How to Stop Condensation and Black Mould in a Flat
Why flat windows stream in winter, where 10 litres of water a day comes from, and the ventilation, heating and insulation fixes that work in a block.
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Leasehold, explained.
Plain-English guides to service charges, your lease and life in a managed building — written for leaseholders, not lawyers.
The Cladding Insurance Rollercoaster: Are Premiums Finally Coming Down?
Buildings insurance on cladding-affected blocks has fallen roughly 30% from its peak. What the Fire Safety Reinsurance Facility changed, and what it can't.
ReadWhy a New Water Meter Needs Your Freeholder's Consent
Fitting a meter, moving a pipe or swapping a boiler can knock out a neighbour's water supply. Why the pipes serving your flat are your responsibility even outside your front door — and why let flats are where this usually goes wrong.
ReadBeat the Heat: Air Conditioning in Flats
You cannot hang a condenser box on the outside of the block — but "invisible" internal air conditioning exists. What the systems cost, why cladding rules some of them out, and the Licence to Alter you will need before a single tool is lifted.
ReadDrips from Above: What to Do When Your Ceiling Starts Leaking
In a block of flats your ceiling is your neighbour's floor. Where leaks between flats actually come from, who is responsible under the lease, and the steps to take in the first few hours.
ReadWho Controls the Mailbox? Demised vs. Communal Post Boxes (and How to Fix or Replace Your Lock)
The bank of post boxes is communal, but the lock on yours almost certainly is not. Who is responsible, how to order a replacement key from the code on the barrel, and how to change the lock yourself.
ReadDon't Panic Just Yet: Settling Cracks vs. Structural Damage (and When to Call a Surveyor)
How to tell a harmless settling crack from genuine structural movement — width, pattern and progression — how to monitor one properly, and whether you need a building surveyor or a structural engineer.
ReadWhere’s My Package? The “Delivered” Myth Under the Consumer Rights Act
A courier leaving a parcel wherever it likes is not a legal delivery. Section 29 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015, and a template to send the retailer.
ReadWhere Did All the Extinguishers Go? Why London Fire Brigade Doesn't Want Them in Your Block's Corridors
Ever taken a walk down the communal hallway of your apartment building and wondered, Where are the fire extinguishers?
ReadMajor Works & Section 20: When Is a Managing Agent Not Enough?
Property management comes with a lot of moving parts, but few things cause leaseholders more anxiety than major works.
ReadNavigating the 5-Year EWS1 Deadline: What Leaseholders Need to Know
For many flat owners, the EWS1 form has been a crucial key to selling or remortgaging their homes since its introduction in December 2019.
ReadThe Great Billing Mystery: Why Is My New Agent Charging Me for a Full Year?
Why a brand-new managing agent bills you for the whole year — the two clashing timelines behind the invoice, and what you are actually being charged for.
ReadThe Financial Roadmap: Understanding Your Block's Budget and Reserves
How a block's budget and reserve fund actually work, why both exist, and what your service charge is paying for across the year ahead.
ReadWhy we charge a one-off Set-Up Fee
When a new management company takes over a block, it's rarely a "plug-and-play" situation. More often than not, it's a rescue mission.
ReadCompanies House Director Personal Code
RMC and RTM directors must now verify their identity at Companies House. What the personal code is, who needs one, and what happens if you miss it.
ReadMajor Works: Navigating the Section 20 Framework
In the realm of block management, the term "Major Works" is often met with trepidation.
ReadPlanning Renovations in Your Flat? A Leaseholder's Guide to Getting It Right
Renovating your home is exciting — whether you're refreshing a tired kitchen, opening up a living space, or replacing your bathroom suite.
ReadWhy Fire Safety Rules Ban Items in Communal Areas (Even When They're 'Out of the Way')
You've just moved into a sleek new flat.
ReadThe Power of Precision: Why Accurate Fault Reporting Saves Time and Money
A vague fault report costs more and takes longer to fix. What to include when you report something in your building, and why the detail pays for itself.
ReadThe Property Insurance Maze: What You Actually Need (and What You're Double-Paying For)
If you own a property, the paperwork can be overwhelming. You likely have a stack of policy documents that all sound vaguely similar.
ReadWhy Your Managing Agent Seems Powerless Against Noise Nuisance (And What to Do Instead)
If you live in a leasehold flat, you probably know the drill.
ReadWhose Wall Is It Anyway? A Leaseholder's Guide to Your Demise and the Service Charge
Understanding what is your responsibility versus what is communal can save you a world of confusion, disputes, and unexpected costs.
ReadDecoding Your Service Charge: Why Costs for Leaseholders Are on the Rise
For millions of leaseholders across the country, the arrival of the annual service charge demand can be a moment of genuine anxiety.
ReadIs Your Front Door Just an Entrance? Think Again – It's a Lifesaver
Your front door is the first thing you see when you come home. But in a block of flats, your front door has another, far more critical role: it's a fire door.
ReadCaught on camera, protected by the law
For larger blocks, it is not uncommon to have parcels stolen. Many leaseholders opt to get CCTV installed to find the perpetrators.
ReadA Guide to Running Your Residents' Management Company
When you own a property in the building, you typically become a member of the company, which gives you a say in how your building is managed.
ReadWhy are energy standing charges so high since the Russian invasion of Ukraine?
The Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 resulted in a huge spike in energy prices which has settled down in recent years.
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