Agencies & People
News covering the businesses, activities, people and personalities in estate agency and letting agency and wider residential property industry.
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Tenant creditworthiness platform CreditLadder passes 1,000-branch mark
Rental payment recognition platform CreditLadder says it now has over 1,000 letting agent branches who have tenants on the service, making it the most widely available in the UK’s rapidly growing market for creditworthiness improvement, it claims. Started up in 2016 and based in London, until recently CreditLadder was alone in the private rented sector but it’s been joined by several competitors since after, in December 2017, HM Treasury announced a £2 million Rent Recognition Challenge to help kickstart innovation within the creditworthiness sector. These include Bud, Canopy, MoveMe and RentalStep, all of which are now involved in a feisty battle for market share, and a slice of the £2 million government funding. As The Negotiator reported last month, Canopy recently signed a deal with the John Lewis Partnership to help its employees improve their credit scores. Rent default Many of these services, including CreditLadder, claim their service helps letting agents differentiate themselves in crowded rental markets, enables agents to offer landlords a ‘value add’ to their service, and that tenants using them are less likely to default on their rent. This helps agents and landlords attract more reliable renters, it is claimed. “We’ve always believed good behaviour should…
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Stunning sea view suits Swiss bidder
A property which had been in the same family ownership for over 50 years has sold at Network Auctions’ April sale for £225,000 to a bidder who flew over from Switzerland specifically to bid on the lot.
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Fenn Wright acquires Neals
Independently owned Essex and Suffolk based estate agents, Fenn Wright, has announced the acquisition of highly respected Woodbridge estate agent Neals and opened a flagship branch in the town. The office at Nunn’s Mill, Quayside forms part of the brand new Whisstocks development and is the tenth branch for Fenn Wright. The impressive premises has onsite visitor parking and is just a short walk from the Thoroughfare. Neals, established in 1951 by Dennis HB Neal, is perfectly aligned with Fenn Wright. The businesses will combine the best of modern agency practice, with unsurpassed local knowledge and outstanding customer service. James Neal, son of the founder, Dennis HB Neal, has 48 years’ experience selling properties in Woodbridge and the surrounding area. James will join Fenn Wright as an Associate Partner, working alongside Partner, Charlie Wright, in the Woodbridge branch. James said, “I am delighted to be joining the distinguished team at Fenn Wright at their magnificent new Woodbridge branch and becoming part of the Signature team, selling the most desirable town houses, country homes and properties with special character.” Charlie Wright, Partner at Fenn Wright added, “James is extremely well-regarded in the town and has unrivalled knowledge of the area.”
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Purplebricks USA speaks at workshop designed to help legislators prevent discrimination against online agents
Purplebricks USA says its appearance yesterday at a Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice workshop in Washington DC was in part to help the country’s legislators prevent traditional agents discriminating against online competitors. In the past the Department of Justice (DoJ) has been forced to intervene in the US industry and prevent ‘anti-competitive’ practices involving online/digital agents. This is in stark contrast to the UK, where the main portals have from the outset enabled online-only agents to list on their platforms. This has been despite agents being unhappy that some online operators have walked a thin line between being an agent and offering vendors and landlords direct access to the portals. In 2008 the DoJ sued the National Association of Realtors – the NAEA’s counterpart in the US – for blocking internet brokers, as online agents are called there, from the country’s property portals. This in theory freed up internet brokers to offer a pared-down, low-fee service via the same portals as traditional agents, and ultimately paved the way for Purplebricks to launch in America, but anti-competitive activities persist, according to commission-free property firm Trelora. During the workshop its CEO Joshua Hunt (pictured) said his company had endured “bricks…
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He’s off again! Adam Day leaves EasyProperty to join newly-enlarged Emoov
Hatched founder Adam Day says he was drawn to Emoov new No.2 position within the online agency market, after less than 12 months at EasyProperty.
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Letting agent spots an opportunity in town blighted by estate agency cartel
Weston Super Mare lettings agency Glentworth has opened a branch in neighbouring Burnham-on-Sea to combat "negativity" of agents discovered price fixing in the town last year.
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Purplebricks to be quizzed by US competition watchdog over its flat-fee business model
Purplebricks' CEO in the US Eric Eckhardt is to be quizzed by attorneys from the country's Federal Trade Commission about its business model and practices.
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25 25 25 for Robinson Jackson
The Robinson Jackson Group is celebrating 25 years of business in London and Kent...
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Emoov tried deals with at least three other online competitors before Tepilo deal
Emoov tried deals with at least three other online competitors before Tepilo deal
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Andrews & Robertson posts 65% success rate
Andrews & Robertson raised £10,163,500 at their second 2018 auction at The Montcalm Hotel, Marble Arch, London.
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