US corporate makes key hire for London short-lets market

A US firm that is believed to want a slice of the UK’s growing short-lets market has made a key business development appointment. 

As we reported in February, the Denver-based National Corporate Housing is one of the world’s largest ‘temporary furnished accommodation’ specialists. It is reported to have £20m to spend on renting property to re-let on a short term basis in London, and may be interested in buying some individual properties as well.

Now National Corporate Housing has hired Irina Keen as global account manager with a remit to spearhead the development of the firm’s activities in the UK by liaising with existing clients, generating awareness and driving demand for short let accommodation by targeting UK-based corporations. 

Keen previously worked at the serviced apartment company SACO in Birmingham and Bristol. 

A statement from National Corporate Housing says the appointment is part of the firm‘s roll out in the UK “following demand from existing US clients for extended stay temporary accommodation, for employees on corporate assignments and international programmes.”

Established in 1999 by chief executive Tom Atchison, National Corporate Housing has become one of America’s largest providers of so-called ‘temporary accommodation’ managing over 2,500 units. 

It has 28 offices across the United States and delivers average occupancy rates of 95 per cent.