A national property group has secured an extended contract with City of Edinburgh Council which could provide homes for up to 1,500 people living in the capital by March 2014.
Orchard & Shipman through its innovative Letfirst model has secured over 1000 homes so far through its partnership with the City of Edinburgh Council who recognise that the private rented market has an important role to play in meeting demand for housing in the city.
Letfirst brings a completely new product to the private lettings market and currently works with over 800 landlords across Scotland, offering a unique approach to property management with a rent guarantee helping remove the financial risks associated with letting.
As part of the extended contract with the City of Edinburgh Council, Letfirst will work with landlords in the private rented sector to provide up to an additional 500 homes for tenants in the capital.
Angela McLachlan, Director at Orchard & Shipman Scotland said: “We are delighted that the City of Edinburgh Council has decided to extend this contract as it is testament to the success of our approach.
“Our Letfirst model is unique in the sense that it forms a true partnership with landlords in the private lettings market, working with them to lease their properties as quickly and effectively as possible while at the same time absorbing one of the key financial risks.
“The private rented market has an increasingly important role to play in the UK’s housing system and the Letfirst model is a great example of an approach which brokers the concerns of both the landlord and the tenant.
“We also fully understand that through renting, landlords are entrusting an expensive asset to strangers, which is why we share the financial risks associated with letting a property making us more than just a property management company.
“There is no other model like this available at the moment and we are delighted that we are able to offer tenants, landlords and local authorities in Edinburgh and beyond a new way of thinking when it comes to letting.”
The private rented sector is currently going from strength to strength but in contrast the demand for social housing is outstripping the supply, which opens a door for private landlords when it comes to letting their property. Letfirst gives landlords the opportunity to let their property with the underscore of a guaranteed rent.
Letfirst works with landlords to offer an inclusive approach and as well as being one of only a handful of letting agencies who can guarantee to pay rent every month, it also provides a commitment to maximising the return on property investment. Letfirst guarantees to let properties faster than any other agency, as well as ensuring long term lease periods of three years or upwards.
The service offers extensive and professional property management, which includes quarterly updates and 24/7 advice on all aspects of property and tenancy management including legal and maintenance issues.
Due to the success of Letfirst, Orchard & Shipman has extended its service into Midlothian, East Lothian, the Scottish Borders and they have just opened a new branch in Glasgow.
Orchard & Shipman is one of just two private sector providers accredited by the Tenant Services Authority (TSA) and Homes & Communities Agency (HCA). It has also been awarded ISO 9001 accreditation by the British Standards Institute (BSI)
