Another string to Chainbow

The website’s secure residents’ portal includes information such as minutes from residents’ meetings and accounts, outlining how the service charge is being spent. It also provides residents with a generic copy of their lease for reference, useful property hints and tips and automatic alerts should any urgent issues relating to their development arise. In addition, the website gives residents access to exclusive offers, negotiated by Chainbow with local suppliers, such as discounted membership for Virgin Active Gym and cut-price dry cleaning.

Chainbow has also teamed up with Streetcar to offer residents a green solution to getting around! Streetcar’s self-service cars can be rented by the hour, day, week or month and already are available at Chainbow-managed-development Boardwalk Place in E14.

Please contact Claire Nowell, 020 7928 9944, clairenowell@chainbow.com for more information.

NEWS ON THE BLOCK MAGAZINE

Read all about it
News on the Block magazine, launched in 2002, is published for all those who manage, invest in, finance, develop and live in apartments. It is the only publication in the UK dedicated to the needs of the apartment and leasehold sector and comprises a readership of more than 10,000 (ABC audited) directors of resident management companies (RMCs) who represent more than 1.5 million leaseholders, landlords, their property management companies, professionals such as solicitors, surveyors, insurers, investors and developers who work in this sector, as well as residents.

Breaking news in the industry is supplemented with incisive analysis and in-depth editorial features covering a wide range of subjects such as enfranchisement and right to manage, as well as one-to-one interviews with leading lights in the residential property sector.
The magazine is published 6 times a year in January, March, May, July, September and November.
Subscribe today and receive all the benefits of on-the-spot vital information relating to leaseholders.

Visit www.newsontheblock.com and simply 'click' subscribe or call our subscription hotline 08700 600 663 with your credit card/debit card to hand. Subscribe today and also receive one month’s access to www.newsontheblock.com. Total cost just £30. (Remember, if you are a company you can claim this cost as a business expense.)

COMMENT & OPINION

Buy-to-let market still buoyant
The buy-to-let market remained strong throughout 2006 and is likely to remain strong throughout 2007, according to the UK’s largest independent buy-to-let brokers Mortgages for Business.
Its survey reveals that the main pressures on the buy-to-let market in 2007 are likely to be from further interest rate increases and the Government’s decisions on whether to implement initiatives such as HIPs and the tenancy deposit scheme.
The buy-to-let market now represents 8% of all UK mortgage transactions. This growing competition will lead to further improvements in mortgage products as market demand forces lenders to improve their terms.
There have been increasing calls for the buy-to-let market to become FSA regulated, in the same way as the residential mortgage industry. However, it seems likely that the Government will continue to treat buy to let as a business transaction and therefore will leave the market unregulated.

AND FINALLY…

Stormy times ahead…
According to recent research from Abbey, up to 620,000 home insurance claims are made every year for storm-related damage. The estimated cost of these claims is £324 million.
In response to recent storm conditions, Abbey is warning people to make sure they have the appropriate home cover.
Abbey offers the following guidance to help you prepare and protect your home:
• Check your roof for loose tiles.
• Check the outside of your building and secure anything that might potentially be damaged or may cause damage.
• Be aware of any trees surrounding the house, loose branches can cause damage.
• Make sure you know how to switch off your gas, electricity and water if necessary.
• If you are expecting flooding, protect as many of your belongings as possible by moving them upstairs. If you can, use sandbags to prevent water coming into the home.
• Make sure your block has both contents and buildings cover and that the insurance is adequate and will cover any potential storm related damage.

DISCLAIMER/LEGAL etc.