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NewARMACEO Peverel rescue Research
what’S happening in the leaSehold Sector NewCeO
MichelleBankstakes keyroleatarMa
TheAssociation of Residential Managing Agents (ARMA) appointedanew chiefexecutive, Michelle Banks, in January. The appointment followed theretirementofformerchief executive David Hewett after 15 years in the role. Michelle left herpost as deputy
director in theDepartment of Communities and Local Government after alengthy career in the Civil Servicewhere she worked in a wide variety of policy sectorsincluding housing and planning. ARMAwelcomes her expertise in developing policies andstrategiesfor change as well as herclear understanding of the expectations that government ministershave of external partners such as ARMA.Michelle’sappointment comesatanimportant timefor ARMA,asitcelebratesits 21st anniversaryand workstoward implementation of itsARMA-Q project–the enhancementof the association’s self-regulatory regimeformembers. “Iamdelighted to be joining
ARMAat this important point in the association’s development,” said Michelle as shetookup herappointment in February. “Clearly David Hewett will be a very hard act to follow but I
RePORT serVicecharGesinlonDon
In a newreport released in March, theLondon Assembly’s Planning and Housing Committee calls for a change to the service charge regimewhich is estimated to affect more than halfamillion leaseholders in the capital alone. The report, titled Highly
chargedmakes a number of key recommendations that thecommittee believes would make service charges fairer for
leaseholders.The report’sfindings are based on input fromkey stakeholders as well as comment
fromleaseholders.Problemareas
Flat Living Spring2012
flagged up by thereportinclude: nThe dispute resolution process nTransparency nThelevel of consultation
over proposed developmentor improvement works. Thereport’srecommendations
include: nMore transparencyfrom
privatelandlordsandmanaging agents, with key stakeholders like ARMAand RICS setting an
example of good practice. nPrivatesectorlandlordsto adopt more comprehensive
consultation processes. nTheLeaseholdValuation
Tribunal (LVT) to ensure a fair deal forleaseholders conducting
theirowncases. nThe LVT, in conjunction with LEASE, should set out plans for providinganexpandedservice to
improvedispute resolution. nGovernment to consider makingmediationacompulsory first step of thedispute
resolutionprocess. nConveyancing solicitors to provide leaseholders with more informationupfront. For more information and to
read the full report, go towww.
london.gov.uk
LauNCh
new weBsite forflat liVinG
Look out for the exciting new Flat Living website due to be launched during April. The newly designedsitewillprovide acomprehensivesourceof informationfor residents’ management committees(RMCs) righttomanagecompanies (RTMCos) propertymanagers and anyone else with an interest in the leasehold sector. Wehave divided the site
into thefollowing sections: insurance,management, maintenance, leaseissues, service charges, utilities, property disputes,health andsafety, caselaw,energy efficiency and buying/selling/ renting. Easy-to-use navigation under
Michelle Banks: delightedtobe joiningaRMa
amverymuch lookingforward to the
challenge.Mymain aim is to buildonthe excellent foundation provided by the existing organisation and drive thedevelopmentofanenhanced self-regulatory regime.” Formed in 1991, ARMAis
theonlybodyinEngland and Wales to focus exclusively on the
management of long-leasehold
property.ARMAhas morethan 270member firmswhichmanage some900,000 homesinmore than 34,000 blocks or estates. To read more about Michelle’s
appointment, turn to p38ofthis issueand formoreinformation
about ARMA, go
towww.arma.
org.uk
each of these headings will allowusers to findthe answerto almost any problemwithin three clicks. Opportunitiesexist to sponsor
sections, contribute articles
andtoadvertise.Tofind out
more contactWarwickSmith at
warwick@flat-living.co.uk
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excitingnew design for Flat Living website
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