Issue 103

news

Record numbers flock to attend ALEP conference

A woman who has lived in an leave and find a new home. Lynn Bell and 16 other tenants at the building in Trent Vale, Stoke-on-Trent, have received letters telling them the landlord has sold the property. Now Lynn, who lives on her own, is waiting for the council housing team to find her a new home. The 67-year-old said: “What has happened is disgusting. They should have given us more warning, two months doesn’t seem a long time, and I wanted to spend the rest of my life here. I don’t want to be dealing with this at this time of my life.” A spokesman from the company that has bought the block, Fairhome Group, said: “We have acquired the properties and plan to refurbish them to provide high- quality supported living accommodation for people with learning difficulties.” Woman given two months to quit her home of 20 years apartment for 20 years has been told she has just two months to

A record-breaking number of property influencers flocked to this year’s Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners’ (ALEP) Annual Conference. The conference, which attracted 280 delegates, tackled a wide range of issues as the sector gears up for some of its biggest changes. Commonhold and regional relativity emerged as the main topics at the September meeting.   Mark Chick, ALEP director, said: “The ALEP Conference is one of the sector’s biggest events where delegates expect debate on timely, pertinent topics. The sector is facing its biggest changes yet, and the ALEP Conference provides a platform for speakers and professionals to voice opinions, A n investigation is continuing after a fire broke out in a block of flats near Grenfell Tower. Around 70 fire-fighters and ten fire engines rushed to the blaze in Markland House, Notting Hill, in the shadow of the site of the tragic two years ago. Footage showed smoke rising from a flat, with Grenfell Tower R eal estate software firm MRI Software has revealed it has given its business a major boost after making a triple acquisition. MRI will bolster its offering after acquiring PropTech innovator Leverton, which provides an artificial intelligence-powered data extraction tool. The US-based firm, formerly known as Qube, has also taken

concerns and ideas. Yesterday’s event was no exception.”  As the sector awaits the Law Commission’s final report on its Commonhold consultation, barrister Nicola Muir delivered a presentation on how it could work in practice. She also provided delegates with examples of issues that may need to be overcome should it be considered a viable option for the future. Ms Muir acknowledged getting rid of a regime that’s been in place for 1,000s of years would “not be easy”. But she argued that Commonhold and its regulations could provide a comprehensive regime for owners in the same block. She pointed out that time-old issues such as repairs, neighbour disputes and the like would remain whatever system was in

place.  

Mr Chick added: “ALEP is about best practice and sector- wide education and it was clear from debate at the Conference that there is demand from our membership to explore important topics such as regional relativity in more detail

Probe after flats blaze near Grenfell

was handled.

investigation,” a spokesperson for the London Fire Brigade said. Some residents said alarms had not sounded and expressed concern that there had not been enough changes since the Grenfell Tower blaze. Halsho Draey, who has lived in the block for around 20 years, said he was angry at how the situation

seen in the background, as sirens were heard approaching. The London Fire Brigade said a balcony on the 12th floor of the building had been alight. Almost 30 people called 999 to alert authorities over the blaze, which was brought under control within an hour. “The cause of the fire is under

The 34-year-old told The Independent: “I saw the fire

extinguishers were only reaching the fifth or sixth floor. I said that wasn’t going to diffuse the fire. I said [to the fire brigade] ‘you need to go inside’, not to waste time. I witnessed Grenfell. How do you expect me to be?”

Triple acquisition boosts software firm

for accountants by accountants, and it further enhances MRI’s ability to provide a broad range of organisations.” John Ensign, president and head of international operations at MRI, said acquiring Rockend “greatly extends our capabilities in the multi-owner, multi-family and residential property management space, enhancing and extending the MRI residential solutions suite.”

the MRI family, with expertise in the application of AI to real estate data collection, management, and analytics.” The purchase of ProLease will enhance MRI’s capabilities within its financial and accounting offerings, the company said. Chuck McDowell, MRI’s senior vice president of commercial and financial solutions, added: “This easy-to-use solution is designed

over ProLease, a provider of lease administration, accounting, analysis and workplace management applications. It has also announced the acquisition of Rockend, currently a provider of residential property and strata management solutions in Australia and New Zealand. Patrick Ghilani, MRI’s chief executive, said: “The acquisition of Leverton brings a true innovator and global PropTech leader into

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ISSUE 103

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