The latest insight from property management specialist, Rushbrook & Rathbone, has found that utilities, cleaning and gardening are the most common block management requirements, accounting for almost two thirds of all call-outs and maintenance tasks carried out in 2025. Rushbrook & Rathbone’s internal data shines a light on what most frequently drives costs when it comes to block management, analysing both the volume of works carried out and the share of expenditure attributed to each category during 2025. The data shows that utilities were the single most common block management requirement in 2025, accounting for 30.6% of all call-outs and works undertaken. Cleaning and window cleaning ranked second, accounting for 22.1%, whilst gardening made up a further 12.7%. Together, these three categories accounted for 65.4% of all block management activity across the year. General maintenance ranked fourth, accounting for 6.3% of activity, followed closely by fire risk assessment and health and safety requirements at 6.2%. Electrical services also accounted for 5.0% of all work undertaken. However, the categories that occurred most often were not necessarily those that accounted for the largest share of total expenditure. Gardening accounted for the largest share of block management spend in 2025 at 14.9%, followed by insurance at 14.5%, largely driven by increasing premiums across the market, particularly for older buildings or those with higher risk profiles. Management fees also ranked highly at 14.2%, driven by financial administration, compliance with evolving legislation, contractor management, and resident communication, along with cleaning and window cleaning at 14.1%. Despite accounting for 30.6% of all activity, utilities represented just 7.4% of total expenditure, reflecting the fact that whilst they are by far the most frequent requirement, they are generally lower cost on an individual basis. Susan Feasey, Associate Director – Block Management at Rushbrook & Rathbone, commented: “Many people assume that the biggest costs in block management come from major repairs or emergency works, but in reality it is often the more routine and recurring requirements that have the greatest impact. Utilities, cleaning and gardening may not sound particularly significant in isolation, but because they are required so frequently they account for a huge proportion of both the time and cost involved in managing a building. At the same time, there are categories such as insurance and management fees that occur far less frequently, but still make up a significant proportion of overall expenditure. What this really highlights is the complexity of block management. It is not simply about reacting when something goes wrong, but about coordinating a wide range of ongoing requirements in order to keep a building running safely, smoothly and cost effectively.” Data tables and sources Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Maintenance, refurbishment and fit-out contractor Novus Property Solutions has secured a new contract with Aspire Housing to deliver improvements across the housing association’s portfolio of homes in Staffordshire and Cheshire. With many of the windows and doors across the portfolio now more than a decade old, the improvement works are essential to improving building efficiency and performance, alongside occupant comfort and safety. As an experienced maintenance and refurbishment contractor, the Novus team will carry out these essential works sensitively to minimise disruption for residents. As the efficiency of homes comes under greater scrutiny en route to net-zero, the improvements carried out by Novus will contribute towards the longevity of social homes within Aspire Housing’s portfolio. “We’re really pleased to be working with Aspire Housing to deliver new windows and doors across their homes,” says David Barnes, Operations Manager at Novus Property Solutions. “Many of their properties are close to our head office, making this a local project for us and an opportunity to make a difference in our own community and beyond. That makes it an opportunity to deliver a high standard of improvement works that make a genuine impact on residents in our local community. “We’d like to thank Aspire Housing for selecting us as one of two contractors for this project, alongside Anglian Windows. Together, we’ll be upgrading windows and doors across approximately 200 properties, making a real difference to occupant comfort while ensuring these homes are fit for purpose for years to come.” Project mobilisation is already underway for the projects, with improvement works due to commence in July. As part of Novus’ commitment to supporting the next generation of skilled workers in the construction industry, an apprentice will work alongside the highly experienced team to deliver works across the project. Aspire Housing has more than 9,500 homes in its portfolio and is committed to putting its 19,000 customers first with the delivery of safe, decent homes. To find out more about Novus Property Solutions and its work in the social housing sector, visit: www.novussolutions.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

The UK property and facilities management sector generated more than £37.7bn in revenue in 2025, according to new research from Property Inspect. The figure represents annual growth of 4.1% and marks the first time the sector has passed the £37bn revenue milestone. The increase also signals a recovery from 2024, when the industry recorded an unusual decline of 1.7%. Property Inspect’s analysis covers both residential and commercial assets, including services such as maintenance, rent collection, waste management, security and renovation activity. Over the past decade, between 2015 and 2025, the sector has achieved average annual growth of 2.5%. However, while revenues are still rising, the pace of expansion is expected to ease. Forecasts suggest the market will grow by a further 1.5% in 2026, taking annual revenue to around £38.3bn. Property Inspect said the slower rate reflects mounting operational pressures across the industry, including tighter regulation, more complex property portfolios and rising expectations around performance and transparency. The company warned that headline revenue growth does not necessarily mean stronger margins. As portfolios expand and compliance requirements increase, operators are having to manage higher costs and greater day-to-day complexity. Siân Hemming-Metcalfe, operations director at Property Inspect, said passing the £37bn mark was significant, but added that the sector should be viewed as a high-responsibility industry rather than a high-growth one. She said operators are managing larger portfolios and stricter compliance demands, often without a matching increase in margins. She added that inspections are becoming increasingly important as a way to manage risk, maintain standards and support better decision-making. Property Inspect said efficiency, consistency and strong operational control will become key priorities as growth across the sector continues to moderate. Data tables and sources Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

NG Block Management has secured funding through the Cladding Safety Scheme to support essential fire safety works at River Crescent, a residential development in Nottingham. The company took over management of the scheme in March 2023 and has since been working to address fire safety concerns and bring the building in line with current regulatory standards. After a fire risk assessment identified issues with the external wall system, NG Block Management introduced a waking watch as an immediate safety measure. It also oversaw a full upgrade of the building’s fire alarm system, allowing the evacuation strategy to move from ‘stay put’ to simultaneous evacuation. The firm then began progressing a long-term remediation plan, supported by the building consultancy team at NG Chartered Surveyors. As River Crescent leaseholders qualify as protected leaseholders under the Building Safety Act 2022, an application was made to the Cladding Safety Scheme to help fund the required works. Initial approval enabled the creation of a specialist project team and allowed the scheme to move into the design and tender stages. Full approval has now been granted by the Building Safety Regulator following months of coordination. Remediation works are due to begin shortly, with scaffolding expected to be installed on the first elevation in the coming weeks. Jamie Pervin, facilities management surveyor at NG Block Management, said the project had been complex and demanding from the start, but resident safety had remained the company’s priority. He added that securing approval from both the Cladding Safety Scheme and the Building Safety Regulator was a major step towards delivering the works. The project team includes BEFS Ltd as fire engineer, Boothe King as structural engineer, CEB Services as principal contractor and Craig Foster Partners as architect. NG Chartered Surveyors has also been involved in contract administration and cost consultancy. Paul Rogers, head of building consultancy at NG Chartered Surveyors, said the project highlighted the firm’s experience in delivering complex refurbishment and remediation schemes. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Quintain Living, the award-winning property management platform of Wembley Park developer and asset manager Quintain with 3,500+ Build-to-Rent homes within its portfolio, today announces an innovative new partnership with resident benefits platform, Benefitty. Continuing Quintain Living’s commitment to exceptional customer experience and innovative, tech-enabled operations since launching in 2016, the new partnership with Benefitty launches the Quintain Living Perks+ programme. Seamlessly integrated within Quintain Living’s award-winning Resident App, Quintain Living’s Perks+, powered by Benefitty, delivers significant savings for residents on a wide range of everyday and lifestyle spending from groceries to consumer electronics, health and wellbeing, clothing and household goods. The new partnership marks a first for Benefitty in the Build-to-Rent sector and will deliver new ancillary income for Quintain Living, furthering the operating platform’s commitment to driving value creation. Quintain Living’s 5,400+ residents at Wembley Park will now be able to access exclusive savings from c. 100 curated brand partners including Ocado, Naked Wines, Vodaphone, Michael Kors, Emma Sleep, BayBliss, Acer, Sonos, AnyVan, Laundryheap and many more.   Further enhancing Quintain Living’s resident offering which already includes a comprehensive resident events programme and handpicked discounts with a variety of UK and local partners such as Samsung, Bloom & Wild, Bread Ahead and Urban, Quintain Living Perks+ will enable residents to love where they live even more with instant discounts just one tap away via the Quintain Living Resident App which is already actively used by 90% of residents. Danielle Bayless, COO, Quintain Living, comments: “We are proud, once again, to be leading the Build-to-Rent sector with this innovative new, tech-enabled offering which will further enhance the resident experience, boost resident retention rates and drive value creation. Through this exciting new partnership with Benefitty we continue to redefine rental living in the UK.” David Duggan, founder and CEO of Benefitty, said: “The BTR sector has built some of the most sophisticated residential operations in the country, but ancillary income has remained underdeveloped. We are offering operators a revenue stream that requires no capital expenditure, no rent increase and no compromise to the tenant relationship. The retailer pays for direct access to a verified, high-value demographic. The landlord earns income and improves occupancy and retention. Meanwhile, the tenant saves money on spending they were going to make anyway. It is a win-win-win proposition. BTR was the natural place to start, and early agreements with some of the biggest operators in the country tells us that was the right decision.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

A joint venture between Vistry Group and Kier Property has agreed a deal with global real estate investment firm Kennedy Wilson to deliver 97 new homes for the private rented sector (PRS) across developments in Watford and Wokingham. The agreement marks the first collaboration between the companies, with Kennedy Wilson forward funding homes at two sites: 47 houses at the Avenues development in Watford, Hertfordshire, and 50 homes at the Holme Meadows scheme in South Wokingham. The Avenues site forms part of the wider Watford Riverwell project, a joint venture between Kier Property and Watford Borough Council. The wider masterplan aims to deliver around 1,100 homes as part of a large-scale regeneration initiative. Located south of Watford General Hospital and Vicarage Road Stadium, the Avenues development will consist entirely of single-family homes designed to help address the shortage of high-quality rental accommodation in the area. The development is positioned close to Watford Junction, offering connections to central London in around 16 minutes, and is within walking distance of Watford town centre amenities. The homes will be built to modern specifications, including the installation of air source heat pumps and other energy-efficient technologies aimed at reducing carbon emissions and lowering energy costs for residents. The project also includes improvements to local infrastructure and public spaces. Planning permission has already been secured, with construction expected to begin in mid-2026. In addition, Kennedy Wilson has secured 50 homes for private rent at the Holme Meadows development in South Wokingham. The site forms part of a 343-home scheme being delivered by the Vistry and Kier partnership in one of Berkshire’s key strategic growth areas. The 50 homes will sit alongside a 35% affordable housing provision within the development, supporting the aim of creating a balanced and sustainable community. Construction at Holme Meadows began in autumn 2025, with the first homes expected to be completed in summer 2026. Kevin Delve said: “Avenues is an exceptional site in an outstanding location and we are delighted to have exchanged contracts on this latest phase alongside our partners at Kier Property. This marks the first partnership between Kier Property and Vistry’s London division, building on a strong national relationship and paving the way for further collaborations in the capital. Alongside the forward funding of 50 high-quality homes at Holme Meadows in South Wokingham, these transactions will deliver 97 much-needed homes for the private rented sector, providing greater housing choice for local communities while supporting the wider regeneration and sustainable growth of both areas.” Leigh Thomas added: “We are thrilled to see the next phases of our master planned communities at Watford Riverwell and South Wokingham coming to fruition. Our relationship with Kennedy Wilson continues to go from strength to strength and these deals demonstrate how effective collaboration can unlock complex sites and deliver much-needed homes and infrastructure. Avenues at Watford, alongside our plans in South Wokingham, will be a fantastic addition to their respective neighbourhoods, building on the work already undertaken to create vibrant, sustainable communities.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

The latest analysis by property management specialist, Rushbrook & Rathbone, shows that the UK’s property management services sector is continuing to expand in scale, with total market revenue expected to approach £38bn in 2026, as landlords increasingly rely on professional support to navigate a more complex and compliance-heavy rental landscape. Rushbrook & Rathbone analysed the current market size of the UK property management sector based on total industry revenue, assessing how the market has performed over the past year and what level of growth is forecast in 2026. After experiencing a slight contraction in 2024, when the estimated market size fell by 1.7% to £36.25bn, the sector has since rebounded strongly. Market size based on revenue increased by 4.1% in 2025, pushing the market size to £37.7bn, with this figure having increased by 26% over the last decade. Further growth is also forecast in 2026, with this figure set to climb by a further 0.7% to just shy of £38bn. The growth of the sector reflects the increasingly operational nature of managing rental property within the UK. Compliance obligations, maintenance coordination, tenant management and financial oversight have all become more demanding, placing greater pressure on landlords to ensure their properties are managed professionally and in line with regulatory requirements. With almost four decades of experience within the sector Rushbrook & Rathbone’s highlights three key pressures that are driving greater reliance on professional management services: resourcing constraints, regulatory complexity and the operational demands of managing larger property portfolios. Many landlords manage rental property alongside full-time careers or other business commitments, leaving limited time to oversee tenant relationships, maintenance works and financial administration. Professional management companies provide dedicated teams responsible for managing these day-to-day operational demands. At the same time, the regulatory framework surrounding the private rented sector has expanded significantly in recent years. From safety certification and deposit compliance to licensing requirements and evolving tenant rights legislation, the risk of costly mistakes for self-managing landlords has increased considerably. Operational scale is also becoming an important factor. As portfolios grow, so too do the demands of coordinating contractors, monitoring compliance deadlines, managing tenant communication and maintaining accurate financial reporting. Professional management services allow these processes to operate in a structured and scalable way. Roma Sharma, Managing Director of Rushbrook & Rathbone, commented: “Managing rental property today involves far more than collecting rent and arranging the occasional repair. The sector has become increasingly operational and compliance driven, with landlords needing to navigate complex legislation, coordinate maintenance and contractors, maintain accurate records, and respond to tenant needs often around the clock. As a result, professional management is increasingly being viewed not as an optional layer, but as an important part of protecting both the asset itself and the landlord’s time. What we are seeing is a gradual shift in how property management is perceived, particularly among portfolio landlords and investors who recognise the value of having structured systems, specialist expertise and reliable contractor networks in place to support the long-term performance of their assets.” Data Tables and Sources View full data tables and sources online here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Clegg Construction has secured Gateway 2 approval for a £46 million, 12-storey apartments in Sheffield, clearing the way for work to begin early next year. The contractor achieved the approval on behalf of its client, Liverpool-based developer Brickland, for the 267-apartment build-to-rent development on Nursery Street. Authorisation from the Building Safety Regulator means enabling works can start on site in January 2026. Gateway 2 was introduced under the Building Safety Act 2022 to improve standards and oversight, particularly for high-rise residential buildings. Michael Sims, managing director at Clegg Construction, said: “Securing Gateway 2 approval from the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) confirms that this development in Sheffield meets the most stringent of safety requirements. “This approval means that we can now proceed to the next stage, with enabling work starting on site to deliver this 12-storey concrete-frame apartment project.” Clegg Construction has been appointed by Brickland Ltd to deliver the scheme, with the wider project team including architect Hadfield Cawkwell Davidson, built environment consultancy Ridge, MEP services consultant Futurserv, project manager and quantity surveyor Egan Lucocq Ltd, and Design Fire Services. The Sheffield development follows a series of recent residential projects completed by Clegg Construction, such as The Ironworks in Sheffield, a 12-storey block comprising 229 apartments, 185 apartments at Spinners Yard in Leeds, and Gilders Yard in Birmingham, which delivered 158 new homes. The contractor is also currently on site in Sheffield working on a new Faculty of Health building at the University of Sheffield. Based in The Lace Market in Nottingham, Clegg Construction operates across the Midlands, East Anglia and Yorkshire, specialising in the delivery of public and private sector construction projects. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals