Martin and Co – A Shining Example

Martin and Co, the UK’s No 1 letting agent, has just been honoured as “Best Franchisor” at The Negotiator Magazine awards ceremony at the London Park Lane Hilton Hotel. The award recognises excellence in the property services sector, and was presented by TV celebrity, Rory Bremner. Clearly he’s not the only one who makes a good impression!

The judges were “most impressed” with Martin and Co, which since 1986 has remained a family owned business, and now has over 150 franchised offices throughout the UK, including Folkestone. They highlighted the company’s passionate approach, along with its commitment to professionalism, customer service and training, which were described as “exemplary” and a “shining example” of a progressive lettings agency that “has a formula for success”.

“It was Martin and Co’s first time of entering the awards and was prompted by the upbeat feedback we consistently receive from franchisees, landlords and tenants,” commented Managing Director Ian Wilson. “We fully recognise the responsibility everyone in our organisation has to enhance the letting experience. This comes at a time when many new landlords are entering the market and require the security of a confident and competent approach from a committed and professional letting agent.

“We are proud to play a major role in driving lettings standards upwards, and we are already campaigning for regulation in the industry at the earliest opportunity. In the meantime, this award will hopefully provide our clients and prospective clients with the assurance that they have chosen the letting agency that our own industry has recognised as the one that receives the highest level of support from its franchise operator.”

Friday, 14 November 2008

LOCAL LETTING AGENCY STANDS UP FOR STANDARDS

Folkestone property management agent Martin & Co, is the latest company to join the NALS nationwide letting scheme – set up to provide a much-needed benchmark accreditation scheme to enable landlords and tenants to avoid the pitfalls of dealing with ‘cowboy’ letting agents.

NALS (The National Approved Letting Scheme) ensures that agents comply with defined service standards and have in place a customer complaints procedure underpinned by an arbitration scheme, Professional Indemnity Insurance, Client Money Protection cover and access to Tenancy Deposit Protection.

The Scheme is supported by some of the most powerful voices in the property industry. The Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA), the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) support NALS, which is also endorsed by the DCLG (Department for Communities and Local Government), the Housing Corporation and the British Property Federation. Accreditation is open to any firm operating in the lettings sector who meets NALS strict criteria for accreditation.

NALS Operations Director Isobel Thomson comments: “NALS service standards are the consumer’s benchmark against which to judge the performance of letting and management agents operating in the private rented sector and we are delighted to welcome (your name) into the Scheme.

“Agents such as Martin & Co are in the vanguard of a drive to establish uniform service standards in the industry. Those agents who are not prepared to meet the standards required by NALS and, most importantly, the public, will not survive for long.”

Dennis Roodhardt partner at Martin & Co Folkestone adds: “We see our NALS membership as an excellent opportunity to increase business within our letting and management department. This visible assurance provided by the NALS logo gives prospective landlords and tenants the confidence of knowing the service they can expect from dealing with us.”

More information on The National Approved Letting Scheme, and contact details of your local NALS agent, can be obtained by calling NALS on 01242 581712, emailing info@nalscheme.co.uk or visiting the NALS website

Thursday, 13 November 2008