Estate agent sets up lettings group

11:03am Monday 13th October 2008

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ESTATE agency Redmove of York has diversified into the residential lettings market.

A full lettings management service and a “tenant-find” facility for landlords are being offered by Redmove, which was established two years ago by husband-and-wife team Michael and Yvette Redmond at Holtby Manor, Stamford Bridge Road.

The new services will run alongside Redmove’s mainstream estate agency.

A lettings manager is being appointed to the Redmove lettings division, which will serve houseowners throughout York and its surrounding villages.

The diversification is the latest initiative by Redmove, which has set itself apart from many estate agents by operating from offices on the outskirts of the city rather than high street show rooms in order to translate lower operating costs into competitive fees and higher levels of advertising and personal service to promote properties.

Mr Redmond, said: “Our mainstream estate agency business remains steady. We are setting up the lettings services in response to requests from homeowners, many of whom do not wish to sell in the current economic climate but want to maximise the return from their investment.

“We are offering a full lettings management service at a highly-competitive eight per cent rate to the first 200 landlords to take up our service. This offer has no time limit and is for however many properties they wish to place on our books. We are also offering competitive rates for would-be tenants.

“York, with its buoyant commerce, universities and colleges, remains a very popular place for people wishing to let suitable properties. Recent legislation has increased the need for a full lettings management service, although we will also offer a tenant find-only service for experienced landlords.

“Our choice of an out-of-town location in order to invest in the highest standards of service we could achieve, has proved far sighted as tougher market conditions have forced many other York agents to make redundancies, close high street branches and some to cease trading altogether.”