Extending leases<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nT<\/strong>he Bill allows leaseholders of flats to extend their lease, and leaseholders of houses to extend their lease or buy their freehold, immediately upon taking ownership. It also introduces the right for a lease extension for a term of 990 years for both houses and flats, as well as allowing leaseholders who already have very long leases (over 150 years remaining), to buy out their ground rent without extending the term of their lease or buying the freehold.<\/p>\n\n\n\nGround Rent<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nIt is proposed that ground rent be reduced to peppercorn on payment of a premium also seeking to introduce a right for leaseholders to buy out their ground rent without the extension of their lease or the need to purchase their freehold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Government consultation is ongoing on whether to introduce a cap on ground rents for all existing leases<\/strong> through primary legislation.<\/p>\n\n\n\nService Charges<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nProposals aim to improve transparency of financial and non-financial information that leaseholders and tenants receive including how service charge costs are presented, provision of key information (i.e., insurance costs) compelling landlords to provide information such as administration charges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Estate Management Regulation<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nHomeowners and leaseholders living on managed estates are to be given the ability to challenge the reasonableness of the charges they pay including greater transparency over costs and the right to obtain other information. A system of civil penalties are proposed for estate management providers who fail to comply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Insurance<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe proposals include replacing insurance commissions with a transparent handling fee. Charges by those placing or managing insurance should reflect the work and time undertaken to arrange the insurance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Right to Manage and Right to a collective enfranchisement:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThis Bill increases the \u2018non-residential limit\u2019 to 50% for collective enfranchisement and the right to manage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nFire Door Ratings in 2023 : Fire Door Inspections<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
As of 23rd<\/sup> January 2023, it is now legally required that the responsible person(s) for all multi-occupancy residential buildings with storeys over 11 metres in height in England carry out the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- On a quarterly basis, carry out checks on all fire doors in the common areas of these buildings, including self-closing devices.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- On an annual basis, carry out checks on all individual flat entrance doors, including self-closing devices, on a best endeavour basis.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Residents in applicable buildings should also be provided with information on how important fire doors are to the overall passive fire safety of a building, to help them understand their role in keeping their building safe, while also encouraging them to allow the responsible person(s) access to their flat entrance doors to perform these checks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This information should be provided to new residents when they first move into the building, and to all residents on an annual basis. The information should cover the importance of keeping fire doors closed, not tampering with the doors or self-closing devices, and should stress that any damage or faults noticed by residents be reported immediately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fire Door Safety Checks in 2023<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
As a brief overview, the minimum the responsible person(s) should be checking for is any signs of obvious damage or disrepair. Specific checks should include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Checking that each fire door closes correctly around its entire frame.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Checking that no alterations have been made to the glazing aperture or air transfer grille.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Checking for gaps around the door frame itself.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Checking that seals and hinges are correctly fitted.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Checking the self-closing device is operating correctly.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Checking that there is no visible damage to the door and the self-closing device, either deliberately or from wear and tear.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Generally, the responsible person(s) of a property should be able to carry out these checks themselves and may only need to involve a specialist when issues are discovered. The Grenfell Tower Inquiry noted that fire doors within the tower did not act as they should have to stop the spread of fire, smoke and gasses, due to damage and disrepair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This information is provided to help interested parties understand the new rules. More in-depth guidance can be found in this government guidance document<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 were placed on the statute book on 18 May 2022, and came into force on 23 January 2023. The regulations implement the majority of those recommendations made to government in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 1 report which require a change in the law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1.2. Responsible Persons, including both building owners (for example freeholders) and other persons having control of the premises (for example managing agents) were required to comply with the regulations from 23 January 2023. Any breach of the regulations is a criminal offence if the breach places one or more relevant persons (for example residents, staff or visitors) at risk of death or serious injury in the event of fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The following applies to all blocks of flats (or parts of such blocks) that incorporate common parts, regardless of whether the block is purpose-built or is a conversion; for the purpose of this legislation, flat entrance doors are included within the meaning of common parts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Regulations require :<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- information about flat entrance doors that the Responsible Person must give to all residents (whether tenants or leaseholders) \u2013 this requirement relates to all blocks of flats<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- routine checks of fire doors that the Responsible Person must ensure are carried out \u2013 these checks are only required in blocks of flats in which the top storey is more than 11m above ground level (typically, a building of more than four storeys)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Residents must be notified that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- fire doors should be kept shut when not in use;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- residents or their guests should not tamper with self-closing devices;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- residents should report any fault or damage immediately to the Responsible Person.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Regulations require that, if the top storey of the building is above 11m in height (typically, a building of more than four storeys) the Responsible Person must:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- use best endeavours to check all flat entrance fire doors at least every 12 months; and<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- carry out checks of any fire doors in communal areas at least every 3 months.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
The Building Safety Act 2022<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The Building Safety Act 2022 has been passed in to law and will have a significant impact on the construction industry, overhauling the regulation of higher-risk buildings and construction products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over the next 18 months, there will be a phased introduction of the act\u2019s provisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first phase of measures is due to come into force within the next two months. This includes the retrospective extension of the time limit for claims under the Defective Premises Act<\/a> from six to 30 years, and for future buildings from six years to 15 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe second phase concerns the new regulatory regime and secondary legislation, and is expected to come into force within the next six to 12 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The third phase, which relates to the transition and enforcement of the main regime, is then due to take effect within the next 12 to 18 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The act is therefore expected to be fully implemented by November 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Remediation costs liability<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
A schedule to the act contains protections for leaseholders relating to certain remediation costs, and imposes corresponding liabilities on landlords of relevant buildings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The schedule caps the amount that can be charged to leaseholders where landlords do not have the means to pay for any remaining non-cladding defects to \u00a315,000, if the premises are in Greater London, or \u00a310,000 for any property elsewhere in England.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the qualifying lease is at least \u00a31m in value but does not exceed \u00a32m, then the permitted maximum is \u00a350,000. If the qualifying lease is more than \u00a32m in value, then the permitted maximum is \u00a3100,000. These figures will include interim costs to a tenant \u2013 such as paying for waking watch patrols \u2013 in the five years before commencement of the relevant provision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There will be no costs for leasehold properties valued less than \u00a3325,000 in Greater London or \u00a3175,000 elsewhere in England. There will also be no service charge payable for each building to which the legislation applies if the landlord group\u2019s net worth was more than \u00a32m at 14 February 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Fire Safety Act 2021 <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The new Act has now taken effect which clarifies the scope of Fire Risk Assessments under the Fire Safety Order 2005. Fire Risk Assessments must now include external walls and anything attached to them as well as internal flat entrance doors which often form part of the leasehold demise and are the property and responsibility of leaseholders under the property lease. This is the latest legislation to be brought in to effect while other improvements to fire safety in residential leasehold blocks of flats are to be phased in under the Building Safety Act 2022.. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The new Building Safety Bill is passed in to law<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The Government\u2019s Building Safety Bill, is the next \u2018key step in an extensive overhaul to building safety legislation\u2019. The reforms laid out in the Bill are set to create \u2018lasting generational change and a clear pathway for the future on how residential buildings should be constructed and maintained.\u2019 With the completion of the parliamentary stages in the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the Building Safety Bill has now received Royal Assent, making the Bill an Act of Parliament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the wake of the Grenfell tragedy, the Bill has introduced clear accountabilities for all those involved in the construction, upkeep and repair of high-risk buildings in England. The Bill\u2019s comprehensive reform to building safety legislation will include the appointment of a Building Safety Regulator who will ensure those living in high rise buildings are being kept safe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Introduced in draft form in July 2020 there has been extensive engagement with Government and other stakeholders for several years, including the recent Building Safety Bill debates in Parliament at Committee Stages, ARMA and IRPM \u2013 now merged as The Property Institute<\/em> (TPI) \u2013 secured a number of significant amendments of the Bill, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- scrapping of the Building Safety Charge<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- removal of the duty to appoint a building safety manager<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- additional powers for resident directors to appoint third-party professional directors<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
N<\/strong>ews \u2013 New legislation is passed governing Fire Safety affecting leasehold blocks of flats.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe Fire Safety Act<\/a> passed into law on the 29th of April,. As a result , there is no longer any question that a Responsible Person has a legal responsibility to commission a Fire Risk Assessment which must include assessment of external walls and fire doors of flat entrance doors.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Fire Safety Act 2021 amends the Fire Safety Order 2005<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
It introduces new legislation covering external walls and internal flat entrance doors to improve fire safety in residential leasehold blocks of flats. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Following agreement by both Houses on the text of the Bill it received Royal Assent on 29 April 2021. The Bill is now an Act of Parliament (law).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Act was approved following continuing debate over the Lords proposed wording that the owner of a building may not pass the costs of any remedial work attributable to the provisions of this Act on to leaseholders or tenants of<\/p>\n\n\n\n
that building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Parliament disagreed to the inclusion of this amendment because the issue of remediation costs is too complex to be dealt with in the manner<\/p>\n\n\n\n
proposed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Guidance is now awaited before the new Fire Safety Act 2021 will take effect which is thought likely to be at the end of the year or early 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Property Cladding and Building Safety Update<\/h3>\n\n\n\nARMA December 2020<\/h3>\n\n\n\nBuilding Safety Campaign group is pressuring for action to :-<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u2022 Extend the deadline for applications to the Building Safety Fund \u2013 the
current deadline has always been unachievable for most applicants,
particularly as the release of funds is proving very slow
\u2022 Introduce a risk matrix instead of a reliance simply on height as a qualifying feature \u2013 prioritise funding based on the risk to life
\u2022 Extend the fund to fix blocks of all heights, not just those above 18m and cover issues such as flammable balconies, unsafe structures, waking watch, unreasonable building insurance increases and alarms
\u2013 Meetings with MP\u2019s continue and several sets of written questions have been asked in HoC, HoL and PM Q\u2019s.
\u2013 Gov stance is that Developers and Building Owners should be asked to pay but the words \u201cavoiding unaffordable costs\u201d are starting to be seen re leaseholders.
\u2013 We hope for a Parliamentary Urgent Questions debate before parliament rises re the deadline and funding
\u2013 Weekly meetings with Cladding Action Groups \u2013 lack of communication is the main feedback<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Grenfell enquiry revealed that Celotex falsified fire testing on RS5000 foam panels to pass their materials
\u2013 MHCLG announced that buildings without cladding do not require the EWS1 form
\u2013 MHCLG announced \u00a3700k to train 2,000 more building assessors via RICS. PI is still an open question<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Government steps in to help homeowners caught up in \u2018EWS1\u2019 process<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Owners of flats in buildings without cladding will no longer need an EWS1 form to sell or re-mortgage their property.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A publication by the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government<\/a> dated 21 November 2020 clarifies the position regarding the need for EWS1 Forms being required by mortgage lenders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Owners of flats in buildings without cladding will no longer need an EWS1 form to sell or re-mortgage their property \u2013 thanks to an agreement reached today (21 November 2020) between the government and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), UK Finance and the Building Societies Association (BSA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is part of a wider government-led solution to support those homeowners who have unsafe cladding on their buildings and where there is still more to do https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/government-steps-in-to-help-homeowners-caught-up-in-ews1-process<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Housing Secretary Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nThrough no fault of their own, some flat-owners have been unable to sell or re-mortgage their homes \u2013 and this cannot be allowed to continue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s why the government has?secured agreement that the EWS1 form will not be needed on buildings where there is no cladding; providing certainty for the almost 450,000 homeowners who may have felt stuck in limbo. However, this is only part of a wider solution and we continue to support those homeowners who do have cladding on their buildings and where there is still more to do.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Buildings insurance premiums set to increase in 2021 <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nInsurance in the residential block management sector is facing a perfect storm according to an article published on ARMA\u2019s website.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Premiums across the whole residential market are increasing and health and safety concerns regarding cladding and wall systems have only added to the problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The ARMA report cites the main drivers affecting the rapidly changing insurance landscape as follows :-<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Increased awareness of high-rise building safety, following the events at Grenfell Tower in 2017;
2. A 600% increase in global financial lines fraud; insurers have suggested that
annual claims will increase twelve-fold throughout 2020\/2021;
3. Reduced staffing resource and increased IT costs, due to the new working from home restrictions;
4. Unprecedented increases in claims inflation of up to 20% over a five-year
period..<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Please refer to your VFM property management team for further details<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Client Money Protection in the private rented sector \u2013 Mandatory from 1 April 2019 \u2013 <\/strong>IMPORTANT NEWS<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nClient Money Protection (CMP) is mandatory in the private rented sector from 1st April 2019
But who does the mandatory CMP apply to?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From 1st April 2019 letting agents in England must belong to an approved CMP scheme by law which requires to protect both tenant and landlord client monies. Letting agents must comply or risk heavy penalty fines with a limit of up to \u00a330,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Under the new legislation, client monies<\/a> held require to be protected through a Government-approved client money protection scheme. This covers client money<\/a> held by an agent in the course of residential property lettings or management of those lettings as set out in s. 54-56 Housing and Planning Act 2016. The types of tenancies are limited to those of 21 years or less in length.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe block management<\/a> sector which applies to residential long leaseholds (where leases exceed a term of 21 years) remain unaffected.
The CMP mandatory requirements are therefore not applicable to residential block management agents<\/a> who do not hold property lettings monies for clients and there is currently no plan to introduce such a mandatory requirement.<\/p>\n\n\n\nMHCLG publishes essential advice for residential building owners regarding fire and health and safety <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nIn January 2020 the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) produced Advice for Building Owners of Multi-storey, Multi-occupied Residential Buildings which includes the following extract :-<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is necessary to consider the risk from fire spread to health and safety in relation to a residential building regardless of height<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBuilding Height<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When considering the risks building owners should consider the full range of risk factors. The Expert Panel\u2019s view is that the vulnerability of occupants is a significant factor in assessing this risk and, in some instances, may be more significant than building height.
Building owners or their appointed competent professional advisors(s) should check that the external wall systems on their buildings meet an acceptable standard of safety and do not contribute to the external spread of fire, irrespective of building height. Spandrel panels (including window and infill
panels) are also part of the external wall of the building and should be checked.
Balconies, and risks arising from their construction materials, geometry and use, must also be considered.
Where building owners require further technical advice it must be provided by a competent person, as this is critical for ensuring that an appropriate level of safety is achieved. In some cases, the analysis needed may be straightforward, in which case a competent fire safety professional with adequate experience in fire safety and knowledge of external wall systems may be used. In others, it will be more complex and require advice from a qualified engineer with relevant experience in fire safety, including the fire testing of building products and systems, such as a Chartered Engineer registered with the UK Engineering Council by the Institution of Fire Engineers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
HCLG leasehold reform<\/a> report recommends significant changes impacting block management<\/a> agents, conveyancing solicitors, landlords, developers and estate agents throughout England and Wales.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nIn July 2018 the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee (HCLG) launched an inquiry into the Government\u2019s programme for leasehold reform. This followed the Government consultation in 2017 into tackling unfair leasehold practices in the UK property market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The HCLG report<\/a> on leasehold reform published on 19 March 2019 includes important and wide reaching recommendations affecting the management of blocks of flats and other leasehold property<\/a> which are briefly summarised below.<\/p>\n\n\n\nGovernment policy should ensure that Commonhold becomes the primary means of ownership for flats in England and Wales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The start of the property sales process should require that developers or estate agents produce a key features document in a standard form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A recommendation to introduce new consultation procedures<\/a> for privately owned properties to protect leaseholders affected by high value major works with a \u00a310,000 threshold per leaseholder. Works exceeding this value should require the consent of a majority of leaseholders in the property before proceeding.<\/p>\n\n\n\nMis-selling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Mis-selling in the leasehold sector should be subject to investigation by The Competition and Markets Authority which should recommend appropriate compensation measures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ground rents on new leases should be Peppercorn or nil value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The HCLG Committee has reached a conclusion that the Government would be legally able to introduce new legislation which would effectively remove onerous ground rents<\/a> from existing leases. Further restrictions could also be imposed limiting existing ground rents to 0.1% of the present value of a property. Ground rent should not exceed \u00a3250 per annum for any property.<\/p>\n\n\n\nTo view the full HCLG report click https:\/\/bit.ly\/2Cr6NNg<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Crackdown on unfair leasehold practices<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
New measures announced by government on 21 December 2017 to cut out unfair and abusive practices within the leasehold<\/a> system, including a ban on leaseholds for almost all new build houses.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOmbudsman Services: Property (OS:P) to cease services in August 2018<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nOS:P has announced that it will end its current arrangements in offering OS:P as of 6th<\/sup> August 2018. Managing agent<\/a> members will require to take up membership of an alternative approved redress scheme before the cessation of services.<\/p>\n\n\n\nGeneral Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nOn 25 May 2018, the European Union\u2019s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into force. GDPR<\/a> is arguably the biggest shake up of data collection rules in 25 years and affects the way in which all businesses including managing agents will operate, record, hold and dispose of personal data. Property managing agents<\/a> will require to be GDPR Registered, requiring careful control of all data in accordance with their Privacy Policy<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThis new regulation will change the way many businesses operate, particularly in relation to how organisations handle and protect customers\u2019 and users\u2019 personal data. Data protection will become the cornerstone of your organisation\u2019s policy and procedure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (CDM 2015)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nOn 6 April 2015, a new version of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (CDM<\/a> 2015)<\/strong> was introduced.<\/p>\n\n\n\nCDM<\/a> 2015 increases attention on smaller projects placing new obligations on clients and managers which have an impact on works being arranged by property management companies, leaseholders and freeholders in blocks of flats.<\/p>\n\n\n\nImportant changes introduced can be summarised including :-<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Removal of the CDM Co-ordinator
Principal Designer is introduced
Principal Designer and Principal Contractor appointments are required on \u201cnotifiable projects\u201d or on schemes employing two or more contractors on site. It should be noted that this is likely to include an increased number of smaller projects.
The notifiable project notification threshold is revised.
CDM scope now includes domestic clients<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Client\u2019s Role<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Any building client must now make suitable arrangements for managing a project under the new CDM regulations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Freeholders, developers and property management companies<\/a> are all affected as building Clients\u2019 whose key responsibilities include the following :<\/p>\n\n\n\nnotifying the HSE of project details confirming that the project team are aware of their duties
ensuring all duty holders comply with their duties
providing pre-construction information including asbestos surveys, existing health and safety files and structural drawings.
ensuring that minimum health and safety<\/a> standards are maintained on site
requiring that the construction phase health and safety plan is drawn up by the principal contractor.
making sure that a health and safety file is produced by the principal designer.
appointment of a principal designer and principal contractor when mandatory \u201cas soon as practicable\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhere these key appointments are not made, their duties transfer automatically to the property management company, freeholder or client.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Court of Appeal has this morning, 31 October 2014, handed down their judgement in the long-awaited Phillips v Francis appeal.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nIt appears that common sense has prevailed in delivering a judgement that is good news for
property management companies, block managers, managing agents and all professionals involved in freehold and leasehold property.The Court of Appeal has now ruled that the earlier decision of the High Court, which favoured the \u201caggregating approach\u201d, was \u201cnot a sensible approach\u201d, clarifying that it gave \u201crise to serious practical problems\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Court found in favour of a \u201csets\u201d approach to qualifying works, this being the approach adopted until the recent High Court Phillips v Francis decision. It was also agreed that the incorporation of an annual limit was incorrect.Property managing agents and freeholders can now go about their business with some certainty and clarity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
COURT OF APPEAL OVERTURNS PHILIPS V FRANCIS DECISION ON MAJOR WORKS : <\/strong>31ST OCTOBER 2014|<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nARMA welcomes the decision of the Court of Appeal to allow the appeal in the controversial case of Phillips & Goddard v Francis & Francis. Today\u2019s judgement overturns the 2012 decision, which held that the cost of qualifying works was to be aggregated over a service charge year, with consultation to be carried out if the aggregated contribution exceeded \u00a3250 for any one leaseholder during that year.In allowing the appeal, the Court of Appeal has reinstated the previ\u2026Read More<\/a> \u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\nARMA RESPONDS TO CMA PLANS FOR LEASEHOLD SECTOR AFTER CONSULTING MEMBERS : <\/strong>25TH SEPTEMBER 2014<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nManaging agents\u2019 trade body, ARMA, has welcomed proposals to tighten up the leasehold property sector. Responding to proposals from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA),
ARMA Chairman, Ben Jordan said:\u201cWe fully support the attempts being made to raise standards in property management. Action to encourage best practice in the sector is welcome and we will continue to promote the highest standards in property management through our self-regulatory regime, ARMA-Q. But, \u2026Read More<\/a> \u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\nARMA WELCOMES CMA PROPOSALS TO IMPROVE THE LEASEHOLD RESIDENTIAL MARKET <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nFriday 1 August 2014 ARMA welcomes CMA proposals to improve the leasehold residential market<\/strong>
Today\u2019s proposals by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to address problems in the
workings of the residential leasehold property management<\/a> market have been broadly welcomed by the industry\u2019s trade body, ARMA.Ben Jordan, ARMA\u2019s Chairman, said:\u201cThis is a welcome initiative by the CMA that could improve the sit\u2026Read More<\/a> \u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\nSHARE THIS ARTICLE:
ARMA READ MORE
ERR ACT: ARMA MEMBERS WILL BE COMPLIANT<\/strong>
16TH APRIL 2014<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ground Rent<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nIt is proposed that ground rent be reduced to peppercorn on payment of a premium also seeking to introduce a right for leaseholders to buy out their ground rent without the extension of their lease or the need to purchase their freehold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Government consultation is ongoing on whether to introduce a cap on ground rents for all existing leases<\/strong> through primary legislation.<\/p>\n\n\n\nService Charges<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nProposals aim to improve transparency of financial and non-financial information that leaseholders and tenants receive including how service charge costs are presented, provision of key information (i.e., insurance costs) compelling landlords to provide information such as administration charges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Estate Management Regulation<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nHomeowners and leaseholders living on managed estates are to be given the ability to challenge the reasonableness of the charges they pay including greater transparency over costs and the right to obtain other information. A system of civil penalties are proposed for estate management providers who fail to comply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Insurance<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe proposals include replacing insurance commissions with a transparent handling fee. Charges by those placing or managing insurance should reflect the work and time undertaken to arrange the insurance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Right to Manage and Right to a collective enfranchisement:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThis Bill increases the \u2018non-residential limit\u2019 to 50% for collective enfranchisement and the right to manage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nFire Door Ratings in 2023 : Fire Door Inspections<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
As of 23rd<\/sup> January 2023, it is now legally required that the responsible person(s) for all multi-occupancy residential buildings with storeys over 11 metres in height in England carry out the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- On a quarterly basis, carry out checks on all fire doors in the common areas of these buildings, including self-closing devices.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- On an annual basis, carry out checks on all individual flat entrance doors, including self-closing devices, on a best endeavour basis.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Residents in applicable buildings should also be provided with information on how important fire doors are to the overall passive fire safety of a building, to help them understand their role in keeping their building safe, while also encouraging them to allow the responsible person(s) access to their flat entrance doors to perform these checks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This information should be provided to new residents when they first move into the building, and to all residents on an annual basis. The information should cover the importance of keeping fire doors closed, not tampering with the doors or self-closing devices, and should stress that any damage or faults noticed by residents be reported immediately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fire Door Safety Checks in 2023<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
As a brief overview, the minimum the responsible person(s) should be checking for is any signs of obvious damage or disrepair. Specific checks should include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Checking that each fire door closes correctly around its entire frame.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Checking that no alterations have been made to the glazing aperture or air transfer grille.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Checking for gaps around the door frame itself.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Checking that seals and hinges are correctly fitted.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Checking the self-closing device is operating correctly.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Checking that there is no visible damage to the door and the self-closing device, either deliberately or from wear and tear.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Generally, the responsible person(s) of a property should be able to carry out these checks themselves and may only need to involve a specialist when issues are discovered. The Grenfell Tower Inquiry noted that fire doors within the tower did not act as they should have to stop the spread of fire, smoke and gasses, due to damage and disrepair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This information is provided to help interested parties understand the new rules. More in-depth guidance can be found in this government guidance document<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 were placed on the statute book on 18 May 2022, and came into force on 23 January 2023. The regulations implement the majority of those recommendations made to government in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 1 report which require a change in the law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1.2. Responsible Persons, including both building owners (for example freeholders) and other persons having control of the premises (for example managing agents) were required to comply with the regulations from 23 January 2023. Any breach of the regulations is a criminal offence if the breach places one or more relevant persons (for example residents, staff or visitors) at risk of death or serious injury in the event of fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The following applies to all blocks of flats (or parts of such blocks) that incorporate common parts, regardless of whether the block is purpose-built or is a conversion; for the purpose of this legislation, flat entrance doors are included within the meaning of common parts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Regulations require :<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- information about flat entrance doors that the Responsible Person must give to all residents (whether tenants or leaseholders) \u2013 this requirement relates to all blocks of flats<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- routine checks of fire doors that the Responsible Person must ensure are carried out \u2013 these checks are only required in blocks of flats in which the top storey is more than 11m above ground level (typically, a building of more than four storeys)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Residents must be notified that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- fire doors should be kept shut when not in use;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- residents or their guests should not tamper with self-closing devices;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- residents should report any fault or damage immediately to the Responsible Person.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Regulations require that, if the top storey of the building is above 11m in height (typically, a building of more than four storeys) the Responsible Person must:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- use best endeavours to check all flat entrance fire doors at least every 12 months; and<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- carry out checks of any fire doors in communal areas at least every 3 months.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
The Building Safety Act 2022<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The Building Safety Act 2022 has been passed in to law and will have a significant impact on the construction industry, overhauling the regulation of higher-risk buildings and construction products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over the next 18 months, there will be a phased introduction of the act\u2019s provisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first phase of measures is due to come into force within the next two months. This includes the retrospective extension of the time limit for claims under the Defective Premises Act<\/a> from six to 30 years, and for future buildings from six years to 15 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe second phase concerns the new regulatory regime and secondary legislation, and is expected to come into force within the next six to 12 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The third phase, which relates to the transition and enforcement of the main regime, is then due to take effect within the next 12 to 18 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The act is therefore expected to be fully implemented by November 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Remediation costs liability<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
A schedule to the act contains protections for leaseholders relating to certain remediation costs, and imposes corresponding liabilities on landlords of relevant buildings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The schedule caps the amount that can be charged to leaseholders where landlords do not have the means to pay for any remaining non-cladding defects to \u00a315,000, if the premises are in Greater London, or \u00a310,000 for any property elsewhere in England.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the qualifying lease is at least \u00a31m in value but does not exceed \u00a32m, then the permitted maximum is \u00a350,000. If the qualifying lease is more than \u00a32m in value, then the permitted maximum is \u00a3100,000. These figures will include interim costs to a tenant \u2013 such as paying for waking watch patrols \u2013 in the five years before commencement of the relevant provision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There will be no costs for leasehold properties valued less than \u00a3325,000 in Greater London or \u00a3175,000 elsewhere in England. There will also be no service charge payable for each building to which the legislation applies if the landlord group\u2019s net worth was more than \u00a32m at 14 February 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Fire Safety Act 2021 <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The new Act has now taken effect which clarifies the scope of Fire Risk Assessments under the Fire Safety Order 2005. Fire Risk Assessments must now include external walls and anything attached to them as well as internal flat entrance doors which often form part of the leasehold demise and are the property and responsibility of leaseholders under the property lease. This is the latest legislation to be brought in to effect while other improvements to fire safety in residential leasehold blocks of flats are to be phased in under the Building Safety Act 2022.. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The new Building Safety Bill is passed in to law<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The Government\u2019s Building Safety Bill, is the next \u2018key step in an extensive overhaul to building safety legislation\u2019. The reforms laid out in the Bill are set to create \u2018lasting generational change and a clear pathway for the future on how residential buildings should be constructed and maintained.\u2019 With the completion of the parliamentary stages in the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the Building Safety Bill has now received Royal Assent, making the Bill an Act of Parliament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the wake of the Grenfell tragedy, the Bill has introduced clear accountabilities for all those involved in the construction, upkeep and repair of high-risk buildings in England. The Bill\u2019s comprehensive reform to building safety legislation will include the appointment of a Building Safety Regulator who will ensure those living in high rise buildings are being kept safe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Introduced in draft form in July 2020 there has been extensive engagement with Government and other stakeholders for several years, including the recent Building Safety Bill debates in Parliament at Committee Stages, ARMA and IRPM \u2013 now merged as The Property Institute<\/em> (TPI) \u2013 secured a number of significant amendments of the Bill, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- scrapping of the Building Safety Charge<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- removal of the duty to appoint a building safety manager<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- additional powers for resident directors to appoint third-party professional directors<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
N<\/strong>ews \u2013 New legislation is passed governing Fire Safety affecting leasehold blocks of flats.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe Fire Safety Act<\/a> passed into law on the 29th of April,. As a result , there is no longer any question that a Responsible Person has a legal responsibility to commission a Fire Risk Assessment which must include assessment of external walls and fire doors of flat entrance doors.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Fire Safety Act 2021 amends the Fire Safety Order 2005<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
It introduces new legislation covering external walls and internal flat entrance doors to improve fire safety in residential leasehold blocks of flats. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Following agreement by both Houses on the text of the Bill it received Royal Assent on 29 April 2021. The Bill is now an Act of Parliament (law).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Act was approved following continuing debate over the Lords proposed wording that the owner of a building may not pass the costs of any remedial work attributable to the provisions of this Act on to leaseholders or tenants of<\/p>\n\n\n\n
that building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Parliament disagreed to the inclusion of this amendment because the issue of remediation costs is too complex to be dealt with in the manner<\/p>\n\n\n\n
proposed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Guidance is now awaited before the new Fire Safety Act 2021 will take effect which is thought likely to be at the end of the year or early 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Property Cladding and Building Safety Update<\/h3>\n\n\n\nARMA December 2020<\/h3>\n\n\n\nBuilding Safety Campaign group is pressuring for action to :-<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u2022 Extend the deadline for applications to the Building Safety Fund \u2013 the
current deadline has always been unachievable for most applicants,
particularly as the release of funds is proving very slow
\u2022 Introduce a risk matrix instead of a reliance simply on height as a qualifying feature \u2013 prioritise funding based on the risk to life
\u2022 Extend the fund to fix blocks of all heights, not just those above 18m and cover issues such as flammable balconies, unsafe structures, waking watch, unreasonable building insurance increases and alarms
\u2013 Meetings with MP\u2019s continue and several sets of written questions have been asked in HoC, HoL and PM Q\u2019s.
\u2013 Gov stance is that Developers and Building Owners should be asked to pay but the words \u201cavoiding unaffordable costs\u201d are starting to be seen re leaseholders.
\u2013 We hope for a Parliamentary Urgent Questions debate before parliament rises re the deadline and funding
\u2013 Weekly meetings with Cladding Action Groups \u2013 lack of communication is the main feedback<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Grenfell enquiry revealed that Celotex falsified fire testing on RS5000 foam panels to pass their materials
\u2013 MHCLG announced that buildings without cladding do not require the EWS1 form
\u2013 MHCLG announced \u00a3700k to train 2,000 more building assessors via RICS. PI is still an open question<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Government steps in to help homeowners caught up in \u2018EWS1\u2019 process<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Owners of flats in buildings without cladding will no longer need an EWS1 form to sell or re-mortgage their property.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A publication by the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government<\/a> dated 21 November 2020 clarifies the position regarding the need for EWS1 Forms being required by mortgage lenders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Owners of flats in buildings without cladding will no longer need an EWS1 form to sell or re-mortgage their property \u2013 thanks to an agreement reached today (21 November 2020) between the government and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), UK Finance and the Building Societies Association (BSA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is part of a wider government-led solution to support those homeowners who have unsafe cladding on their buildings and where there is still more to do https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/government-steps-in-to-help-homeowners-caught-up-in-ews1-process<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Housing Secretary Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nThrough no fault of their own, some flat-owners have been unable to sell or re-mortgage their homes \u2013 and this cannot be allowed to continue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s why the government has?secured agreement that the EWS1 form will not be needed on buildings where there is no cladding; providing certainty for the almost 450,000 homeowners who may have felt stuck in limbo. However, this is only part of a wider solution and we continue to support those homeowners who do have cladding on their buildings and where there is still more to do.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Buildings insurance premiums set to increase in 2021 <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nInsurance in the residential block management sector is facing a perfect storm according to an article published on ARMA\u2019s website.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Premiums across the whole residential market are increasing and health and safety concerns regarding cladding and wall systems have only added to the problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The ARMA report cites the main drivers affecting the rapidly changing insurance landscape as follows :-<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Increased awareness of high-rise building safety, following the events at Grenfell Tower in 2017;
2. A 600% increase in global financial lines fraud; insurers have suggested that
annual claims will increase twelve-fold throughout 2020\/2021;
3. Reduced staffing resource and increased IT costs, due to the new working from home restrictions;
4. Unprecedented increases in claims inflation of up to 20% over a five-year
period..<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Please refer to your VFM property management team for further details<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Client Money Protection in the private rented sector \u2013 Mandatory from 1 April 2019 \u2013 <\/strong>IMPORTANT NEWS<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nClient Money Protection (CMP) is mandatory in the private rented sector from 1st April 2019
But who does the mandatory CMP apply to?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From 1st April 2019 letting agents in England must belong to an approved CMP scheme by law which requires to protect both tenant and landlord client monies. Letting agents must comply or risk heavy penalty fines with a limit of up to \u00a330,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Under the new legislation, client monies<\/a> held require to be protected through a Government-approved client money protection scheme. This covers client money<\/a> held by an agent in the course of residential property lettings or management of those lettings as set out in s. 54-56 Housing and Planning Act 2016. The types of tenancies are limited to those of 21 years or less in length.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe block management<\/a> sector which applies to residential long leaseholds (where leases exceed a term of 21 years) remain unaffected.
The CMP mandatory requirements are therefore not applicable to residential block management agents<\/a> who do not hold property lettings monies for clients and there is currently no plan to introduce such a mandatory requirement.<\/p>\n\n\n\nMHCLG publishes essential advice for residential building owners regarding fire and health and safety <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nIn January 2020 the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) produced Advice for Building Owners of Multi-storey, Multi-occupied Residential Buildings which includes the following extract :-<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is necessary to consider the risk from fire spread to health and safety in relation to a residential building regardless of height<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBuilding Height<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When considering the risks building owners should consider the full range of risk factors. The Expert Panel\u2019s view is that the vulnerability of occupants is a significant factor in assessing this risk and, in some instances, may be more significant than building height.
Building owners or their appointed competent professional advisors(s) should check that the external wall systems on their buildings meet an acceptable standard of safety and do not contribute to the external spread of fire, irrespective of building height. Spandrel panels (including window and infill
panels) are also part of the external wall of the building and should be checked.
Balconies, and risks arising from their construction materials, geometry and use, must also be considered.
Where building owners require further technical advice it must be provided by a competent person, as this is critical for ensuring that an appropriate level of safety is achieved. In some cases, the analysis needed may be straightforward, in which case a competent fire safety professional with adequate experience in fire safety and knowledge of external wall systems may be used. In others, it will be more complex and require advice from a qualified engineer with relevant experience in fire safety, including the fire testing of building products and systems, such as a Chartered Engineer registered with the UK Engineering Council by the Institution of Fire Engineers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
HCLG leasehold reform<\/a> report recommends significant changes impacting block management<\/a> agents, conveyancing solicitors, landlords, developers and estate agents throughout England and Wales.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nIn July 2018 the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee (HCLG) launched an inquiry into the Government\u2019s programme for leasehold reform. This followed the Government consultation in 2017 into tackling unfair leasehold practices in the UK property market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The HCLG report<\/a> on leasehold reform published on 19 March 2019 includes important and wide reaching recommendations affecting the management of blocks of flats and other leasehold property<\/a> which are briefly summarised below.<\/p>\n\n\n\nGovernment policy should ensure that Commonhold becomes the primary means of ownership for flats in England and Wales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The start of the property sales process should require that developers or estate agents produce a key features document in a standard form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A recommendation to introduce new consultation procedures<\/a> for privately owned properties to protect leaseholders affected by high value major works with a \u00a310,000 threshold per leaseholder. Works exceeding this value should require the consent of a majority of leaseholders in the property before proceeding.<\/p>\n\n\n\nMis-selling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Mis-selling in the leasehold sector should be subject to investigation by The Competition and Markets Authority which should recommend appropriate compensation measures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ground rents on new leases should be Peppercorn or nil value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The HCLG Committee has reached a conclusion that the Government would be legally able to introduce new legislation which would effectively remove onerous ground rents<\/a> from existing leases. Further restrictions could also be imposed limiting existing ground rents to 0.1% of the present value of a property. Ground rent should not exceed \u00a3250 per annum for any property.<\/p>\n\n\n\nTo view the full HCLG report click https:\/\/bit.ly\/2Cr6NNg<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Crackdown on unfair leasehold practices<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
New measures announced by government on 21 December 2017 to cut out unfair and abusive practices within the leasehold<\/a> system, including a ban on leaseholds for almost all new build houses.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOmbudsman Services: Property (OS:P) to cease services in August 2018<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nOS:P has announced that it will end its current arrangements in offering OS:P as of 6th<\/sup> August 2018. Managing agent<\/a> members will require to take up membership of an alternative approved redress scheme before the cessation of services.<\/p>\n\n\n\nGeneral Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nOn 25 May 2018, the European Union\u2019s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into force. GDPR<\/a> is arguably the biggest shake up of data collection rules in 25 years and affects the way in which all businesses including managing agents will operate, record, hold and dispose of personal data. Property managing agents<\/a> will require to be GDPR Registered, requiring careful control of all data in accordance with their Privacy Policy<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThis new regulation will change the way many businesses operate, particularly in relation to how organisations handle and protect customers\u2019 and users\u2019 personal data. Data protection will become the cornerstone of your organisation\u2019s policy and procedure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (CDM 2015)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nOn 6 April 2015, a new version of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (CDM<\/a> 2015)<\/strong> was introduced.<\/p>\n\n\n\nCDM<\/a> 2015 increases attention on smaller projects placing new obligations on clients and managers which have an impact on works being arranged by property management companies, leaseholders and freeholders in blocks of flats.<\/p>\n\n\n\nImportant changes introduced can be summarised including :-<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Removal of the CDM Co-ordinator
Principal Designer is introduced
Principal Designer and Principal Contractor appointments are required on \u201cnotifiable projects\u201d or on schemes employing two or more contractors on site. It should be noted that this is likely to include an increased number of smaller projects.
The notifiable project notification threshold is revised.
CDM scope now includes domestic clients<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Client\u2019s Role<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Any building client must now make suitable arrangements for managing a project under the new CDM regulations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Freeholders, developers and property management companies<\/a> are all affected as building Clients\u2019 whose key responsibilities include the following :<\/p>\n\n\n\nnotifying the HSE of project details confirming that the project team are aware of their duties
ensuring all duty holders comply with their duties
providing pre-construction information including asbestos surveys, existing health and safety files and structural drawings.
ensuring that minimum health and safety<\/a> standards are maintained on site
requiring that the construction phase health and safety plan is drawn up by the principal contractor.
making sure that a health and safety file is produced by the principal designer.
appointment of a principal designer and principal contractor when mandatory \u201cas soon as practicable\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhere these key appointments are not made, their duties transfer automatically to the property management company, freeholder or client.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Court of Appeal has this morning, 31 October 2014, handed down their judgement in the long-awaited Phillips v Francis appeal.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nIt appears that common sense has prevailed in delivering a judgement that is good news for
property management companies, block managers, managing agents and all professionals involved in freehold and leasehold property.The Court of Appeal has now ruled that the earlier decision of the High Court, which favoured the \u201caggregating approach\u201d, was \u201cnot a sensible approach\u201d, clarifying that it gave \u201crise to serious practical problems\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Court found in favour of a \u201csets\u201d approach to qualifying works, this being the approach adopted until the recent High Court Phillips v Francis decision. It was also agreed that the incorporation of an annual limit was incorrect.Property managing agents and freeholders can now go about their business with some certainty and clarity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
COURT OF APPEAL OVERTURNS PHILIPS V FRANCIS DECISION ON MAJOR WORKS : <\/strong>31ST OCTOBER 2014|<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nARMA welcomes the decision of the Court of Appeal to allow the appeal in the controversial case of Phillips & Goddard v Francis & Francis. Today\u2019s judgement overturns the 2012 decision, which held that the cost of qualifying works was to be aggregated over a service charge year, with consultation to be carried out if the aggregated contribution exceeded \u00a3250 for any one leaseholder during that year.In allowing the appeal, the Court of Appeal has reinstated the previ\u2026Read More<\/a> \u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\nARMA RESPONDS TO CMA PLANS FOR LEASEHOLD SECTOR AFTER CONSULTING MEMBERS : <\/strong>25TH SEPTEMBER 2014<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nManaging agents\u2019 trade body, ARMA, has welcomed proposals to tighten up the leasehold property sector. Responding to proposals from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA),
ARMA Chairman, Ben Jordan said:\u201cWe fully support the attempts being made to raise standards in property management. Action to encourage best practice in the sector is welcome and we will continue to promote the highest standards in property management through our self-regulatory regime, ARMA-Q. But, \u2026Read More<\/a> \u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\nARMA WELCOMES CMA PROPOSALS TO IMPROVE THE LEASEHOLD RESIDENTIAL MARKET <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nFriday 1 August 2014 ARMA welcomes CMA proposals to improve the leasehold residential market<\/strong>
Today\u2019s proposals by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to address problems in the
workings of the residential leasehold property management<\/a> market have been broadly welcomed by the industry\u2019s trade body, ARMA.Ben Jordan, ARMA\u2019s Chairman, said:\u201cThis is a welcome initiative by the CMA that could improve the sit\u2026Read More<\/a> \u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\nSHARE THIS ARTICLE:
ARMA READ MORE
ERR ACT: ARMA MEMBERS WILL BE COMPLIANT<\/strong>
16TH APRIL 2014<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Service Charges<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nProposals aim to improve transparency of financial and non-financial information that leaseholders and tenants receive including how service charge costs are presented, provision of key information (i.e., insurance costs) compelling landlords to provide information such as administration charges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Estate Management Regulation<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nHomeowners and leaseholders living on managed estates are to be given the ability to challenge the reasonableness of the charges they pay including greater transparency over costs and the right to obtain other information. A system of civil penalties are proposed for estate management providers who fail to comply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Insurance<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe proposals include replacing insurance commissions with a transparent handling fee. Charges by those placing or managing insurance should reflect the work and time undertaken to arrange the insurance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Right to Manage and Right to a collective enfranchisement:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThis Bill increases the \u2018non-residential limit\u2019 to 50% for collective enfranchisement and the right to manage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nFire Door Ratings in 2023 : Fire Door Inspections<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
As of 23rd<\/sup> January 2023, it is now legally required that the responsible person(s) for all multi-occupancy residential buildings with storeys over 11 metres in height in England carry out the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- On a quarterly basis, carry out checks on all fire doors in the common areas of these buildings, including self-closing devices.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- On an annual basis, carry out checks on all individual flat entrance doors, including self-closing devices, on a best endeavour basis.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Residents in applicable buildings should also be provided with information on how important fire doors are to the overall passive fire safety of a building, to help them understand their role in keeping their building safe, while also encouraging them to allow the responsible person(s) access to their flat entrance doors to perform these checks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This information should be provided to new residents when they first move into the building, and to all residents on an annual basis. The information should cover the importance of keeping fire doors closed, not tampering with the doors or self-closing devices, and should stress that any damage or faults noticed by residents be reported immediately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fire Door Safety Checks in 2023<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
As a brief overview, the minimum the responsible person(s) should be checking for is any signs of obvious damage or disrepair. Specific checks should include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Checking that each fire door closes correctly around its entire frame.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Checking that no alterations have been made to the glazing aperture or air transfer grille.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Checking for gaps around the door frame itself.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Checking that seals and hinges are correctly fitted.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Checking the self-closing device is operating correctly.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Checking that there is no visible damage to the door and the self-closing device, either deliberately or from wear and tear.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Generally, the responsible person(s) of a property should be able to carry out these checks themselves and may only need to involve a specialist when issues are discovered. The Grenfell Tower Inquiry noted that fire doors within the tower did not act as they should have to stop the spread of fire, smoke and gasses, due to damage and disrepair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This information is provided to help interested parties understand the new rules. More in-depth guidance can be found in this government guidance document<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 were placed on the statute book on 18 May 2022, and came into force on 23 January 2023. The regulations implement the majority of those recommendations made to government in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 1 report which require a change in the law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1.2. Responsible Persons, including both building owners (for example freeholders) and other persons having control of the premises (for example managing agents) were required to comply with the regulations from 23 January 2023. Any breach of the regulations is a criminal offence if the breach places one or more relevant persons (for example residents, staff or visitors) at risk of death or serious injury in the event of fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The following applies to all blocks of flats (or parts of such blocks) that incorporate common parts, regardless of whether the block is purpose-built or is a conversion; for the purpose of this legislation, flat entrance doors are included within the meaning of common parts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Regulations require :<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- information about flat entrance doors that the Responsible Person must give to all residents (whether tenants or leaseholders) \u2013 this requirement relates to all blocks of flats<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- routine checks of fire doors that the Responsible Person must ensure are carried out \u2013 these checks are only required in blocks of flats in which the top storey is more than 11m above ground level (typically, a building of more than four storeys)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Residents must be notified that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- fire doors should be kept shut when not in use;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- residents or their guests should not tamper with self-closing devices;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- residents should report any fault or damage immediately to the Responsible Person.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Regulations require that, if the top storey of the building is above 11m in height (typically, a building of more than four storeys) the Responsible Person must:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- use best endeavours to check all flat entrance fire doors at least every 12 months; and<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- carry out checks of any fire doors in communal areas at least every 3 months.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
The Building Safety Act 2022<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The Building Safety Act 2022 has been passed in to law and will have a significant impact on the construction industry, overhauling the regulation of higher-risk buildings and construction products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over the next 18 months, there will be a phased introduction of the act\u2019s provisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first phase of measures is due to come into force within the next two months. This includes the retrospective extension of the time limit for claims under the Defective Premises Act<\/a> from six to 30 years, and for future buildings from six years to 15 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe second phase concerns the new regulatory regime and secondary legislation, and is expected to come into force within the next six to 12 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The third phase, which relates to the transition and enforcement of the main regime, is then due to take effect within the next 12 to 18 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The act is therefore expected to be fully implemented by November 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Remediation costs liability<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
A schedule to the act contains protections for leaseholders relating to certain remediation costs, and imposes corresponding liabilities on landlords of relevant buildings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The schedule caps the amount that can be charged to leaseholders where landlords do not have the means to pay for any remaining non-cladding defects to \u00a315,000, if the premises are in Greater London, or \u00a310,000 for any property elsewhere in England.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the qualifying lease is at least \u00a31m in value but does not exceed \u00a32m, then the permitted maximum is \u00a350,000. If the qualifying lease is more than \u00a32m in value, then the permitted maximum is \u00a3100,000. These figures will include interim costs to a tenant \u2013 such as paying for waking watch patrols \u2013 in the five years before commencement of the relevant provision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There will be no costs for leasehold properties valued less than \u00a3325,000 in Greater London or \u00a3175,000 elsewhere in England. There will also be no service charge payable for each building to which the legislation applies if the landlord group\u2019s net worth was more than \u00a32m at 14 February 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Fire Safety Act 2021 <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The new Act has now taken effect which clarifies the scope of Fire Risk Assessments under the Fire Safety Order 2005. Fire Risk Assessments must now include external walls and anything attached to them as well as internal flat entrance doors which often form part of the leasehold demise and are the property and responsibility of leaseholders under the property lease. This is the latest legislation to be brought in to effect while other improvements to fire safety in residential leasehold blocks of flats are to be phased in under the Building Safety Act 2022.. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The new Building Safety Bill is passed in to law<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The Government\u2019s Building Safety Bill, is the next \u2018key step in an extensive overhaul to building safety legislation\u2019. The reforms laid out in the Bill are set to create \u2018lasting generational change and a clear pathway for the future on how residential buildings should be constructed and maintained.\u2019 With the completion of the parliamentary stages in the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the Building Safety Bill has now received Royal Assent, making the Bill an Act of Parliament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the wake of the Grenfell tragedy, the Bill has introduced clear accountabilities for all those involved in the construction, upkeep and repair of high-risk buildings in England. The Bill\u2019s comprehensive reform to building safety legislation will include the appointment of a Building Safety Regulator who will ensure those living in high rise buildings are being kept safe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Introduced in draft form in July 2020 there has been extensive engagement with Government and other stakeholders for several years, including the recent Building Safety Bill debates in Parliament at Committee Stages, ARMA and IRPM \u2013 now merged as The Property Institute<\/em> (TPI) \u2013 secured a number of significant amendments of the Bill, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- scrapping of the Building Safety Charge<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- removal of the duty to appoint a building safety manager<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- additional powers for resident directors to appoint third-party professional directors<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
N<\/strong>ews \u2013 New legislation is passed governing Fire Safety affecting leasehold blocks of flats.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe Fire Safety Act<\/a> passed into law on the 29th of April,. As a result , there is no longer any question that a Responsible Person has a legal responsibility to commission a Fire Risk Assessment which must include assessment of external walls and fire doors of flat entrance doors.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Fire Safety Act 2021 amends the Fire Safety Order 2005<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
It introduces new legislation covering external walls and internal flat entrance doors to improve fire safety in residential leasehold blocks of flats. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Following agreement by both Houses on the text of the Bill it received Royal Assent on 29 April 2021. The Bill is now an Act of Parliament (law).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Act was approved following continuing debate over the Lords proposed wording that the owner of a building may not pass the costs of any remedial work attributable to the provisions of this Act on to leaseholders or tenants of<\/p>\n\n\n\n
that building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Parliament disagreed to the inclusion of this amendment because the issue of remediation costs is too complex to be dealt with in the manner<\/p>\n\n\n\n
proposed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Guidance is now awaited before the new Fire Safety Act 2021 will take effect which is thought likely to be at the end of the year or early 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Property Cladding and Building Safety Update<\/h3>\n\n\n\nARMA December 2020<\/h3>\n\n\n\nBuilding Safety Campaign group is pressuring for action to :-<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u2022 Extend the deadline for applications to the Building Safety Fund \u2013 the
current deadline has always been unachievable for most applicants,
particularly as the release of funds is proving very slow
\u2022 Introduce a risk matrix instead of a reliance simply on height as a qualifying feature \u2013 prioritise funding based on the risk to life
\u2022 Extend the fund to fix blocks of all heights, not just those above 18m and cover issues such as flammable balconies, unsafe structures, waking watch, unreasonable building insurance increases and alarms
\u2013 Meetings with MP\u2019s continue and several sets of written questions have been asked in HoC, HoL and PM Q\u2019s.
\u2013 Gov stance is that Developers and Building Owners should be asked to pay but the words \u201cavoiding unaffordable costs\u201d are starting to be seen re leaseholders.
\u2013 We hope for a Parliamentary Urgent Questions debate before parliament rises re the deadline and funding
\u2013 Weekly meetings with Cladding Action Groups \u2013 lack of communication is the main feedback<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Grenfell enquiry revealed that Celotex falsified fire testing on RS5000 foam panels to pass their materials
\u2013 MHCLG announced that buildings without cladding do not require the EWS1 form
\u2013 MHCLG announced \u00a3700k to train 2,000 more building assessors via RICS. PI is still an open question<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Government steps in to help homeowners caught up in \u2018EWS1\u2019 process<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Owners of flats in buildings without cladding will no longer need an EWS1 form to sell or re-mortgage their property.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A publication by the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government<\/a> dated 21 November 2020 clarifies the position regarding the need for EWS1 Forms being required by mortgage lenders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Owners of flats in buildings without cladding will no longer need an EWS1 form to sell or re-mortgage their property \u2013 thanks to an agreement reached today (21 November 2020) between the government and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), UK Finance and the Building Societies Association (BSA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is part of a wider government-led solution to support those homeowners who have unsafe cladding on their buildings and where there is still more to do https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/government-steps-in-to-help-homeowners-caught-up-in-ews1-process<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Housing Secretary Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nThrough no fault of their own, some flat-owners have been unable to sell or re-mortgage their homes \u2013 and this cannot be allowed to continue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s why the government has?secured agreement that the EWS1 form will not be needed on buildings where there is no cladding; providing certainty for the almost 450,000 homeowners who may have felt stuck in limbo. However, this is only part of a wider solution and we continue to support those homeowners who do have cladding on their buildings and where there is still more to do.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Buildings insurance premiums set to increase in 2021 <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nInsurance in the residential block management sector is facing a perfect storm according to an article published on ARMA\u2019s website.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Premiums across the whole residential market are increasing and health and safety concerns regarding cladding and wall systems have only added to the problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The ARMA report cites the main drivers affecting the rapidly changing insurance landscape as follows :-<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Increased awareness of high-rise building safety, following the events at Grenfell Tower in 2017;
2. A 600% increase in global financial lines fraud; insurers have suggested that
annual claims will increase twelve-fold throughout 2020\/2021;
3. Reduced staffing resource and increased IT costs, due to the new working from home restrictions;
4. Unprecedented increases in claims inflation of up to 20% over a five-year
period..<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Please refer to your VFM property management team for further details<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Client Money Protection in the private rented sector \u2013 Mandatory from 1 April 2019 \u2013 <\/strong>IMPORTANT NEWS<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nClient Money Protection (CMP) is mandatory in the private rented sector from 1st April 2019
But who does the mandatory CMP apply to?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From 1st April 2019 letting agents in England must belong to an approved CMP scheme by law which requires to protect both tenant and landlord client monies. Letting agents must comply or risk heavy penalty fines with a limit of up to \u00a330,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Under the new legislation, client monies<\/a> held require to be protected through a Government-approved client money protection scheme. This covers client money<\/a> held by an agent in the course of residential property lettings or management of those lettings as set out in s. 54-56 Housing and Planning Act 2016. The types of tenancies are limited to those of 21 years or less in length.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe block management<\/a> sector which applies to residential long leaseholds (where leases exceed a term of 21 years) remain unaffected.
The CMP mandatory requirements are therefore not applicable to residential block management agents<\/a> who do not hold property lettings monies for clients and there is currently no plan to introduce such a mandatory requirement.<\/p>\n\n\n\nMHCLG publishes essential advice for residential building owners regarding fire and health and safety <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nIn January 2020 the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) produced Advice for Building Owners of Multi-storey, Multi-occupied Residential Buildings which includes the following extract :-<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is necessary to consider the risk from fire spread to health and safety in relation to a residential building regardless of height<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBuilding Height<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When considering the risks building owners should consider the full range of risk factors. The Expert Panel\u2019s view is that the vulnerability of occupants is a significant factor in assessing this risk and, in some instances, may be more significant than building height.
Building owners or their appointed competent professional advisors(s) should check that the external wall systems on their buildings meet an acceptable standard of safety and do not contribute to the external spread of fire, irrespective of building height. Spandrel panels (including window and infill
panels) are also part of the external wall of the building and should be checked.
Balconies, and risks arising from their construction materials, geometry and use, must also be considered.
Where building owners require further technical advice it must be provided by a competent person, as this is critical for ensuring that an appropriate level of safety is achieved. In some cases, the analysis needed may be straightforward, in which case a competent fire safety professional with adequate experience in fire safety and knowledge of external wall systems may be used. In others, it will be more complex and require advice from a qualified engineer with relevant experience in fire safety, including the fire testing of building products and systems, such as a Chartered Engineer registered with the UK Engineering Council by the Institution of Fire Engineers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
HCLG leasehold reform<\/a> report recommends significant changes impacting block management<\/a> agents, conveyancing solicitors, landlords, developers and estate agents throughout England and Wales.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nIn July 2018 the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee (HCLG) launched an inquiry into the Government\u2019s programme for leasehold reform. This followed the Government consultation in 2017 into tackling unfair leasehold practices in the UK property market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The HCLG report<\/a> on leasehold reform published on 19 March 2019 includes important and wide reaching recommendations affecting the management of blocks of flats and other leasehold property<\/a> which are briefly summarised below.<\/p>\n\n\n\nGovernment policy should ensure that Commonhold becomes the primary means of ownership for flats in England and Wales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The start of the property sales process should require that developers or estate agents produce a key features document in a standard form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A recommendation to introduce new consultation procedures<\/a> for privately owned properties to protect leaseholders affected by high value major works with a \u00a310,000 threshold per leaseholder. Works exceeding this value should require the consent of a majority of leaseholders in the property before proceeding.<\/p>\n\n\n\nMis-selling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Mis-selling in the leasehold sector should be subject to investigation by The Competition and Markets Authority which should recommend appropriate compensation measures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ground rents on new leases should be Peppercorn or nil value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The HCLG Committee has reached a conclusion that the Government would be legally able to introduce new legislation which would effectively remove onerous ground rents<\/a> from existing leases. Further restrictions could also be imposed limiting existing ground rents to 0.1% of the present value of a property. Ground rent should not exceed \u00a3250 per annum for any property.<\/p>\n\n\n\nTo view the full HCLG report click https:\/\/bit.ly\/2Cr6NNg<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Crackdown on unfair leasehold practices<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
New measures announced by government on 21 December 2017 to cut out unfair and abusive practices within the leasehold<\/a> system, including a ban on leaseholds for almost all new build houses.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOmbudsman Services: Property (OS:P) to cease services in August 2018<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nOS:P has announced that it will end its current arrangements in offering OS:P as of 6th<\/sup> August 2018. Managing agent<\/a> members will require to take up membership of an alternative approved redress scheme before the cessation of services.<\/p>\n\n\n\nGeneral Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nOn 25 May 2018, the European Union\u2019s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into force. GDPR<\/a> is arguably the biggest shake up of data collection rules in 25 years and affects the way in which all businesses including managing agents will operate, record, hold and dispose of personal data. Property managing agents<\/a> will require to be GDPR Registered, requiring careful control of all data in accordance with their Privacy Policy<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThis new regulation will change the way many businesses operate, particularly in relation to how organisations handle and protect customers\u2019 and users\u2019 personal data. Data protection will become the cornerstone of your organisation\u2019s policy and procedure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (CDM 2015)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nOn 6 April 2015, a new version of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (CDM<\/a> 2015)<\/strong> was introduced.<\/p>\n\n\n\nCDM<\/a> 2015 increases attention on smaller projects placing new obligations on clients and managers which have an impact on works being arranged by property management companies, leaseholders and freeholders in blocks of flats.<\/p>\n\n\n\nImportant changes introduced can be summarised including :-<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Removal of the CDM Co-ordinator
Principal Designer is introduced
Principal Designer and Principal Contractor appointments are required on \u201cnotifiable projects\u201d or on schemes employing two or more contractors on site. It should be noted that this is likely to include an increased number of smaller projects.
The notifiable project notification threshold is revised.
CDM scope now includes domestic clients<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Client\u2019s Role<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Any building client must now make suitable arrangements for managing a project under the new CDM regulations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Freeholders, developers and property management companies<\/a> are all affected as building Clients\u2019 whose key responsibilities include the following :<\/p>\n\n\n\nnotifying the HSE of project details confirming that the project team are aware of their duties
ensuring all duty holders comply with their duties
providing pre-construction information including asbestos surveys, existing health and safety files and structural drawings.
ensuring that minimum health and safety<\/a> standards are maintained on site
requiring that the construction phase health and safety plan is drawn up by the principal contractor.
making sure that a health and safety file is produced by the principal designer.
appointment of a principal designer and principal contractor when mandatory \u201cas soon as practicable\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhere these key appointments are not made, their duties transfer automatically to the property management company, freeholder or client.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Court of Appeal has this morning, 31 October 2014, handed down their judgement in the long-awaited Phillips v Francis appeal.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nIt appears that common sense has prevailed in delivering a judgement that is good news for
property management companies, block managers, managing agents and all professionals involved in freehold and leasehold property.The Court of Appeal has now ruled that the earlier decision of the High Court, which favoured the \u201caggregating approach\u201d, was \u201cnot a sensible approach\u201d, clarifying that it gave \u201crise to serious practical problems\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Court found in favour of a \u201csets\u201d approach to qualifying works, this being the approach adopted until the recent High Court Phillips v Francis decision. It was also agreed that the incorporation of an annual limit was incorrect.Property managing agents and freeholders can now go about their business with some certainty and clarity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
COURT OF APPEAL OVERTURNS PHILIPS V FRANCIS DECISION ON MAJOR WORKS : <\/strong>31ST OCTOBER 2014|<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nARMA welcomes the decision of the Court of Appeal to allow the appeal in the controversial case of Phillips & Goddard v Francis & Francis. Today\u2019s judgement overturns the 2012 decision, which held that the cost of qualifying works was to be aggregated over a service charge year, with consultation to be carried out if the aggregated contribution exceeded \u00a3250 for any one leaseholder during that year.In allowing the appeal, the Court of Appeal has reinstated the previ\u2026Read More<\/a> \u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\nARMA RESPONDS TO CMA PLANS FOR LEASEHOLD SECTOR AFTER CONSULTING MEMBERS : <\/strong>25TH SEPTEMBER 2014<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nManaging agents\u2019 trade body, ARMA, has welcomed proposals to tighten up the leasehold property sector. Responding to proposals from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA),
ARMA Chairman, Ben Jordan said:\u201cWe fully support the attempts being made to raise standards in property management. Action to encourage best practice in the sector is welcome and we will continue to promote the highest standards in property management through our self-regulatory regime, ARMA-Q. But, \u2026Read More<\/a> \u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\nARMA WELCOMES CMA PROPOSALS TO IMPROVE THE LEASEHOLD RESIDENTIAL MARKET <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nFriday 1 August 2014 ARMA welcomes CMA proposals to improve the leasehold residential market<\/strong>
Today\u2019s proposals by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to address problems in the
workings of the residential leasehold property management<\/a> market have been broadly welcomed by the industry\u2019s trade body, ARMA.Ben Jordan, ARMA\u2019s Chairman, said:\u201cThis is a welcome initiative by the CMA that could improve the sit\u2026Read More<\/a> \u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\nSHARE THIS ARTICLE:
ARMA READ MORE
ERR ACT: ARMA MEMBERS WILL BE COMPLIANT<\/strong>
16TH APRIL 2014<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Homeowners and leaseholders living on managed estates are to be given the ability to challenge the reasonableness of the charges they pay including greater transparency over costs and the right to obtain other information. A system of civil penalties are proposed for estate management providers who fail to comply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Insurance<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe proposals include replacing insurance commissions with a transparent handling fee. Charges by those placing or managing insurance should reflect the work and time undertaken to arrange the insurance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Right to Manage and Right to a collective enfranchisement:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThis Bill increases the \u2018non-residential limit\u2019 to 50% for collective enfranchisement and the right to manage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nFire Door Ratings in 2023 : Fire Door Inspections<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
As of 23rd<\/sup> January 2023, it is now legally required that the responsible person(s) for all multi-occupancy residential buildings with storeys over 11 metres in height in England carry out the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- On a quarterly basis, carry out checks on all fire doors in the common areas of these buildings, including self-closing devices.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- On an annual basis, carry out checks on all individual flat entrance doors, including self-closing devices, on a best endeavour basis.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Residents in applicable buildings should also be provided with information on how important fire doors are to the overall passive fire safety of a building, to help them understand their role in keeping their building safe, while also encouraging them to allow the responsible person(s) access to their flat entrance doors to perform these checks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This information should be provided to new residents when they first move into the building, and to all residents on an annual basis. The information should cover the importance of keeping fire doors closed, not tampering with the doors or self-closing devices, and should stress that any damage or faults noticed by residents be reported immediately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fire Door Safety Checks in 2023<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
As a brief overview, the minimum the responsible person(s) should be checking for is any signs of obvious damage or disrepair. Specific checks should include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Checking that each fire door closes correctly around its entire frame.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Checking that no alterations have been made to the glazing aperture or air transfer grille.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Checking for gaps around the door frame itself.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Checking that seals and hinges are correctly fitted.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Checking the self-closing device is operating correctly.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Checking that there is no visible damage to the door and the self-closing device, either deliberately or from wear and tear.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Generally, the responsible person(s) of a property should be able to carry out these checks themselves and may only need to involve a specialist when issues are discovered. The Grenfell Tower Inquiry noted that fire doors within the tower did not act as they should have to stop the spread of fire, smoke and gasses, due to damage and disrepair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This information is provided to help interested parties understand the new rules. More in-depth guidance can be found in this government guidance document<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 were placed on the statute book on 18 May 2022, and came into force on 23 January 2023. The regulations implement the majority of those recommendations made to government in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 1 report which require a change in the law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1.2. Responsible Persons, including both building owners (for example freeholders) and other persons having control of the premises (for example managing agents) were required to comply with the regulations from 23 January 2023. Any breach of the regulations is a criminal offence if the breach places one or more relevant persons (for example residents, staff or visitors) at risk of death or serious injury in the event of fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The following applies to all blocks of flats (or parts of such blocks) that incorporate common parts, regardless of whether the block is purpose-built or is a conversion; for the purpose of this legislation, flat entrance doors are included within the meaning of common parts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Regulations require :<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- information about flat entrance doors that the Responsible Person must give to all residents (whether tenants or leaseholders) \u2013 this requirement relates to all blocks of flats<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- routine checks of fire doors that the Responsible Person must ensure are carried out \u2013 these checks are only required in blocks of flats in which the top storey is more than 11m above ground level (typically, a building of more than four storeys)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Residents must be notified that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- fire doors should be kept shut when not in use;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- residents or their guests should not tamper with self-closing devices;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- residents should report any fault or damage immediately to the Responsible Person.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Regulations require that, if the top storey of the building is above 11m in height (typically, a building of more than four storeys) the Responsible Person must:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- use best endeavours to check all flat entrance fire doors at least every 12 months; and<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- carry out checks of any fire doors in communal areas at least every 3 months.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
The Building Safety Act 2022<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The Building Safety Act 2022 has been passed in to law and will have a significant impact on the construction industry, overhauling the regulation of higher-risk buildings and construction products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over the next 18 months, there will be a phased introduction of the act\u2019s provisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first phase of measures is due to come into force within the next two months. This includes the retrospective extension of the time limit for claims under the Defective Premises Act<\/a> from six to 30 years, and for future buildings from six years to 15 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe second phase concerns the new regulatory regime and secondary legislation, and is expected to come into force within the next six to 12 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The third phase, which relates to the transition and enforcement of the main regime, is then due to take effect within the next 12 to 18 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The act is therefore expected to be fully implemented by November 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Remediation costs liability<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
A schedule to the act contains protections for leaseholders relating to certain remediation costs, and imposes corresponding liabilities on landlords of relevant buildings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The schedule caps the amount that can be charged to leaseholders where landlords do not have the means to pay for any remaining non-cladding defects to \u00a315,000, if the premises are in Greater London, or \u00a310,000 for any property elsewhere in England.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the qualifying lease is at least \u00a31m in value but does not exceed \u00a32m, then the permitted maximum is \u00a350,000. If the qualifying lease is more than \u00a32m in value, then the permitted maximum is \u00a3100,000. These figures will include interim costs to a tenant \u2013 such as paying for waking watch patrols \u2013 in the five years before commencement of the relevant provision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There will be no costs for leasehold properties valued less than \u00a3325,000 in Greater London or \u00a3175,000 elsewhere in England. There will also be no service charge payable for each building to which the legislation applies if the landlord group\u2019s net worth was more than \u00a32m at 14 February 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Fire Safety Act 2021 <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The new Act has now taken effect which clarifies the scope of Fire Risk Assessments under the Fire Safety Order 2005. Fire Risk Assessments must now include external walls and anything attached to them as well as internal flat entrance doors which often form part of the leasehold demise and are the property and responsibility of leaseholders under the property lease. This is the latest legislation to be brought in to effect while other improvements to fire safety in residential leasehold blocks of flats are to be phased in under the Building Safety Act 2022.. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The new Building Safety Bill is passed in to law<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The Government\u2019s Building Safety Bill, is the next \u2018key step in an extensive overhaul to building safety legislation\u2019. The reforms laid out in the Bill are set to create \u2018lasting generational change and a clear pathway for the future on how residential buildings should be constructed and maintained.\u2019 With the completion of the parliamentary stages in the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the Building Safety Bill has now received Royal Assent, making the Bill an Act of Parliament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the wake of the Grenfell tragedy, the Bill has introduced clear accountabilities for all those involved in the construction, upkeep and repair of high-risk buildings in England. The Bill\u2019s comprehensive reform to building safety legislation will include the appointment of a Building Safety Regulator who will ensure those living in high rise buildings are being kept safe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Introduced in draft form in July 2020 there has been extensive engagement with Government and other stakeholders for several years, including the recent Building Safety Bill debates in Parliament at Committee Stages, ARMA and IRPM \u2013 now merged as The Property Institute<\/em> (TPI) \u2013 secured a number of significant amendments of the Bill, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- scrapping of the Building Safety Charge<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- removal of the duty to appoint a building safety manager<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- additional powers for resident directors to appoint third-party professional directors<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
N<\/strong>ews \u2013 New legislation is passed governing Fire Safety affecting leasehold blocks of flats.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe Fire Safety Act<\/a> passed into law on the 29th of April,. As a result , there is no longer any question that a Responsible Person has a legal responsibility to commission a Fire Risk Assessment which must include assessment of external walls and fire doors of flat entrance doors.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Fire Safety Act 2021 amends the Fire Safety Order 2005<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
It introduces new legislation covering external walls and internal flat entrance doors to improve fire safety in residential leasehold blocks of flats. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Following agreement by both Houses on the text of the Bill it received Royal Assent on 29 April 2021. The Bill is now an Act of Parliament (law).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Act was approved following continuing debate over the Lords proposed wording that the owner of a building may not pass the costs of any remedial work attributable to the provisions of this Act on to leaseholders or tenants of<\/p>\n\n\n\n
that building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Parliament disagreed to the inclusion of this amendment because the issue of remediation costs is too complex to be dealt with in the manner<\/p>\n\n\n\n
proposed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Guidance is now awaited before the new Fire Safety Act 2021 will take effect which is thought likely to be at the end of the year or early 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Property Cladding and Building Safety Update<\/h3>\n\n\n\nARMA December 2020<\/h3>\n\n\n\nBuilding Safety Campaign group is pressuring for action to :-<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u2022 Extend the deadline for applications to the Building Safety Fund \u2013 the
current deadline has always been unachievable for most applicants,
particularly as the release of funds is proving very slow
\u2022 Introduce a risk matrix instead of a reliance simply on height as a qualifying feature \u2013 prioritise funding based on the risk to life
\u2022 Extend the fund to fix blocks of all heights, not just those above 18m and cover issues such as flammable balconies, unsafe structures, waking watch, unreasonable building insurance increases and alarms
\u2013 Meetings with MP\u2019s continue and several sets of written questions have been asked in HoC, HoL and PM Q\u2019s.
\u2013 Gov stance is that Developers and Building Owners should be asked to pay but the words \u201cavoiding unaffordable costs\u201d are starting to be seen re leaseholders.
\u2013 We hope for a Parliamentary Urgent Questions debate before parliament rises re the deadline and funding
\u2013 Weekly meetings with Cladding Action Groups \u2013 lack of communication is the main feedback<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Grenfell enquiry revealed that Celotex falsified fire testing on RS5000 foam panels to pass their materials
\u2013 MHCLG announced that buildings without cladding do not require the EWS1 form
\u2013 MHCLG announced \u00a3700k to train 2,000 more building assessors via RICS. PI is still an open question<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Government steps in to help homeowners caught up in \u2018EWS1\u2019 process<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Owners of flats in buildings without cladding will no longer need an EWS1 form to sell or re-mortgage their property.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A publication by the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government<\/a> dated 21 November 2020 clarifies the position regarding the need for EWS1 Forms being required by mortgage lenders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Owners of flats in buildings without cladding will no longer need an EWS1 form to sell or re-mortgage their property \u2013 thanks to an agreement reached today (21 November 2020) between the government and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), UK Finance and the Building Societies Association (BSA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is part of a wider government-led solution to support those homeowners who have unsafe cladding on their buildings and where there is still more to do https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/government-steps-in-to-help-homeowners-caught-up-in-ews1-process<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Housing Secretary Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nThrough no fault of their own, some flat-owners have been unable to sell or re-mortgage their homes \u2013 and this cannot be allowed to continue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s why the government has?secured agreement that the EWS1 form will not be needed on buildings where there is no cladding; providing certainty for the almost 450,000 homeowners who may have felt stuck in limbo. However, this is only part of a wider solution and we continue to support those homeowners who do have cladding on their buildings and where there is still more to do.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Buildings insurance premiums set to increase in 2021 <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nInsurance in the residential block management sector is facing a perfect storm according to an article published on ARMA\u2019s website.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Premiums across the whole residential market are increasing and health and safety concerns regarding cladding and wall systems have only added to the problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The ARMA report cites the main drivers affecting the rapidly changing insurance landscape as follows :-<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Increased awareness of high-rise building safety, following the events at Grenfell Tower in 2017;
2. A 600% increase in global financial lines fraud; insurers have suggested that
annual claims will increase twelve-fold throughout 2020\/2021;
3. Reduced staffing resource and increased IT costs, due to the new working from home restrictions;
4. Unprecedented increases in claims inflation of up to 20% over a five-year
period..<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Please refer to your VFM property management team for further details<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Client Money Protection in the private rented sector \u2013 Mandatory from 1 April 2019 \u2013 <\/strong>IMPORTANT NEWS<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nClient Money Protection (CMP) is mandatory in the private rented sector from 1st April 2019
But who does the mandatory CMP apply to?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From 1st April 2019 letting agents in England must belong to an approved CMP scheme by law which requires to protect both tenant and landlord client monies. Letting agents must comply or risk heavy penalty fines with a limit of up to \u00a330,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Under the new legislation, client monies<\/a> held require to be protected through a Government-approved client money protection scheme. This covers client money<\/a> held by an agent in the course of residential property lettings or management of those lettings as set out in s. 54-56 Housing and Planning Act 2016. The types of tenancies are limited to those of 21 years or less in length.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe block management<\/a> sector which applies to residential long leaseholds (where leases exceed a term of 21 years) remain unaffected.
The CMP mandatory requirements are therefore not applicable to residential block management agents<\/a> who do not hold property lettings monies for clients and there is currently no plan to introduce such a mandatory requirement.<\/p>\n\n\n\nMHCLG publishes essential advice for residential building owners regarding fire and health and safety <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nIn January 2020 the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) produced Advice for Building Owners of Multi-storey, Multi-occupied Residential Buildings which includes the following extract :-<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is necessary to consider the risk from fire spread to health and safety in relation to a residential building regardless of height<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBuilding Height<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When considering the risks building owners should consider the full range of risk factors. The Expert Panel\u2019s view is that the vulnerability of occupants is a significant factor in assessing this risk and, in some instances, may be more significant than building height.
Building owners or their appointed competent professional advisors(s) should check that the external wall systems on their buildings meet an acceptable standard of safety and do not contribute to the external spread of fire, irrespective of building height. Spandrel panels (including window and infill
panels) are also part of the external wall of the building and should be checked.
Balconies, and risks arising from their construction materials, geometry and use, must also be considered.
Where building owners require further technical advice it must be provided by a competent person, as this is critical for ensuring that an appropriate level of safety is achieved. In some cases, the analysis needed may be straightforward, in which case a competent fire safety professional with adequate experience in fire safety and knowledge of external wall systems may be used. In others, it will be more complex and require advice from a qualified engineer with relevant experience in fire safety, including the fire testing of building products and systems, such as a Chartered Engineer registered with the UK Engineering Council by the Institution of Fire Engineers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
HCLG leasehold reform<\/a> report recommends significant changes impacting block management<\/a> agents, conveyancing solicitors, landlords, developers and estate agents throughout England and Wales.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nIn July 2018 the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee (HCLG) launched an inquiry into the Government\u2019s programme for leasehold reform. This followed the Government consultation in 2017 into tackling unfair leasehold practices in the UK property market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The HCLG report<\/a> on leasehold reform published on 19 March 2019 includes important and wide reaching recommendations affecting the management of blocks of flats and other leasehold property<\/a> which are briefly summarised below.<\/p>\n\n\n\nGovernment policy should ensure that Commonhold becomes the primary means of ownership for flats in England and Wales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The start of the property sales process should require that developers or estate agents produce a key features document in a standard form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A recommendation to introduce new consultation procedures<\/a> for privately owned properties to protect leaseholders affected by high value major works with a \u00a310,000 threshold per leaseholder. Works exceeding this value should require the consent of a majority of leaseholders in the property before proceeding.<\/p>\n\n\n\nMis-selling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Mis-selling in the leasehold sector should be subject to investigation by The Competition and Markets Authority which should recommend appropriate compensation measures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ground rents on new leases should be Peppercorn or nil value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The HCLG Committee has reached a conclusion that the Government would be legally able to introduce new legislation which would effectively remove onerous ground rents<\/a> from existing leases. Further restrictions could also be imposed limiting existing ground rents to 0.1% of the present value of a property. Ground rent should not exceed \u00a3250 per annum for any property.<\/p>\n\n\n\nTo view the full HCLG report click https:\/\/bit.ly\/2Cr6NNg<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Crackdown on unfair leasehold practices<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
New measures announced by government on 21 December 2017 to cut out unfair and abusive practices within the leasehold<\/a> system, including a ban on leaseholds for almost all new build houses.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOmbudsman Services: Property (OS:P) to cease services in August 2018<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nOS:P has announced that it will end its current arrangements in offering OS:P as of 6th<\/sup> August 2018. Managing agent<\/a> members will require to take up membership of an alternative approved redress scheme before the cessation of services.<\/p>\n\n\n\nGeneral Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nOn 25 May 2018, the European Union\u2019s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into force. GDPR<\/a> is arguably the biggest shake up of data collection rules in 25 years and affects the way in which all businesses including managing agents will operate, record, hold and dispose of personal data. Property managing agents<\/a> will require to be GDPR Registered, requiring careful control of all data in accordance with their Privacy Policy<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThis new regulation will change the way many businesses operate, particularly in relation to how organisations handle and protect customers\u2019 and users\u2019 personal data. Data protection will become the cornerstone of your organisation\u2019s policy and procedure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (CDM 2015)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nOn 6 April 2015, a new version of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (CDM<\/a> 2015)<\/strong> was introduced.<\/p>\n\n\n\nCDM<\/a> 2015 increases attention on smaller projects placing new obligations on clients and managers which have an impact on works being arranged by property management companies, leaseholders and freeholders in blocks of flats.<\/p>\n\n\n\nImportant changes introduced can be summarised including :-<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Removal of the CDM Co-ordinator
Principal Designer is introduced
Principal Designer and Principal Contractor appointments are required on \u201cnotifiable projects\u201d or on schemes employing two or more contractors on site. It should be noted that this is likely to include an increased number of smaller projects.
The notifiable project notification threshold is revised.
CDM scope now includes domestic clients<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Client\u2019s Role<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Any building client must now make suitable arrangements for managing a project under the new CDM regulations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Freeholders, developers and property management companies<\/a> are all affected as building Clients\u2019 whose key responsibilities include the following :<\/p>\n\n\n\nnotifying the HSE of project details confirming that the project team are aware of their duties
ensuring all duty holders comply with their duties
providing pre-construction information including asbestos surveys, existing health and safety files and structural drawings.
ensuring that minimum health and safety<\/a> standards are maintained on site
requiring that the construction phase health and safety plan is drawn up by the principal contractor.
making sure that a health and safety file is produced by the principal designer.
appointment of a principal designer and principal contractor when mandatory \u201cas soon as practicable\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhere these key appointments are not made, their duties transfer automatically to the property management company, freeholder or client.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Court of Appeal has this morning, 31 October 2014, handed down their judgement in the long-awaited Phillips v Francis appeal.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nIt appears that common sense has prevailed in delivering a judgement that is good news for
property management companies, block managers, managing agents and all professionals involved in freehold and leasehold property.The Court of Appeal has now ruled that the earlier decision of the High Court, which favoured the \u201caggregating approach\u201d, was \u201cnot a sensible approach\u201d, clarifying that it gave \u201crise to serious practical problems\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Court found in favour of a \u201csets\u201d approach to qualifying works, this being the approach adopted until the recent High Court Phillips v Francis decision. It was also agreed that the incorporation of an annual limit was incorrect.Property managing agents and freeholders can now go about their business with some certainty and clarity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
COURT OF APPEAL OVERTURNS PHILIPS V FRANCIS DECISION ON MAJOR WORKS : <\/strong>31ST OCTOBER 2014|<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nARMA welcomes the decision of the Court of Appeal to allow the appeal in the controversial case of Phillips & Goddard v Francis & Francis. Today\u2019s judgement overturns the 2012 decision, which held that the cost of qualifying works was to be aggregated over a service charge year, with consultation to be carried out if the aggregated contribution exceeded \u00a3250 for any one leaseholder during that year.In allowing the appeal, the Court of Appeal has reinstated the previ\u2026Read More<\/a> \u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\nARMA RESPONDS TO CMA PLANS FOR LEASEHOLD SECTOR AFTER CONSULTING MEMBERS : <\/strong>25TH SEPTEMBER 2014<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nManaging agents\u2019 trade body, ARMA, has welcomed proposals to tighten up the leasehold property sector. Responding to proposals from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA),
ARMA Chairman, Ben Jordan said:\u201cWe fully support the attempts being made to raise standards in property management. Action to encourage best practice in the sector is welcome and we will continue to promote the highest standards in property management through our self-regulatory regime, ARMA-Q. But, \u2026Read More<\/a> \u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\nARMA WELCOMES CMA PROPOSALS TO IMPROVE THE LEASEHOLD RESIDENTIAL MARKET <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nFriday 1 August 2014 ARMA welcomes CMA proposals to improve the leasehold residential market<\/strong>
Today\u2019s proposals by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to address problems in the
workings of the residential leasehold property management<\/a> market have been broadly welcomed by the industry\u2019s trade body, ARMA.Ben Jordan, ARMA\u2019s Chairman, said:\u201cThis is a welcome initiative by the CMA that could improve the sit\u2026Read More<\/a> \u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\nSHARE THIS ARTICLE:
ARMA READ MORE
ERR ACT: ARMA MEMBERS WILL BE COMPLIANT<\/strong>
16TH APRIL 2014<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
This Bill increases the \u2018non-residential limit\u2019 to 50% for collective enfranchisement and the right to manage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n As of 23rd<\/sup> January 2023, it is now legally required that the responsible person(s) for all multi-occupancy residential buildings with storeys over 11 metres in height in England carry out the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Residents in applicable buildings should also be provided with information on how important fire doors are to the overall passive fire safety of a building, to help them understand their role in keeping their building safe, while also encouraging them to allow the responsible person(s) access to their flat entrance doors to perform these checks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This information should be provided to new residents when they first move into the building, and to all residents on an annual basis. The information should cover the importance of keeping fire doors closed, not tampering with the doors or self-closing devices, and should stress that any damage or faults noticed by residents be reported immediately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As a brief overview, the minimum the responsible person(s) should be checking for is any signs of obvious damage or disrepair. Specific checks should include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Generally, the responsible person(s) of a property should be able to carry out these checks themselves and may only need to involve a specialist when issues are discovered. The Grenfell Tower Inquiry noted that fire doors within the tower did not act as they should have to stop the spread of fire, smoke and gasses, due to damage and disrepair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This information is provided to help interested parties understand the new rules. More in-depth guidance can be found in this government guidance document<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 were placed on the statute book on 18 May 2022, and came into force on 23 January 2023. The regulations implement the majority of those recommendations made to government in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 1 report which require a change in the law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1.2. Responsible Persons, including both building owners (for example freeholders) and other persons having control of the premises (for example managing agents) were required to comply with the regulations from 23 January 2023. Any breach of the regulations is a criminal offence if the breach places one or more relevant persons (for example residents, staff or visitors) at risk of death or serious injury in the event of fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The following applies to all blocks of flats (or parts of such blocks) that incorporate common parts, regardless of whether the block is purpose-built or is a conversion; for the purpose of this legislation, flat entrance doors are included within the meaning of common parts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Regulations require :<\/p>\n\n\n\n Residents must be notified that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Regulations require that, if the top storey of the building is above 11m in height (typically, a building of more than four storeys) the Responsible Person must:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Building Safety Act 2022 has been passed in to law and will have a significant impact on the construction industry, overhauling the regulation of higher-risk buildings and construction products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Over the next 18 months, there will be a phased introduction of the act\u2019s provisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first phase of measures is due to come into force within the next two months. This includes the retrospective extension of the time limit for claims under the Defective Premises Act<\/a> from six to 30 years, and for future buildings from six years to 15 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The second phase concerns the new regulatory regime and secondary legislation, and is expected to come into force within the next six to 12 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The third phase, which relates to the transition and enforcement of the main regime, is then due to take effect within the next 12 to 18 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The act is therefore expected to be fully implemented by November 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A schedule to the act contains protections for leaseholders relating to certain remediation costs, and imposes corresponding liabilities on landlords of relevant buildings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The schedule caps the amount that can be charged to leaseholders where landlords do not have the means to pay for any remaining non-cladding defects to \u00a315,000, if the premises are in Greater London, or \u00a310,000 for any property elsewhere in England.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the qualifying lease is at least \u00a31m in value but does not exceed \u00a32m, then the permitted maximum is \u00a350,000. If the qualifying lease is more than \u00a32m in value, then the permitted maximum is \u00a3100,000. These figures will include interim costs to a tenant \u2013 such as paying for waking watch patrols \u2013 in the five years before commencement of the relevant provision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There will be no costs for leasehold properties valued less than \u00a3325,000 in Greater London or \u00a3175,000 elsewhere in England. There will also be no service charge payable for each building to which the legislation applies if the landlord group\u2019s net worth was more than \u00a32m at 14 February 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The new Act has now taken effect which clarifies the scope of Fire Risk Assessments under the Fire Safety Order 2005. Fire Risk Assessments must now include external walls and anything attached to them as well as internal flat entrance doors which often form part of the leasehold demise and are the property and responsibility of leaseholders under the property lease. This is the latest legislation to be brought in to effect while other improvements to fire safety in residential leasehold blocks of flats are to be phased in under the Building Safety Act 2022.. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Government\u2019s Building Safety Bill, is the next \u2018key step in an extensive overhaul to building safety legislation\u2019. The reforms laid out in the Bill are set to create \u2018lasting generational change and a clear pathway for the future on how residential buildings should be constructed and maintained.\u2019 With the completion of the parliamentary stages in the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the Building Safety Bill has now received Royal Assent, making the Bill an Act of Parliament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the wake of the Grenfell tragedy, the Bill has introduced clear accountabilities for all those involved in the construction, upkeep and repair of high-risk buildings in England. The Bill\u2019s comprehensive reform to building safety legislation will include the appointment of a Building Safety Regulator who will ensure those living in high rise buildings are being kept safe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Introduced in draft form in July 2020 there has been extensive engagement with Government and other stakeholders for several years, including the recent Building Safety Bill debates in Parliament at Committee Stages, ARMA and IRPM \u2013 now merged as The Property Institute<\/em> (TPI) \u2013 secured a number of significant amendments of the Bill, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Fire Safety Act<\/a> passed into law on the 29th of April,. As a result , there is no longer any question that a Responsible Person has a legal responsibility to commission a Fire Risk Assessment which must include assessment of external walls and fire doors of flat entrance doors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It introduces new legislation covering external walls and internal flat entrance doors to improve fire safety in residential leasehold blocks of flats. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Following agreement by both Houses on the text of the Bill it received Royal Assent on 29 April 2021. The Bill is now an Act of Parliament (law).<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Act was approved following continuing debate over the Lords proposed wording that the owner of a building may not pass the costs of any remedial work attributable to the provisions of this Act on to leaseholders or tenants of<\/p>\n\n\n\n that building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Parliament disagreed to the inclusion of this amendment because the issue of remediation costs is too complex to be dealt with in the manner<\/p>\n\n\n\n proposed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Guidance is now awaited before the new Fire Safety Act 2021 will take effect which is thought likely to be at the end of the year or early 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Extend the deadline for applications to the Building Safety Fund \u2013 the Grenfell enquiry revealed that Celotex falsified fire testing on RS5000 foam panels to pass their materials Owners of flats in buildings without cladding will no longer need an EWS1 form to sell or re-mortgage their property.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A publication by the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government<\/a> dated 21 November 2020 clarifies the position regarding the need for EWS1 Forms being required by mortgage lenders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Owners of flats in buildings without cladding will no longer need an EWS1 form to sell or re-mortgage their property \u2013 thanks to an agreement reached today (21 November 2020) between the government and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), UK Finance and the Building Societies Association (BSA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is part of a wider government-led solution to support those homeowners who have unsafe cladding on their buildings and where there is still more to do https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/government-steps-in-to-help-homeowners-caught-up-in-ews1-process<\/p>\n\n\n\n Housing Secretary Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Through no fault of their own, some flat-owners have been unable to sell or re-mortgage their homes \u2013 and this cannot be allowed to continue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s why the government has?secured agreement that the EWS1 form will not be needed on buildings where there is no cladding; providing certainty for the almost 450,000 homeowners who may have felt stuck in limbo. However, this is only part of a wider solution and we continue to support those homeowners who do have cladding on their buildings and where there is still more to do.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Premiums across the whole residential market are increasing and health and safety concerns regarding cladding and wall systems have only added to the problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The ARMA report cites the main drivers affecting the rapidly changing insurance landscape as follows :-<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1. Increased awareness of high-rise building safety, following the events at Grenfell Tower in 2017; Please refer to your VFM property management team for further details<\/p>\n\n\n\n Client Money Protection (CMP) is mandatory in the private rented sector from 1st April 2019 From 1st April 2019 letting agents in England must belong to an approved CMP scheme by law which requires to protect both tenant and landlord client monies. Letting agents must comply or risk heavy penalty fines with a limit of up to \u00a330,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Under the new legislation, client monies<\/a> held require to be protected through a Government-approved client money protection scheme. This covers client money<\/a> held by an agent in the course of residential property lettings or management of those lettings as set out in s. 54-56 Housing and Planning Act 2016. The types of tenancies are limited to those of 21 years or less in length.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The block management<\/a> sector which applies to residential long leaseholds (where leases exceed a term of 21 years) remain unaffected. In January 2020 the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) produced Advice for Building Owners of Multi-storey, Multi-occupied Residential Buildings which includes the following extract :-<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is necessary to consider the risk from fire spread to health and safety in relation to a residential building regardless of height<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When considering the risks building owners should consider the full range of risk factors. The Expert Panel\u2019s view is that the vulnerability of occupants is a significant factor in assessing this risk and, in some instances, may be more significant than building height. In July 2018 the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee (HCLG) launched an inquiry into the Government\u2019s programme for leasehold reform. This followed the Government consultation in 2017 into tackling unfair leasehold practices in the UK property market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The HCLG report<\/a> on leasehold reform published on 19 March 2019 includes important and wide reaching recommendations affecting the management of blocks of flats and other leasehold property<\/a> which are briefly summarised below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Government policy should ensure that Commonhold becomes the primary means of ownership for flats in England and Wales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The start of the property sales process should require that developers or estate agents produce a key features document in a standard form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A recommendation to introduce new consultation procedures<\/a> for privately owned properties to protect leaseholders affected by high value major works with a \u00a310,000 threshold per leaseholder. Works exceeding this value should require the consent of a majority of leaseholders in the property before proceeding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mis-selling in the leasehold sector should be subject to investigation by The Competition and Markets Authority which should recommend appropriate compensation measures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ground rents on new leases should be Peppercorn or nil value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The HCLG Committee has reached a conclusion that the Government would be legally able to introduce new legislation which would effectively remove onerous ground rents<\/a> from existing leases. Further restrictions could also be imposed limiting existing ground rents to 0.1% of the present value of a property. Ground rent should not exceed \u00a3250 per annum for any property.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To view the full HCLG report click https:\/\/bit.ly\/2Cr6NNg<\/p>\n\n\n\n New measures announced by government on 21 December 2017 to cut out unfair and abusive practices within the leasehold<\/a> system, including a ban on leaseholds for almost all new build houses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OS:P has announced that it will end its current arrangements in offering OS:P as of 6th<\/sup> August 2018. Managing agent<\/a> members will require to take up membership of an alternative approved redress scheme before the cessation of services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On 25 May 2018, the European Union\u2019s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into force. GDPR<\/a> is arguably the biggest shake up of data collection rules in 25 years and affects the way in which all businesses including managing agents will operate, record, hold and dispose of personal data. Property managing agents<\/a> will require to be GDPR Registered, requiring careful control of all data in accordance with their Privacy Policy<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This new regulation will change the way many businesses operate, particularly in relation to how organisations handle and protect customers\u2019 and users\u2019 personal data. Data protection will become the cornerstone of your organisation\u2019s policy and procedure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On 6 April 2015, a new version of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (CDM<\/a> 2015)<\/strong> was introduced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n CDM<\/a> 2015 increases attention on smaller projects placing new obligations on clients and managers which have an impact on works being arranged by property management companies, leaseholders and freeholders in blocks of flats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Important changes introduced can be summarised including :-<\/p>\n\n\n\n Removal of the CDM Co-ordinator Any building client must now make suitable arrangements for managing a project under the new CDM regulations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Freeholders, developers and property management companies<\/a> are all affected as building Clients\u2019 whose key responsibilities include the following :<\/p>\n\n\n\n notifying the HSE of project details confirming that the project team are aware of their duties Where these key appointments are not made, their duties transfer automatically to the property management company, freeholder or client.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It appears that common sense has prevailed in delivering a judgement that is good news for The Court found in favour of a \u201csets\u201d approach to qualifying works, this being the approach adopted until the recent High Court Phillips v Francis decision. It was also agreed that the incorporation of an annual limit was incorrect.Property managing agents and freeholders can now go about their business with some certainty and clarity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ARMA welcomes the decision of the Court of Appeal to allow the appeal in the controversial case of Phillips & Goddard v Francis & Francis. Today\u2019s judgement overturns the 2012 decision, which held that the cost of qualifying works was to be aggregated over a service charge year, with consultation to be carried out if the aggregated contribution exceeded \u00a3250 for any one leaseholder during that year.In allowing the appeal, the Court of Appeal has reinstated the previ\u2026Read More<\/a> \u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n Managing agents\u2019 trade body, ARMA, has welcomed proposals to tighten up the leasehold property sector. Responding to proposals from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), Friday 1 August 2014 ARMA welcomes CMA proposals to improve the leasehold residential market<\/strong>Fire Door Ratings in 2023 : Fire Door Inspections<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Fire Door Safety Checks in 2023<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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The Building Safety Act 2022<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Remediation costs liability<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The Fire Safety Act 2021 <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The new Building Safety Bill is passed in to law<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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N<\/strong>ews \u2013 New legislation is passed governing Fire Safety affecting leasehold blocks of flats.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The Fire Safety Act 2021 amends the Fire Safety Order 2005<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Property Cladding and Building Safety Update<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
ARMA December 2020<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Building Safety Campaign group is pressuring for action to :-<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
current deadline has always been unachievable for most applicants,
particularly as the release of funds is proving very slow
\u2022 Introduce a risk matrix instead of a reliance simply on height as a qualifying feature \u2013 prioritise funding based on the risk to life
\u2022 Extend the fund to fix blocks of all heights, not just those above 18m and cover issues such as flammable balconies, unsafe structures, waking watch, unreasonable building insurance increases and alarms
\u2013 Meetings with MP\u2019s continue and several sets of written questions have been asked in HoC, HoL and PM Q\u2019s.
\u2013 Gov stance is that Developers and Building Owners should be asked to pay but the words \u201cavoiding unaffordable costs\u201d are starting to be seen re leaseholders.
\u2013 We hope for a Parliamentary Urgent Questions debate before parliament rises re the deadline and funding
\u2013 Weekly meetings with Cladding Action Groups \u2013 lack of communication is the main feedback<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2013 MHCLG announced that buildings without cladding do not require the EWS1 form
\u2013 MHCLG announced \u00a3700k to train 2,000 more building assessors via RICS. PI is still an open question<\/p>\n\n\n\nGovernment steps in to help homeowners caught up in \u2018EWS1\u2019 process<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Buildings insurance premiums set to increase in 2021 <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Insurance in the residential block management sector is facing a perfect storm according to an article published on ARMA\u2019s website.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
2. A 600% increase in global financial lines fraud; insurers have suggested that
annual claims will increase twelve-fold throughout 2020\/2021;
3. Reduced staffing resource and increased IT costs, due to the new working from home restrictions;
4. Unprecedented increases in claims inflation of up to 20% over a five-year
period..<\/p>\n\n\n\nClient Money Protection in the private rented sector \u2013 Mandatory from 1 April 2019 \u2013 <\/strong>IMPORTANT NEWS<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
But who does the mandatory CMP apply to?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The CMP mandatory requirements are therefore not applicable to residential block management agents<\/a> who do not hold property lettings monies for clients and there is currently no plan to introduce such a mandatory requirement.<\/p>\n\n\n\nMHCLG publishes essential advice for residential building owners regarding fire and health and safety <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Building Height<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Building owners or their appointed competent professional advisors(s) should check that the external wall systems on their buildings meet an acceptable standard of safety and do not contribute to the external spread of fire, irrespective of building height. Spandrel panels (including window and infill
panels) are also part of the external wall of the building and should be checked.
Balconies, and risks arising from their construction materials, geometry and use, must also be considered.
Where building owners require further technical advice it must be provided by a competent person, as this is critical for ensuring that an appropriate level of safety is achieved. In some cases, the analysis needed may be straightforward, in which case a competent fire safety professional with adequate experience in fire safety and knowledge of external wall systems may be used. In others, it will be more complex and require advice from a qualified engineer with relevant experience in fire safety, including the fire testing of building products and systems, such as a Chartered Engineer registered with the UK Engineering Council by the Institution of Fire Engineers.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHCLG leasehold reform<\/a> report recommends significant changes impacting block management<\/a> agents, conveyancing solicitors, landlords, developers and estate agents throughout England and Wales.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Mis-selling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Crackdown on unfair leasehold practices<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ombudsman Services: Property (OS:P) to cease services in August 2018<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (CDM 2015)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Principal Designer is introduced
Principal Designer and Principal Contractor appointments are required on \u201cnotifiable projects\u201d or on schemes employing two or more contractors on site. It should be noted that this is likely to include an increased number of smaller projects.
The notifiable project notification threshold is revised.
CDM scope now includes domestic clients<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Client\u2019s Role<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
ensuring all duty holders comply with their duties
providing pre-construction information including asbestos surveys, existing health and safety files and structural drawings.
ensuring that minimum health and safety<\/a> standards are maintained on site
requiring that the construction phase health and safety plan is drawn up by the principal contractor.
making sure that a health and safety file is produced by the principal designer.
appointment of a principal designer and principal contractor when mandatory \u201cas soon as practicable\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Court of Appeal has this morning, 31 October 2014, handed down their judgement in the long-awaited Phillips v Francis appeal.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
property management companies, block managers, managing agents and all professionals involved in freehold and leasehold property.The Court of Appeal has now ruled that the earlier decision of the High Court, which favoured the \u201caggregating approach\u201d, was \u201cnot a sensible approach\u201d, clarifying that it gave \u201crise to serious practical problems\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\nCOURT OF APPEAL OVERTURNS PHILIPS V FRANCIS DECISION ON MAJOR WORKS : <\/strong>31ST OCTOBER 2014|<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
ARMA RESPONDS TO CMA PLANS FOR LEASEHOLD SECTOR AFTER CONSULTING MEMBERS : <\/strong>25TH SEPTEMBER 2014<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
ARMA Chairman, Ben Jordan said:\u201cWe fully support the attempts being made to raise standards in property management. Action to encourage best practice in the sector is welcome and we will continue to promote the highest standards in property management through our self-regulatory regime, ARMA-Q. But, \u2026Read More<\/a> \u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\nARMA WELCOMES CMA PROPOSALS TO IMPROVE THE LEASEHOLD RESIDENTIAL MARKET <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Today\u2019s proposals by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to address problems in the
workings of the residential leasehold property management<\/a> market have been broadly welcomed by the industry\u2019s trade body, ARMA.Ben Jordan, ARMA\u2019s Chairman, said:\u201cThis is a welcome initiative by the CMA that could improve the sit\u2026Read More<\/a> \u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\nSHARE THIS ARTICLE:
ARMA READ MORE
ERR ACT: ARMA MEMBERS WILL BE COMPLIANT<\/strong>
16TH APRIL 2014<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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