April’s Crawley Property Meet brought together property investors, landlords, developers, property professionals and local business owners for another evening of learning, networking and conversation at the Sandman Signature London Gatwick Hotel.

The event on 28 April 2026 was also the first Crawley Property Meet hosted by Rachael Bosanquet and Simon Pither following their takeover of the community. There was a strong turnout, with plenty of conversations taking place around the room and new connections being made throughout the evening.

Our guest speaker for the month was Colin Hegner of CJH Consultancy Services Probate & Trusts Ltd, who tackled a subject that can sometimes be overlooked when building a property portfolio – what happens to those assets when circumstances change, and whether the right estate planning arrangements are actually in place.

Wills and Estate Planning for Property Owners

Colin’s presentation, “Wills and Estate Planning – Important or a Necessity”, focused on helping property owners understand why estate planning is about considerably more than simply having a basic Will.

In his pre-event information, Colin explained that his aim was to introduce members to the need for appropriate estate planning and, importantly, the value of getting the right advice for their individual circumstances.

That is particularly relevant for property investors. As portfolios grow, ownership structures, family circumstances, business interests and assets held overseas can all make planning more complicated.

Colin explored the different ways in which property can be held and why understanding the consequences of that ownership structure matters. He also discussed property trusts, addressing some of the misconceptions surrounding them and explaining that they need to be considered according to individual circumstances rather than treated as a universal solution.

The post-event email highlighted one of the main takeaways from the presentation – the importance of structuring property ownership appropriately and thinking clearly about how assets should eventually pass to the people you intend to benefit from them.

Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney and Protecting Your Plans

Another important part of Colin’s presentation was the role of a Will itself.

For investors who have spent years building property assets, having plans documented properly can form an important part of protecting both the portfolio and the people who may ultimately inherit it.

Colin also placed particular emphasis on Lasting Powers of Attorney, discussing why they should form part of wider estate planning rather than being considered only much later in life. His onboarding information specifically identified LPAs as something he believes adults should consider from the age of 18.

CJH Consultancy Services’ website explains that Lasting Powers of Attorney can cover both property and financial affairs and health and welfare. The firm’s wider services include wills, probate, trusts, estate planning, inheritance tax planning and business succession planning.

Property and Assets in Spain

Colin also brought an international dimension to the presentation.

For property owners who live in Spain, own a holiday home there or hold other Spanish assets, he discussed the potential role of a Spanish Will alongside arrangements for assets in the UK.

This is an area in which Colin and CJH Consultancy Services have particular involvement. The firm’s website lists a Spanish office and dedicated Spanish services alongside its UK estate planning work.

Colin described the wider business in his speaker onboarding form as having been established for more than 30 years, with his own work covering wills and estate planning as well as arrangements for clients with assets in Spain.

For property investors, the session provided a useful reminder that building wealth is only one part of the picture. How property is owned, how decisions can be made if circumstances change and how assets ultimately pass to others all deserve consideration too.

Resident Expert Highlights

Our Resident Experts also shared short updates from their respective areas of the property industry.

David Lucas Balaguer of Coversure, Molesey spoke about property insurance and the issue of underinsurance. His update highlighted the difference between simply having an insurance policy and making sure the level of cover genuinely reflects what would be required if the property needed to be reinstated.

Wayne Greenway of Greenway Associates shared examples of how careful property design and planning can unlock additional value. His update demonstrated how projects can significantly increase both the footprint of a property and its potential end value.

David Farmer from Lime Finance Solutions provided an update on the lending market. He discussed uncertainty around rates and the importance of investors considering finance decisions in the context of their own circumstances and appetite for risk rather than trying to predict every movement in the market.

More Than the Presentations

The presentations are only one part of a Crawley Property Meet evening.

Property networking works best when there is time to talk properly, exchange experiences and build relationships, and April’s event gave attendees plenty of opportunity to do exactly that.

The room included people at different stages of their property journey, from experienced investors and developers to landlords, property businesses and people still developing their plans.

Those conversations are an important part of the community. Sometimes they lead to professional introductions or potential opportunities, while at other times it is simply useful to speak to someone who has dealt with a similar challenge before.

Crawley Property Meet Hosts and Sponsors

Crawley Property Meet is hosted by Rachael Bosanquet of My Freelance Admin and Simon Pither of PaTMa, who took over as hosts ahead of the April event.

They are supported by our Resident Experts and sponsors, including David Lucas Balaguer of Coversure, Wayne Greenway of Greenway Associates and David Farmer from Lime Finance Solutions.

Together, the combination of guest speakers, specialist knowledge and informal networking helps make Crawley Property Meet a useful meeting place for people involved in property across Crawley and the surrounding area.

Join Us at a Crawley Property Meet

If you are a property investor, landlord, developer, property professional or run a business supporting the property industry, Crawley Property Meet offers an opportunity to meet others working in the sector, hear from experienced speakers and build connections within the local property community.

View our upcoming Crawley Property Meet events and come along to the next one.