As national private sector social housing provider Orchard & Shipman are awarded registered provider (RP) status by the Tenants Services Authority (TSA) [30^th March 2012],  the company sets out its robust strategy to deliver homes across the south east during its first year of operation.

 Once the reserve of public sector organisations, a shift in Government policy that now backs for-profit providers has been welcomed by Orchard & Shipman, a move that the company hopes will realise increased access to long term housing that supports sustainable tenancies, and that goes some way to reducing the current shortfall of homes.

 Orchard & Shipman homes is the new divisional company the group has set up to operate as a registered provider, but as they are already one of the largest providers of temporary accommodation for homeless families they are well placed to draw on experience of providing good quality management.

 As Director of Orchard & Shipman homes; Samantha Male has been working closely with Local Authorities to ensure the model of supply set out by the company goes some way to meeting the demands of the market, she said;

 “We have already established strong links with private investors who are diverting their interest to social housing, the result of capital investment will guarantee them long term annual yields, and furthermore the RP status affords them the security that we have the backing of a the TSA.

She added; we are confident in our ability to deliver additional supplies of housing, as we have a proven track record through our core business where we partner with over 14 local authorities offering rent models that deliver value for money at the same time providing a hassle free management service to private landlords”.

 Orchard & Shipman homes will generate its supply through a combination of new developments and, purchasing properties from the open market. The group already has links with property investors, developers and land owners through its land and new homes division and will further build on these to meet its strategic targets.

 Orchard & Shipman are an unusual if not unique company in that their approach combines the positive caring aspects of the social housing market with the commercial disciplines of the private sector; the company believe that RP status will support them in delivering more to residents.

The conferences take place on the following days;

17^th April in Manchester at the Mercure Manchester Piccadilly Hotel

20^th April in Swindon (see www.cih.org/events for exact location)

 Both conferences focus on the positive contribution the private rented sector has on the governments housing strategy; ‘Laying the Foundations’, the agenda explores both the challenges and opportunities for housing providers working in the private rented sector.

 Ciaran will be presenting on ways to utilise the private rented sector and in particular will review the success of tried and tested models.

 “As the housing market continues to change, housing providers are further challenged to ensure they are making effective use of the Private Rented Sector, I am delighted to be presenting at these events to provide insight and experience of models that really do work”.  Ciaran O’Shea, Group Head of Business Development.

 More information on the events is available at;

Manchester: http://www.cih.org/events/display/vpathDCR/templatedata/cih/events/data/Private_Sector_Housing_Manchester

Swindon: http://www.cih.org/events/display/vpathDCR/templatedata/cih/events/data/private_sector_housing_swindon

For more information on Utilising the Private Rented Sector email Ciaran at; ciaran.oshea@orchard-shipman.com or telephone 01895 208 857

Property professionals struck their pose on the Orchard & Shipman stand at the Landlord and Letting Show at the Barbican last week for a chance of winning a digital camera.

The winning photograph is displayed here.

If this is you contact us at communications@orchard-shipman.com and send us a recent photograph identifying yourself.

Orchard & Shipman’s Chief Executive, John Taylor presented the award for Best Portfolio Landlord (3-20 properties) to Balbir Singh Mali.

John said; “We are delighted to be associated with these awards which recognise the contribution made by landlords and agents in improving the standards of property and management.  We are passionate about ensuring the retention of quality in the industry and fully support the standards set out by such Accreditation Schemes.”

John was also welcomed to the stage during the evening to present to the audience successful approaches to building stronger bridges between local authorities and the private rented sector.

For more information on the ceremony and to view the photo gallery visit http://www.llas-conference.org.uk/gallery

Over 2,000 landlords and property professionals are expected to attend this well established event. Orchard & Shipman’s property team will be available to speak with landlords looking to maximise their property investment, and will be introducing the many other benefits, in addition to guaranteed rental payments, that are associated with their letting schemes.

 The show is free to attend for those registering online before the event and landlords can register at www.landlordshow.com. 

 Landlords visiting the show will also have the chance of winning a digital camera, visit Orchard & Shipman on stand 21 for more details.

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.”