The Wates Group is set to expand its facilities management offering with the launch of Wates Facilities Management (‘Wates FM’) – a new business with expanded nationwide capabilities. Formerly operating as Wates Smartspace FM, Wates FM will build on its existing nationwide portfolio of total facilities management services across a
Bouygues Energies & Services has been appointed by Westminster City Council to deliver a wide range of services across 160 locations including City Hall, libraries and other community facilities. The five-year contract, which has the potential to be extended, will see Bouygues Energies & Services deliver a diverse range of
The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education has published the new Level 2 Facilities Services Operative apprenticeship standard and assessment plan. The Level 2 Facilities Services Operative (FSO) apprenticeship is ideal for those new to the profession who are looking for an entry level role in the industry. It offers
Property maintenance can often seem like an exhausting and costly endeavour, with numerous aspects of a building to consider. By implementing a planned maintenance schedule for your building you can ensure that all elements of your premises are taken care of in a timely and cost effective manner. Here we
The materials with which a property has been constructed are of utmost importance to mortgage lenders and, therefore, you, the buyer, as well. Before falling desperately in love with a property, try to think rationally and consider how challenging it may be to find a willing mortgage lender, as well
When a land dispute comes up, you need to act fast but remember to stay calm. Find out our top tips for settling land disputes here in this article. Tips For Settling Land Disputes No one wants to have to deal with a land dispute but it can happen to
BSRIA has launched its free-to-download topic guide on Soft Landings and Business-Focused Maintenance (BFM). This guide aims to inform those involved in the design, construction and operation of a building about how an effective BFM regime can be developed and achieved through the soft landings approach. Nick Blake, the guide’s
In most cases, purchasing real estate properties represents one of the most expensive transactions done by a person and, when involved in this, it is necessary to verify all the aspects of the respective property as some sellers can engage in various frauds, from minor matters (such as not disclosing
Horbury Property Services, part of the Horbury Group, has been selected to provide fire safety services for over 55s accommodation managed by Sheffield-based Arches Housing. The contract involves Horbury Property Services providing fire door replacement and fire compartmentation upgrades, which will be completed within a four-week schedule, as part of
GuestReady, a global short-term rental company, has acquired BnbLord, the largest Airbnb management company in France, to form the GuestReady Group. The combined company will be the leading provider in Europe managing more than 2,000 properties with a wide range of services to property owners, agents, and developers. GuestReady has
The Wates Group is set to expand its facilities management offering with the launch of Wates Facilities Management (‘Wates FM’) – a new business with expanded nationwide capabilities. Formerly operating as Wates Smartspace FM, Wates FM will build on its existing nationwide portfolio of total facilities management services across a range of environments, including banking, retail and healthcare, and will seek opportunities to provide FM support to both private and public sector clients. Wates FM will become part of Wates Property Services division alongside the group’s Living Space business, which provides planned and responsive repairs for more than 500,000 social housing properties and more than 350 buildings nationwide. This restructure will allow the two businesses to combine their expertise. The group has 85 key customers across 14 sectors, including 60 social housing providers and it has a combined annual turnover of c.£400 million with a £1 billion forward order book. David Morgan, managing director of Wates Living Space, said: “Wates’s continued success is built on the breadth of our in-house capabilities and our agility in identifying and maximising complementary areas of our business. There is a great deal of synergy between Wates Living Space and Wates FM and aligning the two businesses will enable us to significantly enhance our service to clients. “Operational efficiency is essential when working with the public sector and this is something that underpins Wates Living Space’s position as a leading UK provider of housing repairs and maintenance.” Wates FM currently manages at least 350 commercial properties, delivering services including statutory compliance, cleaning, security, catering, porterage, front-of-house, helpdesks and computer-aided facilities management (CAFM), as well as mechanical and electrical and building fabric maintenance through a mix of site-based and mobile teams.
Bouygues Energies & Services has been appointed by Westminster City Council to deliver a wide range of services across 160 locations including City Hall, libraries and other community facilities. The five-year contract, which has the potential to be extended, will see Bouygues Energies & Services deliver a diverse range of services including mechanical and electrical maintenance, helpdesk, cleaning, and security services. Speaking about the contract award, Glynn Newby, Operations Director for Bouygues Energies & Services UK said: “We are absolutely delighted to have been awarded such a prestigious contract developing our Local Government activity in an area where we have already a significant presence. We are proud to be working with a client who places such a strong emphasis on social value.”
The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education has published the new Level 2 Facilities Services Operative apprenticeship standard and assessment plan. The Level 2 Facilities Services Operative (FSO) apprenticeship is ideal for those new to the profession who are looking for an entry level role in the industry. It offers the opportunity both to master practical workplace skills and gain IWFM professional recognition. On completion of this standard – typically in 12 months – FSOs will be able to provide facilities services support to customers and facilities management departments in a wide range of workplace environments. The FSO role is outward-facing and will involve substantial liaison with customers, as well as compliance with legislation and organisational policies. IWFM played a key role in the Trailblazer group which created the new standard, working alongside sector employers, training providers and educational institutions. This built on our earlier collaborations developing the higher level FM apprenticeship standards critical to providing the industry with the professionals it needs to help address its productivity and skills challenges, whilst also promoting social mobility. IWFM Head of Professional Development Fraser Talbot, said: “This key entry level pathway to our profession couldn’t have come at a better time for those wanting an opportunity to take the first step to a career in workplace and facilities management. “Apprenticeships provide a valuable alternative to academic routes and they are crucial to bringing new talent into the profession. As an apprentice you earn as you learn, gain a professional qualification and get an experience-based launchpad to a career, irrespective of your background. Employers gain assurance that their workforce has the knowledge and skills they require. Investment in professional development also provides a more engaged and productive workforce. It’s a perfect win-win” For full details of the apprenticeship standard click here.
Property maintenance can often seem like an exhausting and costly endeavour, with numerous aspects of a building to consider. By implementing a planned maintenance schedule for your building you can ensure that all elements of your premises are taken care of in a timely and cost effective manner. Here we explore the top 5 reasons to employ a planned maintenance schedule. Compliance As a building owner or tenant there are numerous legislations and regulations which you must stay in compliance with to ensure a safe environment, and to stay within the law. From water safety checks, to electrical and fire equipment, each aspect must be carefully inspected and regularly maintained to confirm their compliance. A planned maintenance schedule ensures that your building undergoes necessary and regular compliance checks and receives appropriate maintenance as and when required. Minimise Breakdowns Without regular maintenance checks smaller and more inconsequential issues can turn into larger, more unmanageable repairs, and even complete breakdowns. Checking equipment and the fabric of the building regularly for potential faults will help to detect any issues before they progress. A comprehensive maintenance schedule will ensure that the entire facility undergoes regular maintenance checks and breakdowns of equipment will be minimised. Time Saving Whilst in the initial planning stages a planned maintenance schedule may seem time consuming, this process will help to save time in the long run. As equipment is checked on a regular schedule, the building or business owner can spend time more effectively elsewhere, without concerning themselves with the prospect of breakdowns or repairs. A blended strategy of reactive and planned maintenance would be suitable for most buildings to ensure there is regular maintenance occurring, along with having a qualified team on hand to respond quickly to a unexpected and reactive issues. Cost Effective Waiting for breakdowns or maintenance issues to arise before fixing them may seem like a preferable option, with no need for outgoing cost of regular maintenance checks. However, this strategy can be a very costly way of maintaining a facility, and lead to longer downtime whilst larger repairs take place. A planned maintenance strategy will help to reduce costs as unexpected maintenance issues are spotted during the regular checks, and can be dealt with before escalating into larger more costly repairs or replacements. Without planned maintenance it can be easy to ignore potential maintenance issues which can have knock on effects further down the line. Equipment Lifespan Replacing equipment within the fabric of a building can be expensive and time consuming, therefore being able to reduce the likelihood of replacements being necessary is highly preferable. Regularly checking equipment around the facility and repairing minor issues as and when they occur will help to maximise the life expectancy and value of the equipment, keeping it safe and efficient for longer. By employing a planned maintenance schedule and a qualified team to take care of the tasks in your facility, will help to ensure your building continues to function safely and within the law. Whilst having the appearance of being time consuming and costly, planned maintenance will inevitably help to prevent major issues and expenditures from occurring.
The materials with which a property has been constructed are of utmost importance to mortgage lenders and, therefore, you, the buyer, as well. Before falling desperately in love with a property, try to think rationally and consider how challenging it may be to find a willing mortgage lender, as well as a company to provide buildings insurance. What is a non-standard building? A non-standard building, also known as non-traditional, is one constructed using non-typical materials or methods whereas a standard building is generally defined as a home that has brick or stone walls and a tiled or slate roof. Examples: Pre-fabricated steel (prefab) Wood/timber (e.g. timber frame) Thatched roofs Corrugated iron Glass (walls and roofs) Concrete Wattle and daub Asbestos Certain flats (for example, those above shops) Listed properties Eco homes, ones deemed to be kinder to the environment in terms of construction and utilities, can also fall into this category, depending on the materials and methods used. Why can non-standard buildings be so problematic? Non-standard buildings can be pleasing to look at, but less pleasing when it comes to finding the perfect lender. Often the methods used are outdated or the materials are susceptible to damage from the elements, for example, during storms. Many pre-fabricated steel properties in the UK were not intended to be long-term dwellings, rather a post-second world war housing crisis solution for replacing houses, which had been damaged or destroyed by bombs. There was a shortage of traditional building materials and a desperate need for social housing. The concrete used tends to crumble with age, and the steel can corrode and suffer metal fatigue over time; it is almost impossible to predict when this may happen and, indeed, if the process has already begun. For these reasons, mortgage lenders can be reluctant to offer financial support readily. However, your story does not have to end here, unless you would like it to. I’ve already fallen in love with a non-standard property. What can I do now? First of all, decide if buying, rather than renting, a house is for you. In each area of the country, buying is cheaper than renting, but it might not be the perfect time for you to buy. If buying is your final decision, ensure that you compare mortgage rates regularly. This will allow you to see which mortgage providers will lend against the precise materials with which a home has been built, and find the best deals specifically for you. It is important to take into account that many buyers are put off purchasing a non-standard dwelling for the reasons listed above. You certainly could use this to your advantage and offer (once you have consulted mortgage lenders) accordingly. Furthermore, there are ways to adapt your non-standard dwellings to ensure it is likely to withstand severe weather conditions. Although an expensive process, concrete panels can be removed and replaced with a brick alternative, meaning the property is able to be mortgaged more easily.
When a land dispute comes up, you need to act fast but remember to stay calm. Find out our top tips for settling land disputes here in this article. Tips For Settling Land Disputes No one wants to have to deal with a land dispute but it can happen to the best of neighbours in a blink of an eye. Solving a land dispute is relatively easy, if you know about the steps that you need to take to keep things as civil as possible. Here, we are going to give you some of our tips for settling land disputes. Keep reading if you’d like to find out more about this sort of issue. Talk To Your Neighbour One of the most important things that you can do to solve a land dispute is to talk to your neighbour. Often, things get mis-communicated and this escalates the problem even further. If you take the time to discuss the matter carefully and ensure that everyone knows the facts – this can help to solve things a lot quicker; try to organise a meeting before you get in touch with a solicitor. This way, you might be able to settle the issue before things need to go any further. Gather Your Documents When the land dispute first happens, you might need to produce some sort of documentation to prove that you own a certain part of the land. To prove this, you will need to gather documents that include the deeds or the map created by a surveyor. Make sure that you have these documents handy to ensure that everything plays out the way it should. Contact A Solicitor If things get a little more serious then we suggest that you get in contact with a solicitor who specialises in land disputes. Finding the right solicitor can help you to ensure that you get what you deserve and that things remain civil between you and your neighbour. Make sure that you do your research and find a solicitor with experience in these matters as this way, you can settle the dispute a lot faster. Stay Calm While it can be easy for these sorts of issues to cause a lot of tension, you need to try and stay calm throughout the process. Getting angry at your neighbour who might have misunderstood the situation is not going to get you anywhere faster. Make sure that you are honest about the land that you own and be calm when speaking to your neighbour. This way, you won’t ruin your relationship and cause more problems for your family or your land further down the line. Final Verdict Land disputes can be extremely hard to navigate when you don’t have much experience in this area. For this reason, we suggest that you take on board the tips that we have given you in this article. Make sure to always stay calm and have a chat with your neighbour about the issue. If you need to go as far as getting a solicitor, then you should make sure that you choose one that is experienced in land disputes. This way you can settle the dispute in no time at all.
BSRIA has launched its free-to-download topic guide on Soft Landings and Business-Focused Maintenance (BFM). This guide aims to inform those involved in the design, construction and operation of a building about how an effective BFM regime can be developed and achieved through the soft landings approach. Nick Blake, the guide’s co-author and principal consultant on facilities management, said: “It is fundamental to involve the facilities managers (FMs), where known, from early on in the design stage. The knowledge and experience of the FMs can inform better design of systems and make BFM more readily adoptable and easier in operation. “Maintenance can have a major impact on the success of a business and, therefore, can deliver a competitive advantage. It shouldn’t be considered as an overhead – but as a way of adding value to the business. Each building, therefore, should have its own bespoke maintenance programme, which can enable the FM to prevent asset failures through a more pragmatic approach.” He added: “BFM can help the team to first decide which assets are crucial in achieving the business goals and the end users’ needs. Then, soft landings success criteria in terms of the availability, accessibility and manageability of those assets can be set. And the asset strategy and maintenance schedules should be gradually developed during the project and be completed and available at the pre-handover phase.”
In most cases, purchasing real estate properties represents one of the most expensive transactions done by a person and, when involved in this, it is necessary to verify all the aspects of the respective property as some sellers can engage in various frauds, from minor matters (such as not disclosing different flaws of the property) to selling properties that do not exist or which they do not own. Thus, as a buyer, it is compulsory to verify the property’s title report, which provides a clear image of the respective real estate. At the same time, the buyer should also examine the property as some sellers will typically not disclose small problems the property has; in this sense, it is recommended to do the due diligence procedures. Real estate frauds are not done only by the sellers, the real estate brokers can also engage in various forms of frauds in order to gain money out of the respective transaction. Thus, one of the most common ways through which real estate agents scam the clients is by adding non-existing fees to the respective transactions, especially when the buyer is not fully aware on all the types of taxes and fees applicable to the sale procedure. When engaging in purchasing a real estate property, in order to avoid any fraud, it is recommended to receive legal assistance from persons with experience in this field and who can assess the legal situation of the purchase process as, for example, in certain cases, the real estate agent can mislead the possible buyer by not disclosing relevant matters related to the property’s documents. Thus, one of the most efficient ways to avoid real estate frauds is by observing the legal procedures available in a given jurisdiction, the taxes and fees applicable by the law, the rights and obligations of all the parties included in the transaction. With the rise of the internet, real estate properties available for sale can now be advertised online and numerous persons have become the victims of various scams; regardless of how a person finds an attractive real estate offer, it is absolutely necessary to meet the owner and see the property, prior to signing any documents. Sellers can also request a higher price than the market valuation price and this can be done by providing fake documents stating that the property’s assets value more than they actually do, this being a common real estate scam.
Horbury Property Services, part of the Horbury Group, has been selected to provide fire safety services for over 55s accommodation managed by Sheffield-based Arches Housing. The contract involves Horbury Property Services providing fire door replacement and fire compartmentation upgrades, which will be completed within a four-week schedule, as part of enhancing fire safety for residents. Richard Sutton, General Manager at Horbury Property Services, said: “This is our second major contract with Arches Housing and we are very pleased to be working with them again to enhance fire safety in one of their sheltered housing schemes. Fire safety is an essential requirement in all buildings, and we aim to ensure that the residents of Arches Housing are offered the best possible fire protection.” Luigi Iantorno, asset compliance & reinvestment officer at Arches Housing, said: “Horbury Property Services secured this contract as a result of a rigorous competitive tender. The upgrade to fire doors and fire compartmentation is an important part of our planned maintenance works as we aim to ensure our homes are as fire safe as possible.” As well as fire door and fire compartmentation services, Horbury Property Services provides a full range of works, which can form part of planned maintenance programmes. This includes ceiling and dry wall partitioning inspection, installation, repair and maintenance of fire doors, joinery works, fire stopping, sealing, fire compartmentation, fire alarm and emergency light testing, portable appliance testing, electrical testing and installation work, building fabric repairs as well as external cladding and render repairs. In addition, the wider Horbury Group provides painting and decorating, flooring refurbishment and installation, amongst others. The company has its head office in South Yorkshire, plus regional offices in London and South Wales, ensuring a truly national capability. This regional presence enables its teams to successfully deliver responsive repairs or large planned refurbishment and maintenance programmes. Arches Housing is a community-based social landlord, which was established in 1975 and provides more than 1,200 affordable homes in Sheffield and Rotherham. For more details, visit www.horburypropertyservices.com or call 01709 917555.
GuestReady, a global short-term rental company, has acquired BnbLord, the largest Airbnb management company in France, to form the GuestReady Group. The combined company will be the leading provider in Europe managing more than 2,000 properties with a wide range of services to property owners, agents, and developers. GuestReady has been setting an unprecedented pace in the property management industry quickly rising to the top in the complex area of short-term rental management. Since its launch in the summer of 2016, GuestReady acquired three competitors with BnbLord marking the last and largest acquisition to date. Founded in 2015, BnbLord operates across several cities in Europe with a dominant presence in France and Portugal. Last year the company generated more than EUR 10M in revenue for its clients. This acquisition follows the deals announced by GuestReady last December when the company acquired Oporto City Flats, the leading short-term rental operator in Northern Portugal, and took over the management of the portfolio of French Airbnb manager We Stay In Paris. Switzerland-based GuestReady Group now serves more than 2,000 properties through its brands GuestReady, BnbLord, Oporto City Flats, and Easy Rental Services. The offered services include everything that is required to turn a vacant home into a thriving listing on Airbnb, online and offline. Since this year, GuestReady is also offering business-to-business services to property developers and property agents, allowing them to tap into this fast-growing market. “We are extremely excited about this acquisition because it allows GuestReady to propel forward and become the largest service provider in the vacation rental industry. Since we started, we have been very focused on operational excellence and building a property technology system that allows us to automate non-core processes. We can run our large portfolio of properties efficiently thanks to a sophisticated tech platform that we have built in-house over the past years. Without much additional added complexity we can scale our portfolio multi-fold over the coming years,” said Alexander Limpert, Co-founder & CEO of the GuestReady Group. The whole team of BnbLord will join the GuestReady Group and all jobs will be maintained, with the founding team of BnbLord taking senior management positions at the GuestReady Group. “We have been friendly competitors of GuestReady for the past couple of years and we are excited to now join forces. The industry is maturing quickly and we are happy to become part of the technology leader in this space. With our shared experience we will be able to further accelerate growth,” said Léo Bonnet, Co-Founder & CEO of BnbLord.
