Estates Gazette Property Podcasts

What do renters really think?

The UK's build-to-rent pipeline continues to grow, but what do renters themselves think? Are they more drawn towards branded developments? And it is enough to persuade more people that the rental market can offer stability and value, as well as flexibility? This EG podcast looks at a major new survey of renters in a sector which is light on data.

On the Case: What Trecarrell means for section 21 and AST landlords

The Court of Appeal has ruled, in Trecarrell House Ltd v Rouncefield [2020] EWCA Civ 760; [2020] PLSCS 119, that a landlord’s failure to issue an assured shorthold tenant with a gas safety certificate prior to occupation does not create a permanent bar to issuing a section 21 eviction notice.

The eagerly-awaited decision comes as welcome news for landlords of ASTs, as explained by barrister Brooke Lyne of Landmark Chambers, who acted in the case, and Georgina Redsell, senior associate at Charles Russell Speechlys LLP, who has monitored the proceedings closely.

Lyne and Redsell outline the importance of the issue, dig into the detail of the court's complicated judgment, and analyse the implications of the decision for landlords and tenants.

Cladding and beyond: fire safety issues for landlords and tenants

Ben Robinson, partner in real estate litigation at Penningtons Manches Cooper, highlights how pressing issues in fire safety go beyond the headline-dominating need to replace unsafe cladding.

Robinson offers an update on cladding removal on residential and commercial premises, and addresses other matters of concern - including some of the unintended consequences of the heightened fire safety agenda for leaseholders and right to manage companies.

How we brought our workforce safely back to buildings by May. Dutch developer EDGE on the technology that has facilitated a return to work in the midst of the pandemic

Join EG's tech editor, Emily Wright, and EDGE's product excellence director, Sandra Gritti, for a discussion on how building data has allowed the Dutch developer to bring staff safely back to work despite the pandemic.

While many real estate companies are gearing up to address and improve their building data collection and usage capabilities, there are others which have been advocating this approach to development for some time.

Dutch developer EDGE is a prime example. It has focused on collecting and using building data to allow its portfolio, which includes EDGE and EDGE Olympic in Amsterdam, to constantly learn, adapt and improve. The result has been greener, smarter and more efficient buildings. It is this same approach that has allowed EDGE to create safer buildings in response to concerns about return to workplaces in the midst of, and following, the pandemic.

With plans to bring this approach to development to London with its EDGE London Bridge scheme, EDGE’s product excellence director Sandra Gritti will join EG’s first building data podcast to reveal how the company has built up a reputation as being one on real estate’s most data-led developers. She will discuss how they have trialled and tested the right technology, how they have successfully used data to evolve a portfolio to become one of the greenest and smartest in the world and what EDGE’s London debut will mean for UK real estate.

Why Westfield's plan to ditch department store for desks is a sign of the times, how the Dutch have managed their return to work and yearning for a decent cup of coffee

On this week's episode of EG's We're Still Here podcast, host Emily Wright is joined once again by news editor Pui-Guan Man to delve into the biggest story of the week - Westfield London's plans to convert its 104,000 sq ft House of Fraser department store into co-working space.

Emily and Pui discuss how the move is a sign of the times as widespread remote working looks set to be the catalyst for a more long-term, even permanent, suburbanisation of work. This combined with already difficult times for department stores could fuel a continued innovative approach to space.

Westfield's move is part of a wide-ranging mixed-use strategy set in motion by landlord Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield which filed an application with Hammersmith & Fulham council proposing a change of use for the four-level anchor store by splitting it into two separate spaces, comprising offices and some retail. Initial plans show the offices component would take up around 68,400 sq ft.

While it is early days, sources said URW was engaging with prospective co-working operators, and speculated that it may consider launching its own offering if these do not progress.

Also on this week's episode; how the Dutch have managed a slick return to work, celebrating EG's Tech Awards finalists announced this week and the lure of a decent cup of coffee.

 

 

On the Case: Are a pair of urns listed buildings?

EG's deputy legal & professional editor asks Lucy Morton, senior associate at Town Legal LLP, to explain the Supreme Court ruling in Dill v Secretary of State for Communities, Housing and Local Government [2020] UKSC 20; [2020] PLSCS 94, which raised the question whether a pair of 18th century lead urns should be treated as listed buildings.

Morton outlines the unusual facts that led to the dispute, what the Supreme Court had to say about identifying listed buildings, and the potential wider ramifications of the decision.

Could real estate finally be dusting itself off as deals pick up? Plus, the remote working paradox as survey reveals UK workforce is 15% more productive at home despite isolation

On this week's episode of EG's We're Still Here podcast, host Emily Wright is joined by news editor Pui-Guan Man for an update on the week's biggest stories. She then speaks to Tim Oldman, chief executive and founder of Leesman, which measures employee workplace experience, about a survey which has revealed the UK workforce's response to remote working so far.

Pui-Guan covers some of the week's top stories and delves into the emerging trend of deals finally picking up. Could this mean the industry is dusting itself off after a period of unprecedented uncertainty? Emily also highlights some key pieces of this week's wider content including a powerful comment piece from WiredScore's head of London markets Hamish Dupree on being a black person in real estate.

Also this week, Emma speaks to Tim about Leesman's working from home survey. Initial results off the back of responses from more than 35,000 people have revealed that while the UK workforce believes it is around 15% more productive at home than in a traditional workplace, many are facing issues with inadequate work stations and isolation at home.

Tune in for this and more on how post-pandemic offices will need to respond to changing employee needs and requirements post-lockdown. As Oldman points out, employees have been entrusted to work independently from their homes for a prolonged period of time and any immediate removal of this as lockdown eases would result in "a huge crisis of trust."

Sleaze, scandal and "abuse of office" as Lord Adonis blasts Jenrick's approval of £1bn Westferry Printworks plus the EG team opens up about dealing with lockdown loneliness

Hold onto your hats. On this week's episode of EG's We're Still Here podcast, host Emily Wright is joined by residential reporter Emma Rosser and tech and global reporter Lucy Alderson for one of the most high octane episodes since lockdown begun.

Apart from in depth discussions around wallpaper stripping, Alderson's lunch choices and why Rosser is no longer drinking wine out of pasta jars, the duo delve into some of the biggest news stories and trends from the past week.

Rosser first addresses the ongoing scandal following housing secretary Robert Jenrick's approval of Richard Desmond's £1bn Westferry Printwork's development on the Isle of Dogs, E14. She discusses why Lord Adonis has warned of the worst "sleaze and possible abuse of office" he has witnessed in his career following Jenrick's admission of "apparent bias". The Metropolitan Police will assess Jenrick's decision on the 1,524-home, 46-storey tower which has been referred to its special enquiry team. Tune in for the full story.

Then Alderson discusses EG's health and wellbeing content which has been a major focus this week. From open, honest comment pieces from industry figures on their own mental health through to why the sector is now putting this issues at the heart of how it moves forward beyond lockdown, it is clear that the industry is becoming more open to discussing the problems and addressing solutions around this subject. "People are realising that it's OK not to be OK some days," says Alderson. "That's what makes us human."

For more on this plus why you should find the time to fill in EG's survey on race diversity in real estate https://www.egi.co.uk/news/have-your-say-race-diversity-in-real-estate/ tune in to this week's podcast.

And if all of that isn't reason enough, until you have heard Rosser and Alderson discussing the merits of burgers and olives for lunch, you haven't lived.

 

£1bn write-offs, a high-profile departure and the European cities banding together to help the world prepare for life post-pandemic. It's been quite a week, but We're Still Here

On this week's episode of EG's We're Still Here podcast host Emily Wright is once again joined by EG editor Sam McClary for a round-up of this week's top news and analysis. And what a week it has been.

Landlord British Land announced that more than £1.1bn has been wiped off the overall value of its portfolio as coronavirus disruption continues to put retailers under pressure and then the news broke that Hammerson boss David Atkins is to set down. Tune in to hear more and to find out about a fresh EG initiative launched this week. Uninspired by government's plans for post-pandemic offices, we have launched a competition to find out how the real estate sector would create workplace, retail or leisure experiences that enable interaction, collaboration and innovation while maintaining government guidelines.

Also this week we speak to Nathan Pierce, programme director for Sharing Cities at the Greater London Authority. He revealed how cities including London, Milan and Lisbon are working together to create smart solutions that can be adapted to address the current issues we are all facing as a result of the pandemic.

 

 

Future of Real Estate: Brewdog on reopening during Covid – and why landlords must do more for tenants

In another Future of Real Estate podcast, Brewdog chief operating officer David McDowall tells Damian Wild why government and landlords need to do more to help tenants if the hospitality industry is to survive. He also sets out a vision for reopening bars, talks about the impact of Covid on Brewdog’s people and profits business and how social media can be a powerful tool when used well.