AUTUMN 2012
AdvertiseAndsubscribe Foradvertisingenquiriescall0845257 6374or
visitwww.flat-living.co.uk
lesleyDavisEditor
lesleydavis@flat-living.co.uk
WarwickSmithConsultantPublisher
warwick@flat-living.co.uk
NeilPorteousCommercial Director
neil@flat-living.co.uk
SueHodnettSubscriptionsAdministrator
suehodnett@flat-living.com
circulationenquiries
circulation@flat-living.co.uk
Shopenquiries
shop@flat-living.co.uk
Directoryenquiries
directory@flat-living.co.uk
Publishedby
www.flat-living.co.ukLtd 5AddisonsWay, Lilleshall, NewportTF109HH tel08452576374 Fax08452576319 email
info@flat-living.co.uk
Althougheveryeffortismadetoensurethe accuracyofmaterialpublishedinFlatLiving Magazine,thepublisherscannotaccept responsibilityfortheveracityofclaimsmadeby
contributorsoradvertisers.Contributorsand advertisersmustacceptfullresponsibilityforthe materialtheysubmitforpublicationinparticular forensuringthattheydonotinfringecopyright, intellectualpropertyrightsortrademarks.
CopyrightforallmaterialspublishedinFlatLiving Magazineremainswiththepublishers.
Anybusinessadviceisgivenforguidanceonlyand readersmustconsultrelevantbodiesbeforeacting onanyadvicegiveninthemagazine.
FlatLivingMagazineispublishedindependentlyof anytradeorprofessionalbodyandretainseditorial controloverallarticlesthatappearinthis issue.
TheJournal for Residents’Management Companiessupported byARMA
doit inAustralia? Welcometo tHe AUtUmNissue of Flat Living. As the nights drawin,wetakealookatflat life inAustralia,wherespring is in theair andawhole different setofrules applytoapartment
blocks.The sector is regulatedvia alicensing systemfor‘Strata’ managers andthe conceptofleasehold is completelyunknown.
Turn to pages 14-16 of this issue to find outmore. Itwasgood to seearange of issues affecting theUK’sthreemillionleaseholders
being aired on prime
timeTVinAugust.Channel Four’s Dispatches programme, Property nightmares: the truthabout leasehold, exposed the rising number of service charge disputes beingbrought to theLVT,aswellashighlightingthe problemsfacing leaseholders in poorlymanaged private and local authority blocks.Unfortunately, a brief interviewwith formerHousingMinister Grant Shapps did little to promote confidencethatthe Government is willingtoimprove
thesituation.Instead,the best advice on offerwas CaveatEmptor or ‘buyer beware’. Itwasmadeclear that allflat owners should take professional advice before they take on a lease so that they know exactlywhat they are buying into - something thatweare supporting strongly at Flat Living throughour ‘KnowYour Lease’ campaign. In our feature on pages 60-63 of this issue,wehighlight someof the aspects of leasehold life that buyers should beaware of and get advice froma solicitor about the bestway to get the right informationbefore you buy. Also in this issuewelook at buy-to-let, howto get the best fromthe trees in your
communal groundsand findoutwhat happenedwhen theheadofPembertons PropertyManagementwent ‘backtothe floor’and spentthe dayasaconcierge in a West London block. Wehope you enjoy this issue of Flat Living and, as ever,wewelcome your thoughts,
stories, letters and comments, so give us a call or send us anemail to lesleydavis@
flat-living.co.uk
lesleyDavis Editor
Howdothey
Issue 12
flat-living.co.uk
ToensureyoureceiveeverycopyofFlatLiving magazineandtoreceivenewsupdates,
pleasesubscribeatwww.flat-living.co.uk/ products/
subscribe_to_flat_living.htm
Followuson Facebook,Twitter and LinkedIn
Flat Living Autumn2012
7
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68