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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DEAL IS ON: Online lettings firm Urban and Tepilo bought by Emoov
After nearly a month of negotiations the acquisition of Tepilo and Urban by Emoov is to go ahead, creating a sizeable No.2 in the online property market.
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Super prime London agents sold just 114 properties over past 12 months
Only 114 super prime properties were sold in London over the past 12 months, according to the latest research from Knight Frank.
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Budding Chelsea branch reveals its blooming cheek
You might think only a brave person or company would try to compete directly with the extreme gardening talents on display at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show. But London agent Pastor Real Estate, which recently launched a branch not far from the internationally-famous horticultural gathering, had a go. The agency, whose new branch is just 700 metres from the gates of the show, unveiled its attempt at a floral display last week, which as you can see, now dominates the branch entrance. Pastor Real estate commissioned local floral artist Paul Thomas to create their display. The company was hoping to catch the eye of the 150,000 visitors who throng the area every year both to see the RHS show but also the green-fingered efforts of local homeowners and businesses, who often maintain their displays for several weeks following the main event. “The brief was to create something quintessentially English, incorporating Pastor’s brand colours of red and white into the design; celebrating the great British summer and Chelsea Flower Show,” says Paul. “I chose beautiful iceberg white rose plants and fresh red strawberries, accented with an abundance of beautiful English foliage and plants, to create the most spectacular display around the…
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Jon Notley’s Zero Deposit signs up first big PRS client
A housing association in Stratford-Upon-Avon is the first of its kind to sign up to former Zoopla Sales Director Jon Notley’s Zero Deposit proptech offering. The company, which launched last year but has been quiet recently, has signed a deal with the Orbit Group to offer insurance-backed deposit guarantees at its £10.4 million Fordham House private rented sector (PRS) development in Stratford-Upon-Avon (pictured, above). Orbit operates nearly 50 developments across the UK through its various housing associations. The deal will expose the 82 one and two-bedroom properties within the development to Zero Deposit’s service, which is backed by reinsurance giant Munich Re. Zero Deposit Half the properties are already let, so presumably the Zero Deposit deal will apply to both existing let properties when they become vacant and the remaining 40 unlet units. Fordham House is a thoroughly modern take on affordable housing, offering luxury rental properties to the PRS via local agency Edwardes that must be offered first to key workers and locals. Zero Deposit is an insurance-backed service that covers landlords for up to six weeks by charging tenants the equivalent of a week’s rent. This pays for a 12-month insurance rental guarantee policy. Any disagreements between tenants…
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Design-led houses sell for 12% more on average, claims agent
Niche estate agent The Modern House says its research shows design-led homes sell for 12% more on average across all price ranges.
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HouseSimple’s new #whosderek TV ad wins online praise
Not many estate agents venture into the expensive world of TV advertising, and even fewer make much of an impression with the public. But online estate agent HouseSimple appears to have cracked it with its new ‘Who’s Derek?’ campaign, which warm-heartedly embraces the unfashionable name of Derek. Its hilarious 30-second advert, which as well as underlining the speed of its sales and taking a pot-shot at Purplebricks’ fee structure, has been met with mirth and approval online from members of the public. The TV campaign has also been backed by HouseSimple with an offer to sell anyone’s home for free if they are called Derek, dropping its usual £995 ‘no sale, no fee’ charges for the dwindling number of Dereks in the UK if they sign up before the end of June. “For all those Dereks out there who dream of one day seeing their name rise to prominence again, we’re delighted to do our little bit to help raise their profile,” says HouseSimple CEO Sam Mitchell, who previous role was Head of Lettings at Rightmove. His PR stunt may be counting on the unpopularity of the name Derek to prevent too many people taking up the firm’s free offer.…
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Independent estate agents now only half the industry, claims Belvoir
UK's largest franchising agency makes claim as it suggests many are "struggling" as tenant fees ban looms.
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UK’s first council-owned online letting agent launches
The outsourced housing department of Brent council has launched its own online letting agent for the private rental market.
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Leading estate agent changes website after complaint to advertising watchdog
Edinburgh-based MOV8 agrees to amend copy after complaint that its fixed estate agency fee claim may have been misleading.
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Humberts is saved! Holiday firm snaps up ailing agency for undisclosed sum
Read how ailing agency Humberts has been saved after it was bought by UK and US holiday firm Natural Retreats for an undisclosed sum.
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