LETTINGSnews
RENT COLLECTION COMPANY NEWS LETTINGS SUPPORT
Bailiffs, brothels Hunters buy Gateway Lettings Second site
and drugs
Hunters Property now has seven branches, Paragon Advance, service provider
Group, the York-based having franchised its brand to the lettings industry, has
PROPERTYdrum estate agency, has a year ago. recently launched the second of
has been acquired Gateway “The property market has its two new websites
hearing from Lettings of Easingwold, North stabilised over the past few www.paragonadvance.com.
shocked bailiffs Yorkshire, for an undisclosed months and this new Once registered on the site,
from National sum. Gateway was owned by acquisition will strengthen our landlords have access to all
Enforcement Margaret Calvert and Helen position in the market and services including the company’s
Services, a franchised bailiff Marden. Its portfolio includes help us to grow our lettings administration site where they can
operation, who are urging properties in and around business in 2010 and beyond,” submit applications online, track
landlords and agents to keep an Easingwold, Thirsk, Ripon and he said. progress of their existing
eye on let properties. Boroughbridge, where it also applications and manage their
Brothels, credit card scams and has an office. The acquisition account. As well as providing
drugs houses have been uncovered will bring Hunters’ letting tenant referencing, insurance, rent
by unsuspecting NES bailiffs who, business’s workforce to 57 and warranties, debt recovery, eviction
instead of finding a non-paying the group’s total turnover to service, mortgages and property
tenant, have found themselves about £7m. investment opportunities, the new
contacting police from what had Kevin Hollinrake, MD, site also offers a “search for a
suddenly become a crime scene. Hunters Property Group, said, letting agent” facility.
Andy Coates (pictured), Director “This is a strategic acquisition Bryn Cole, MD says, “The two
of North-East based NES, has had for Hunters as we already have month redesign was the result of
to break the news to unwary a strong presence in both analysis of what our customers are
landlords who presumed their Boroughbridge and looking for and want to know
property was being used as an Easingwold. about.” The new website program
office or home, sending in the “The combined business started back in September with the
qualified bailiffs to take possession will operate from our existing launch of Paragon’s sister site,
of the property due to offices in these towns.” www.fccparagon.com which is
longstanding arrears. Hunters’ letting business aimed at lettings agents.
Andy, a bailiff and private
investigator for twenty years, has
seen some strange things during
BUY TO LET POLITICS
his career but even he admits to
Property fund to be launched Labour exclude
being shocked when he got the
call to say his field officers had 3.5 per cent. King Sturge will act
SARB in fi gures
come across a brothel. as adviser. British Land is the UK’s
“I couldn’t believe it when the second largest property Grant Shapps,
team rang to say that they had British Land is said to planning a investment trust but it will only Shadow
found a brothel, I was shocked, new Buy to Let property fund with actually invest £6million of its own Housing
and it definitely got a few raised CR Property Advisers. The fund money in the fund, one of its first Minister, has
eyebrows in the office. aims to raise £50 million in the first residential investments since 2006. accused
“What’s worse is that landlords tranche of investment building to James Taylor, director at British Labour of
aren’t checking what their £300 million. The fund will focus Land, said: “This is an expansion of hiding the truth about
properties are being used for, on properties worth around £500- British Land’s property repossession numbers by
which can have major implications 800,000 and about 500 properties management. It is appropriate excluding the figures for
on them if they are being used for are expected to be purchased, with that as a manager we should also homeowners who sold their
criminal means.” a target rental income yield of take a stake.” home and rented it back, so
that they could stay in their
home. Labour figures show
CELEBRATION
48,000 homes were
20 years with Leaders for Donna
repossessed in 2009, compared
with 75,000 in 1991 (the peak
Leaders the letting agency relevant letting legislation and of the last recession). The OFT
chain presented Donna Wright consistently delivers the best suggests that 50,000 or so
with a bouquet of flowers, possible advice and service. property sale and rentback
champagne and a cheque to Says Leaders’ MD Paul deals were done, which makes
celebrate her 20 years service. Weller, pictured with Donna, the true number of those who
Donna, who was a Leaders “Congratulations to Donna. have lost their home far worse.
branch manager for many She cares passionately about “It transpires that thousands
years, took up her current role the service we provide to our of people have actually lost
nine years ago at the firm’s landlords and tenants and the their homes, even though the
head office in Worthing, West training we give to our official figures fail to reflect
Sussex. She assists with employees. Her extensive their misery,” said Mr Shapps.
developing effective training knowledge and experience of Sale and Rentback didn’t
and procedures for Leaders’ letting, and the legalities and exist in 1991 and there have
employees to ensure that the procedures involved, makes her been grave concerns about
company complies with all a true asset to Leaders.” their fairness and security.
44 FEBRUARY 2010 PROPERTYdrum
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