A North East lettings agency has been recognised as the best in the whole of the UK for the way it manages properties on behalf of both landlords and tenants.
Paul Airey Chartered Surveyors and Estates Agency is UK Letting Agent of the Year in the annual awards sponsored by the prestigious Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.
The judges contacted more than 100 of the landlords and tenants who are managed by Paul Airey - which has offices in Sunderland and North Shields. It was their endorsements which won the top prize presented by Phil Spencer of Channel 4s "Location, Location, Location" programme at a ceremony at the Hilton Park Lane Hotel in London.
Nationwide more than 26,000 landlords and tenants were contacted by the judges making the competition the biggest consumer survey of its kind in the property industry.
Paul Airey says: "We were up against competition from every corner of the country, including high proifle London agents.
"To to come out on top was excellent and we feel really proud to have been flying the flag for the North East."
The company began the lettings side of the well known estate agents business only five years ago and credits the success on client care.
"We have two clients for each property on our books - the owner of the property and the tenants " says director Sean Heaney. "From the start we have endeavoured to provide superb client service to them both and it is really gratifying that when contacted by the RICS they have all recognised our level of service.
"Tenants appreciate the service we provide if they have any issues with the property, while landlords appreciate that we manage any issues and don't hit them with any extra bills above our agreed fees."
The Agency is continuing to grow its lettings portfolio with Paul Airey saying: "Because of the current state of the housing market more and more owners are preferring to let their properties instead of selling them.
"At the same time it is very hard for young people to get a mortgage, with the average age of a new buyer now being 32, so more and more people are renting."
