Issue 17
flat-living.co.uk
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LesleyDavisEditor
lesleydavis@flat-living.co.uk
ChrisRutterPublisher
chris@flat-living.co.uk
RebeccaKellyHeadofMedia
rebecca@flat-living.co.uk
NickCachiaAdvertisingsales
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SueHodnettSubscriptionsAdministrator
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TheJournal for Residents’Management Companies supportedby ARMA
newlook at leasehold AFTERyEARS oF CALLSforreformintheleaseholdsector, at last someoneappears tobelistening. Positive steps arenowbeingtaken to listento leaseholders that couldleadtoachange for thebetter. First, the Office of Fair Trading(OFT)hasannouncedastudyinto theresidential
leaseholdpropertymanagementmarket.TheOFTis seekingtheviews ofpeople involvedin the sectorandwill lookat
issuessuchasmaintenance, cleaningandbuildingworkon leaseholdhomes. Also,aprivatemembers bill,TheLeasehold Reform(Amendment) Bill couldmake itswayonto the statute book. If itpassessuccessfully throughParliament, itwillcutred tapeandenhance leaseholders’
rights.Twothingsweare all in favour of.Turntopages 9 and 10 of this issue to findoutmore. More goodnewsforflatowners:after almost sixyears of austerity, at lastthepropertymarket
ismoving.Property pricesandsales statistics arelookinghealthierthanthey have since2007andpentupdemandin themarketand pricesonthe increasemeanmore people sellingandmore flats comingonto themarket. If youareoneofthose flat owners planningtomakeamoveduringthenext 12months, turn topages 16-17 of this issue,whereweofferour toptips for aquick saleandapain-freemove.
If you are happywhere you are but are planning somehome
improvements this year,makesureyou useareputable,qualifiedcontractorwho you cantrust to do a professional job.Onpage 26welist the various trade organisations to contact for reliable suppliers. Finally, this timelast year, leaseholders andmanaging agentswere throwninto
confusionbythe landmark decision in PhillipsvFrancis,which establishedanew approach to section20
qualifyingworks.Now, the High Court has givenaMay date for an appeal in this case, sowatchthis space (and ourwebsite atwww.flat-living.
co.uk) formore on thisimportant judgment.
LesleyDavis Editor
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EssEntial advicE on alllEasEholdmattErs
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