Accommodation.co.uk launches national lettings agency and franchise scheme
August 28, 2019
The next generation lettings agent is looking for franchisees across the UK ahead of its public launch in September.
The company has unveiled a first of its kind franchise offering for lettings experts, alongside the launch of its custom-built platform, which will streamline and automate the majority of administrative tasks to improve renting for landlords and Generation Rent.
Early bird franchisees will benefit from no startup fee for a limited time. An introductory price of £1,000 will be introduced before increasing in early 2020.
Lettings experts can establish their own Accommodation.co.uk franchise without the barriers that come with traditional letting agent franchises, such as a high initial payment and additional set up costs including marketing, office rental, property feeds and staff.
Accommodation.co.uk will enable its Local Lettings Consultants to run their business without the need for expensive high street offices, equipment and software. Instead, the company will be providing the Accommodation.co.uk platform and head office support within the pricing structure.
Accommodation.co.uk streamlines the rental process by automating the majority of property letting and management tasks. This enables franchisees to focus on letting properties and developing their business while receiving training and marketing support from Accommodation.co.uk along the way.
A central property management team based at the company’s Manchester central support centre supports its network of Lettings Consultants to take on day to day property management duties.
The platform will be officially launched for landlords and tenants in September in new locations across the UK.
Clive Tomlinson, lettings business development manager at Accommodation.co.uk and former Business Development Manager at Belvoir said: “A lot of talented, ambitious lettings professionals are facing immense difficulty in the face of mass closures of traditional letting agents. We’re offering a highly competitive start up fee to empower experts to set up their own business while still benefiting from Accommodation.co.uk’s expertise, training and resources.
“The majority of time-consuming administrative tasks will be handled by the platform, freeing up our franchisees to concentrate on delivering a great experience for landlords and tenants alike. We’re an ambitious company and we’re excited to work with our franchisees to grow across the UK to improve renting for everyone.”
Entrepreneur and experienced property investor John Lomas, 58, Aaron Short, 24, and Matthew Meekins, 23, co-founded Accommodation.co.uk while Aaron and Matthew were studying at the University of Lincoln. The company has recently opened its new headquarters in Manchester’s Spinningfields as part of the company’s ambitious growth plans to create 50 new jobs in the next three years.
Ahead of launch, Aaron said: “In the past several years, we’ve built a truly revolutionary solution to the UK’s rental problem, we’re excited to officially launch Accommodation.co.uk to help landlords and Generation Rent get the best out of renting by combining our customer built CRM platform with a network of Local Lettings Consultants.
“We’ve already had an overwhelming response from property professionals who are looking to set up a franchise, with several already undergoing training, as well as our Local Lettings Consultants who are open for business in September. At the moment we have plans to launch three new Local Lettings Consultants each month, and this is likely to increase due to demand.
“More and more people across the UK are either choosing to rent or are frozen out of the UK housing market, and many of those people are contenting with substandard private rental properties, extortionate fees and a poor customer experience. Generation Rent have become accustomed to apps and instant communication, so by emulating an Airbnb experience, we’re creating a more accessible and streamlined experience from start to finish. It will also ensure that once a tenancy begins, there is more accountability and transparency.”
Through the platform, tenants can find properties and arrange a viewing, make an offer on a property, complete the referencing, including wage verification and a credit check, all in just 10 minutes. Successful tenants will be able to sign the tenancy agreement and make a deposit payment. After move in, tenants can access a dashboard where they can report maintenance problems and communicate with their landlord.
Landlords can opt for full property management or a let only option, depending on their needs. Each journey begins by booking a free consultation online to arrange a meeting with a local Lettings Consultant, which will include a market appraisal and compliance report. The Lettings Consultant will onboard existing tenants who can then access the Accommodation.co.uk platform, market the property and host viewings when tenancies become available. Once new tenants are onboard, landlords will be able to see rent status, a maintenance overview and receive compliance reminders.
Clive added: “By sharing the power of proptech with our local lettings consultants, we’ll enable them to focus on what they’re good at and what really matters to landlords and tenants. By enabling our lettings consultants to work remotely with the full backing of our central team, we’re able to keep outgoings low and earnings high – something that traditional lettings agents simply can’t do.”
You May Also Enjoy
A Guide To Moving To The UK
Are you considering moving to the UK, perhaps you are relocating for work or returning after some time as an expat elsewhere. Whatever the reason, to help you begin your journey smoothly, we have compiled all the relevant information on how to relocate to the UK. This guide to moving to the UK will cover…
Read More 
Breaking Property News – 30/04/24
Daily bite-sized proptech and property news in partnership with Proptech-X. Will Yardi’s multi-million gamble on WeWork the former £37Bn Unicorn pay off? The word is that Adam Neumann the enfante terrible and former co-founder is unlikely to be the new owner of WeWork as it emerges out of the gloom of its present bankrupt…
Read More 
Rightmove rental tracker: 50,000 rental properties needed to bring supply back to pre-pandemic levels
Average advertised rents outside of London rise to a new record of £1,291 per calendar month (pcm), though the pace of rent growth continues to slow, with average rents now 8.5% higher than last year London rents reach a new record by two pounds, rising to £2,633 per calendar month. Average advertised rents in the…
Read More 
Half of Renters Don’t Know Where to Turn When Something Goes Wrong
Results come as TDS Charitable Foundation develops new service to support tenants to uphold their rights. HALF of all private renters would not know where to turn to if a landlord or letting agent failed to address a problem in a property. That’s according to interim results from a new representative survey of over 2,000…
Read More 
Liverpool’s Real Estate Market: What You Need to Know
Liverpool’s real estate sector presents a dynamic environment for investors, homebuyers, and tenants alike. As the city continues to expand and develop, understanding the nuances of this market is crucial for anyone looking to engage with property in the area. This article provides a comprehensive look at the current trends, investment opportunities, and potential challenges…
Read More 
Identifying Common Structural Issues in Balconies
Living in a city like Sydney, where a breathtaking view of the cityscape and ocean can be the crowning jewel of your property, it’s no surprise that balconies are key features sought after by homeowners. However, over time, these aesthetically pleasing elements can become a structural nightmare due to a range of issues that compromise…
Read More