The ceremony includes discussions from industry thought leaders on the effects of the economic crisis, the Green Deal and the future of regulation in the private rented sector (PRS).  Orchard & Shipman’s Chief Executive John Taylor will take to the stage to present successful approaches to building stronger bridges between local authorities and the private rented sector.

The awards recognise the contribution made by landlords and agents in improving the standards of property and management.  Orchard & Shipman is passionate about ensuring the retention of quality in the industry and fully support the standards set out by such Accreditation Schemes.  The company is delighted to be sponsoring the award for the Best Portfolio Landlord (3-20 properties).

For more information on the ceremony visit http://www.llas-conference.org.uk/about-llas

Tabitha will manage the company’s leasing and property management services in Bedford, providing a lead support for their contract to supply 62 self-contained quality properties obtained from private landlords and other property owners in the area to Bedford Borough Council.

 Tabitha brings to the role a wealth of local housing knowledge together with an understanding of landlords requirements; she is equally familiar with the companies contract partners Bedford Borough Council, having spent the last 18 years working with their Housing Benefit and Housing Needs Services, and during the past 6 years Tabitha has implemented and managed the Council’s Rent Deposit Guarantee Scheme for landlords which successfully created over 300 tenancies.

 Tabitha is well known and respected by a number of local landlords and she is particularly looking forward to building new partnerships, helping landlords let their empty properties and help provide the Council with cost effective solutions for people in housing need.  

For more information on leasing and property management services in Bedford contact Tabitha Resta on 01234 905 121 or email tabitha.resta@orchard-shipman.com

http://www.bedfordshire-news.co.uk/Bedfordshire-Business/Tabitha-taken-on-in-role-of-housing-guru-03022012.htm

At the conference the ‘Homelessness post-2012: Where next? that took place in Edinburgh, Director at Orchard & Shipman Angela McLachlan took to the stage offering innovative solutions drawing on the private rented sector.

Angela discussed how creative partnerships between Local Authorities and Orchard & Shipman to create a lettings model known as Letfirst have driven down homelessness statistics.

 To view a copy of the presentation click here.

Landlords will be able to discuss their letting options with Orchard & Shipman and Campsie and find out more about;

• Guaranteed rent leasing schemes
• Long term leases for 3 years or more
• Private residential lettings
• Campsie property protection plan
• Continued support for all your property needs

 And what’s more; for a limited period Orchard & Shipman is offering a £500 bonus to all landlords who lease a property with us before the 31st January 2012*.

If you are interested in meeting with our team, please call to confirm your attendance on 01895 208 892.  

 Free car parking is available at the venue.

Leading temporary accommodation provider to help Council combat homelessness

The housing waiting lists in Bedford are being tackled through the intervention of private sector leasing (PSL) with the Borough Council enlisting the skills and expertise of national property services group Orchard & Shipman in a forward thinking partnership.

 The contract is the first time PSL has been used as a housing solution by Bedford Borough Council and is further evidence of the importance of the role the private rented sector has to play in meeting housing demand in the UK.

 Talking of the contract, John Taylor, CEO for Orchard & Shipman said: “The private rented sector (PRS) has always played a significant role for local authorities, helping them alleviate housing shortages within restrictive budgets and reduced traditional affordable social housing supply.   We are delighted to be working in partnership with Bedford Borough Council to help them combat homelessness throughout the Borough, in a move that demonstrates their commitment to identifying the best and right, solutions and services for their constituents in an affordable and practical way. ”

 Orchard & Shipman will supply a minimum of 62 self-contained quality properties obtained from private landlords and other property owners for periods of up to three years initially. The properties will then be used by the council to house those deemed as homeless, thus meeting the Council’s statutory duty to provide suitable temporary accommodation to homeless households.

 Cllr Roger Rigby, portfolio holder for Adult Services at Bedford Borough Council, said: “In these challenging economic times, letting a home has become more desirable, and the private rented sector is becoming a more vital part of the Council’s housing strategy. This approach is about the

 Council ensuring we fully harness the potential of private sector rented property. It will improve service availability for some individuals who would have otherwise been faced with homelessness if it had not been for this scheme.”

Orchard & Shipman will be talking to landlords about Letfirst, and its distinct approach to private letting in Edinburgh at this years National Landlords Day on Tuesday 8^th November in Edinburgh.

Since its launch in 2009, Letfirst has let over 400 properties for local landlords and provided homes in the city of Edinburgh for over 530 tenants.

Letfirst marks a significant shift in approach from traditional lettings.  Landlords receive guaranteed rent whilst their property is occupied and Letfirst take on any risks associated with unpaid rent by paying the monthly rent on the property direct to the landlord.

The Letfirst service is designed to maximise the financial potential of each property promising a fully referenced tenant within 14 days from the date it is advertised to let*, reducing the often lengthy void periods that increase costs associated with renting.

To find out more about ‘Letfirst’ visit the team on the 8^th November at National Landlords Day at Our Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh on stand 5 or alternatively telephone  0131 553 0060 or email letfirst@let-first.com

*Property must meet the ‘Property Standards’ set out by Orchard & Shipman before it will be advertised to let

Please check your fridge freezers.  If they are Beko fridge freezers and the serial number (found on the label inside the fridge) begins with either 00,01,02,03,04,05 or 06 please call Beko on 0800 0094837 to arrange an appointment, alternatively contact your Tenancy Manager on 01895 208888 for assistance. In the meantime please remain observant and check your smoke alarms are in good working order.

The survey found that strong tenant demand across the private rented sector coupled with supply constraints is forcing higher rents.   The survey also reveals that rents in certain areas of the UK have risen so sharply that previously affordable homes are now unattainable to many; forcing increasing numbers of renters out of the market. 

John Taylor, Chief Executive Officer of Orchard & Shipman plc said;

These latest figures amplify the housing crisis in the UK.  Not only are Local Authorities likely to see homeless representations increasing, but accessing the private rented sector will also become a bigger challenge for council’s, this is particularly the case in areas where Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates were capped back in April at the 30^th percentile of broad market rents. 

London Borough authorities are likely to be the hardest hit as the survey predicts the highest rise in rents will be seen in the capital, with the Midlands, the South East and the North closely following.

The survey can be viewed in full at; http://www.rics.org/site/scripts/download_info.aspxdownloadID=7403&fileID=9766

Campsie’s customer focussed approach to doing business secured the award, with the judges declaring Campsie “ a professional letting agency which offers a high level of personal service…it is a lettings agency which really cares about its relationship with its customers”.

The award was presented to Campsie at the Lettings Agency of the Year Awards ceremony as part of Lettings Live, held at the London Lancaster hotel on the 7th June, 2011 in association with The Sunday Times and The Times.    

Angela O’Mahony, Head of Lettings at Campsie, said:

Winning this award is testament to the professionalism and expertise of the Campsie team.  It provides recognition to the way we do business; putting the customer at the heart of our organisation.

We have built a reputation for adding value to our customers, this we have achieved both through the introduction of new services and through our approach to maintaining relationships with our customers.

We are particularly proud to have been recognised by our industry peers, with the awards being judged by a host of industry experts.  The judging of the awards was chaired by The Property Ombudsman and was backed by the National Association of Estate Agents and the National Federation of Property Professionals.

To see what the judges said click here

For more information about Campsie visit www.campsie.com