Pictured above: The Cunningham Lettings Team from
l-r Francesca De Vivo; Gaynor Cunningham, Jo Woodcock and
Tina Musson
Cunningham Lettings, a Nottinghamshire residential lettings
agency that began trading at the start of the recession has
reported excellent growth, expanding its managed property portfolio
from 21 to 150 over the past 18 months.
This sales growth has seen the business outgrow the Derby home
of its owner Gaynor Cunningham and take up residence in its first
offices on Lenton Boulevard in Nottingham.
Now based in the heart of the Nottingham student population and
the properties that make up the majority of its customers, the
business hopes to continue this growth level year on year.
Lettings consultant and former accreditation officer for student
housing charity Unipol, Gaynor Cunningham started the business to
offer a more student-focussed service, and it's this USP that has
helped the business grow according to Gaynor. She says:
"Competition has been fierce throughout the recession. There are
lots of other competing agents in the area, rents have decreased
and there has been a lack of quality property available due to
landlords decreasing their holdings to realise equity in the
recession.
"When I started the business - I wanted to offer homes to
students that I would be happy for my children to live in. This
helped us build the trust of students and their parents and of
course meant that they became tenants in our landlords' properties.
Keeping properties let has meant that our landlords have been less
tempted to sell in tougher times."
Gaynor attributes Cunningham Lettings' success to the fact that
it offers a full management package and only takes on properties
for landlords that are committed to meeting and exceeding Unipol's
standards, and the fact that her team knows the names of all of
their students - thanks to the company's dedicated team and
Facebook and twitter pages.
"We could have doubled the size of the business if we chose to
let and manage all of the landlords' portfolios we've been
approached with," explains Gaynor.
"This business is based on partnerships and the good landlords
that we work with have invested in their homes throughout the
recession meaning that Unipol is happy with them and as importantly
- the students' parents are happy for them to live there."
Cunningham Lettings' team comprises four office-based staff who
are all working mums, with the latest addition to the team being a
dedicated property maintenance manager. The team also has two
part-time student representatives, who themselves are still
studying at University. Based in Nottingham, the team cover areas
such as Nottingham City Centre, Beeston and Sutton Bonington and
Kegworth.