A group of lettings and sales agents from four major northern cities have joined forces to create a new network to share best practice and serve landlords with portfolios across multiple locations.
Known as Centro, the network comprises Zenko City Living in Leeds, Reside in Manchester, City Residential in Liverpool and Sanderson Young in Newcastle upon Tyne.
The four independently owned firms collectively manage over 2,000 residential properties across the North of England.
Jonathan Morgan, partner at Zenko City Living, says: “This is an opportunity to bring together four leading independent city centre residential agents to share experience, knowledge and expertise in support of one another.
“Having worked with each other on numerous occasions over the years, we know we are dealing with trusted operators in each of these cities. That gives us complete confidence when recommending another Centro member to clients looking for support outside their core market.
“Crucially, it also enables us to share best practice, market intelligence and operational expertise to help define and reinforce the highest standards in city centre residential sales and lettings.”
Duncan G Young, chairman at Sanderson Young, adds: “Collaboration of this kind in four major urban centres provides our clients with an outstanding broad range of maturity, knowledge and talent within the North of England.
“Our experience, skills and working practices enable clients to ensure they have the very best ability to manage, grow and maximise the residential investments they own.
“Previously we have shared our skills at property investor shows in Manchester and London Docklands where we made contacts with huge investment clubs without who many of the regions finest residential schemes would not have been built or proven to be so successful. I am delighted that Sanderson Young is combining its knowledge of Newcastle and the North East within this team.”
Morgan explains that the launch of Centro comes at an important time for the city centre residential property market.
He goes on: “Many apartment developments have now benefitted from cladding remediation works, whilst proposed leasehold reforms, including plans to cap ground rents at £250 per year, are now on the horizon, and this is all driving interest from owner occupiers.
“In addition, the introduction of the Renters Rights Act … is leading more landlords to seek fully managed lettings services to ensure compliance with the changing regulatory landscape.
“There is no doubt that forming Centro and working closely with Reside, City Residential and Sanderson Young will benefit all four businesses, whilst strengthening the service we provide to landlords, tenants and developers across Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool and Newcastle.”
