVT Therewillbeafullreportinthe next issue.


For more informationand to download aconferencebrochuregoto www.arma.org.uk


aDVICe


leasefunding agreeduntil 2013


Good newsforthe Leasehold Advisory Service. Despite rumours itwouldbepartofthe bonfire of quangos, itsfunding has nowbeen agreeduntil2013. Therehavebeen fearsthatLEASEwouldfallvictim to thecoalition government’s clampdownon bodiesthatare funded by thegovernmentbut not runby it.However, the service now appearstohavesaved –atleast for the foreseeable future. Accordingtochief executive


AnthonyEssien, fundinghas beenplacedona“firmbasis” by thegovernmentfor 2011 and 2012.After that LEASEwillhave to re-apply.However,Anthony remainsoptimisticthatthe advice servicewillcontinueto receivegovernmentbacking “becausewehaveagood case”. Headds: “Allwecandoistry and assist [leaseholders]. It is up to government tomake theright decisions”. TheLeaseholdAdvisoryService


offers free advice on issues relating to leaseholdproperty.


Formore informationgoto www.lease-advice.org


10


decisions anthony essien


Chief Executive Leasehold Advisory Service


Allwecan do is try andassist [leaseholders]. It is up to government tomake the right


LegaL


plasterworkispartof structure,courtrules


Arecentcaseheard in theCourt of Appealmeanslandlords may have to pay for internal repairs, saysARMA


Animportantdecisionhas been made in theCourt of Appeal in thecaseofGrandvGill. Thecase revolved around thequestionof whetherornot internalwalls classaspartofthe structureof flats. The Court ruled that “plaster formingpartoforapplied towallsand ceilingsispartofthe structureofthe relevant premises”andunanimously agreed that an obligation to repair “structure” (suchasthe obligation contained in section 11 of theLandlord&TenantAct


1985)includedplasterwork. This decision isimportanttolocal authorities, social landlords andhousing lawyersaswellas leaseholders,becausethe issue ofwhetherlandlordsare liable to repair damage to internal plasterworkhas beenunclear fora number of years. Sowhat does thismean for


leaseholders?ARMAsaysthat, despitethe judgement in Grand v Gill, if the lease clearly puts the internal plasteronwalls of flats


agents


Blockandapartment managersjoinforces toofferrtmservice


YoungGroup andblockmanagers ChainbowLimited have joined forces to offeraRight toManage servicetoleaseholders,allowing themto appointthemanaging agents of theirchoice. Both companiesbelieve that RTMisan effectivewaytoimprove both the investment valueofblocksand quality of life forresidents. Since2009, thecompanies’


jointworkhasimproved the quality of blocks including,most recently,MyBaseinSE1.The four-year-olddevelopment, built by BuxtonHomes, comprises155 apartments (102 privateand 53 social housing),eight houses and sevencommercialunits.RTM wasthe only option availablefor changingmanagingagentsand YoungGroupCEO,NeilYoung, approached Chainbowtoinitiate theprocessafter receiving feedback fromtenants, clientsand neighbouringowneroccupiers that raised concerns over the maintenanceandmanagement of thedevelopment. Neil Young,CEOof Young Group,


pointedout;“MyBasewasanewly builtdevelopmentbutwithin a short period fromcompletion, thefactthatmaintenanceissues werenotresolvedastheyoccurred, meant that they becamemore significant – creatingmore damage andbecoming costlier to repair.” OneMyBaselandlord, Richard


RtMis


welcomed at MyBase


Houltby, commentedonthe processand stated,“Ihad heard aboutRight toManage legislation previously,sowhenYoung Group approachedmeto saytherewere concerns over thecurrent block management andthatthey wantedtouse RTMtomakea change,Iwas pleasedtosee them continuing to take an active role in managingmyproperty asset. “Good blockmanagementis


an added sellingpoint formy investment –it’sgreat in terms of themarketing of theproperty. Noonewants to live inapoorly maintainedpropertyand good blockmanagementcan give an apartmentanedgeoverone in a rivaldevelopment. Iamsureitwill provideabetterlongtermreturn onmyinvestment.” TheYoungGroupisnowworking onotherRTMswithChainbow.


Autumn2011 Flat Living


in theownership andrepairing responsibilities of thelessee, then the landlord cannot be held liable. If thelease is notexplicitand simply states that the landlord is responsible forstructure and exterior then theresponsibility forrepairs couldbehis.Andwhat if thedamagetothe plasterwork wascausedbyanexternalleak fromthestructure?Thatwould be classed as ‘consequential’ damage that thelandlord should be responsible for.


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