News

The Property People Officially Launch – One Year In, Making Our Mark, Grateful to Be Recognised!

For the past year The Property People has been quietly making waves, building relationships and delivering results without the fanfare. That all changed on 19th June 2025, with an exclusive, joy-filled evening, we officially said: “We’re here, we’re ready, and we’re excited for what’s next.” View the full event gallery

Our little corner of the world was filled with great conversation, clinking prosecco glasses, sushi platters that vanished almost as quickly as they arrived, and a buzzing atmosphere we’ll never forget.

It wasn’t just about property (though we do love to talk homes). It was about people. Our kind of people; local, warm, curious, welcoming.

We had a magician weaving his way through the room, dropping jaws and raising eyebrows with his tricks (seriously, we’re still not sure how he did half of it). And just when we thought it couldn’t get better, guests were treated to personalised ice cream, customised on the spot, just the way you like it.

But while the evening sparkled with fun, the message at its heart was clear: The Property People is here to do things differently. We’re the secret behind great places. We help anyone who cares about the life of a building. From developers and landlords through to RTMs and Managing Agents, we turn that building into a community. We focus on getting things right from the beginning, with the right people, processes and partnerships in place.

And if you’re wondering how we do that or how we can work with you? Here is a simple list of what services we deliver:

  • Appointing a managing agent/operator – new build and re-tendering of agent/operator
  • Obtaining the best expertise, value and service from your managing agent – auditing, gap analysis and governance
  • Customer journey and mystery shopping
  • Growth strategies and service enhancement
  • Resident engagement and community building
  • Employee engagement and cultural change programmes
  • Mobilisation
  • Brand standards and values

So, what makes us different?

It’s not just what we do, it’s why we do it.

Our ‘why’ is to serve properties and residents by providing exemplary experiences. We care about the lived experience of buildings, and we want to create communities that are welcoming, sustainable and thoughtfully managed. We want to help you create spaces that serve the communities who use them. We want to build relationships that matter. And to be the kind of partner you can count on, no matter what.

This approach has recently been acknowledged when we were honoured with the Project Manager of the Year at the News on the Block Apartment Advisor Awards. A proud moment that reflects the hard work, heart, and hustle we’ve put in during our first year!

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us at the launch, and to everyone who’s been part of our journey so far. We’re just getting started, and the best is yet to come.

See you soon,

Sandeep, Jess & Julian – The Property People

The Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government Survey

If you haven't yet had a chance to complete the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government (MHCLG) survey, we invite you to have your say now. Thank you to everyone who has already taken part in the survey.

Whether you manage one building or many, your insights are vital in ensuring that policy decisions reflect the realities faced by managing agents and freeholders.

The survey focuses on the cost and duration of activities. These relate to arranging and managing buildings insurance for multi-occupancy buildings.

Access the Survey HERE

Please Keep In Mind:

  • The survey should be completed on a per-building basis - we recommend submitting multiple responses for different buildings, if applicable.
  • All responses are anonymous.

The official deadline is 31 July 2025, but we urge you to complete it as soon as possible to so your feedback can inform advice being prepared for ministers.

If you have any questions or need more information, please contact: policyteam@tpi.org.uk

Historic Wedgwood Pottery Site With Residential Development Plans for Sale in Staffordshire

An historic Wedgwood pottery manufacturing site with plans for more than 80 apartments is up for sale in Staffordshire with commercial property agency Bond Wolfe.

An historic Wedgwood pottery manufacturing site with plans for more than 80 apartments is up for sale in Staffordshire with commercial property agency Bond Wolfe.

The Royal Overhouse Pottery is a 1.47-acre site that dates back to 1787 at Overhouse Place, in Burslem town centre.

James Mattin, managing director of Bond Wolfe, explained that the substantial freehold development opportunity was now available for offers based on £1.1 million.

Mr Mattin said: “This is an exciting historic development opportunity that we are delighted to be bringing to the market.

“There is a comprehensive and positively received pre-application for the site that would provide more than 750 square metres of high quality commercial and retail space.

“There would also be a mix of approximately 81 new Extra Care and independent living apartments with a range of one and two-bedroomed options across the new development.

“The plans including a communal lounge, living and study or quiet areas, as well as staff facilities.”

The Royal Overhouse Pottery’s existing buildings extend to 112,622 sq ft on a prominent site.

This encompasses the majority of the land bounded by Wedgewood Place to the east, New Street to the south, Greenhead Street to the west and Overhouse Street to the north.

Around a third of the site is situated within the Burslem conservation area, including the existing buildings to the east of the development site.

The proposed development would retain these buildings and maintain the relationship between these buildings and the existing buildings that sit outside the site boundary, on the south-east side.

The property has become available following the collapse into liquidation of the Royal Stafford company earlier this year, with the loss of more than 70 jobs.

The brand was established in 1845, but records indicate that the Royal Overhouse Pottery was in use in 1787 and operated by Thomas Wedgwood.

Mr Mattin added: “The site is currently predominately made up by a range of two-storey industrial buildings, with some single storey additions and infill areas.

“The buildings are of an industrial scale, with floor-to-floor levels more equal to the usual size of three to four-storey residential buildings.

“To the west of the site, there is already a large development consisting of three-storey town houses and four-storey residential blocks, which has established a precedent for this scale of development in the town centre.”

Burslem is one of six towns that form Stoke-on-Trent city, and is the site of one of the two campuses of Stoke-on-Trent College, the largest Further Education college in Stoke and North Staffordshire, which specialises in media-production and drama.

Stoke Studio College, a studio school for 13 to 19-year-olds, opened at the college campus in September 2013.

Within a six-mile radius from Burslem there are three universities: Staffordshire at Shelton, Keele University, and Manchester Metropolitan's large Art & Design campus at Alsager.

Burslem lies north of Stoke-on-Trent city centre, adjacent to the A500, providing access to the M6.

A large range of amenities and transport options, including bus and rail routes, can be accessed within a maximum of 20 minutes’ walk from the site.

Stoke-on-Trent is approximately three miles to the north-east of Junction 15 of the M6 motorway, with the A34 around two miles to the west.

The city is located approximately 45 miles south of Manchester and 32 miles west of Derby.

Potential buyers can see the sale brochure here and can contact Mr Mattin for more details on 0121 524 1172 or by emailing jmattin@bondwolfe.com.

Get Ready for TPI Annual Conference 2025!

The Property Institute Annual Conference 2025 is back with a bold look, a change of setting, and a renewed focus on helping you and your business navigate the ever-evolving landscape of residential property management.

Key Reasons to Attend:

✅ Gain strategic insights to drive YOUR business growth.

✅ Stay ahead of policy, legislation, and sector developments.

✅ Hear from industry leaders shaping innovation and change.

✅ Connect with senior professionals leading company strategy.

TPI Early Bird Member Rate Now Available – £165

Take advantage of this exceptional early bird rate and give you and your team access to a full day of expert-led sessions, built around the real-world needs of your business.

This year’s programme will address both current pressures and longer-term priorities, offering strategic insight and practical tools to help you strengthen the growth of your company.

Full programme details and speaker announcements will be shared soon.