Connells Group talks ‘Lettings’
With over 750 lettings branches and 150,000+ managed properties, Connells Group is the largest lettings business in the UK.
Aside from offering Residential Lettings through the branch network, Connells Group also has a diverse B2B proposition to service the needs of PRS investors, corporate landlords, retailers and more.
This includes our full service PRS offering, Connells Living, which is headed up by Group PRS Director James Thornett and has recently celebrated one year since its launch. In its first year, achievements include letting large-scale BTR schemes across the UK, disposal of a BTR building in Cardiff, letting and management of a residential portfolio owned by a major high street bank; and creating bespoke research reports to provide in-depth rental and viability analysis for investors active across the UK.
James said, “We’ve seen a high level of engagement from clients since launching a year ago. We have quickly shown how working with Connells Living adds real value, whether that be through offering access to data no one else has, leveraging our branch network to drive success for clients’ rental requirements, or providing more specialised professional services from Lambert Smith Hampton. Clients really believe in the value we can add by bringing our full suite of PRS services to the table, and we’ve had a busy year as a result.”
Our Corporate Residential Property division, which is headed up by Group Lettings Development Director Nik Madan, extends our B2B offering further. Nik and his team work with institutional investors, corporate and other large scale landlords, providing advisory, consultancy services and strategic advice to develop and grow their property portfolios, and ensure that their assets perform at their optimum as an investment.
Within the past year, the team has agreed deals on more than 1,200 units for clients including a large national retailer (managing residential assets above their high street stores), a major high street bank, and a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT).
Nik says, “In this line of work, building relationships is pivotal to success, as is being able to adapt and evolve as our clients’ requirements change. As a team, we are proud of our dynamic proposition, which we feel offers the efficiencies and advantages of working with a national corporate agent, coupled with the agility of a boutique business.”
Connells Group’s B2B lettings offering also encompasses the financing of investments with Dynamo, our specialist buy-to-let brokerage which works with landlords ranging from those with single investment properties to large portfolios. Headed up by Managing Director John Cupis, Dynamo has a particular focus on complex, specialist lending, and recently won ‘Specialist Broker of the Year’ and ‘Buy to Let Broker of the Year’ at the MoneyAge Mortgage Awards 2024.
John says, “Landlords in the Private Rented Sector face ever-changing rules and regulations, making acquiring and maintaining their assets increasingly complicated. We’re currently helping our clients to understand how they will be affected by the ending of the Furnished Holiday Lettings regime in April next year – many investors could see a reduction in their net income – and also keeping an eye on speculation surrounding EPC requirements.
“Poor energy efficiency is costing tenants dearly, and the quality of our rented housing stock needs to improve. With some lenders insisting on C or above for buy-to-let mortgages and discussion around whether the government should introduce incentives to help landlords make the necessary improvements, this debate is still very much ongoing.”
For more information on Connells Group’s B2B Lettings offering, contact us: