Andrew Kay talks to Lynda Paine about a decade of successful trading

Now we are ten
Lynda Paine is celebrating ten years successful trading in October 2012.
“So much has happened since I started.

I have gone from a partnership functioning from a dining room to having this prestige office in a prime location here in Hove. And from two of us I now have a team of five full time members of staff and two part time.’

So despite this being a difficult time for many, has this been a growth period for Lynda Paine? Yes, we are currently very buoyant. We get a lot of repeat business and a lot of recommendations from happy landlords and tenants.”
What is it that separates you from the rest?

“We have a really good work and business ethic and we are very approachable and very friendly. There is great atmosphere in the office, and a good welcome, and we’re not all kiddies but business professionals with a wealth of experience. We are a family style firm, it’s about how we treat people.

“We are lucky too in that we don’t allow rent arrears to happen because we help both tenants and landlords to manage those issues. After all, a bad reputation spreads much faster than a good one.

“Everyone does regular training at GKJ, a specialist lettings training company. I believe in investing in staff so that we can offer an ongoing service to landlords and tenants and stay at the cutting edge of the business.

“Our business is mainly lettings but we had a boom year in sales, our best year yet. The sales market is fairly buoyant and all the staff have sales experience as well as lettings.”
So what area of the market do you cover?

“The biggest rental ever for the company was at £4,500pcm off Dyke Road Avenue but we still have properties at the lower end like a £500 studio. We like to match people to properties and we don’t do inappropriate viewings. We will always make suggestions to help landlords improve a property, to make it more lettable and at the best possible price.”

The Lynda Paine team includes Ben Hooper, Melody Robinson, Andy Hovey, Claire Perry and Lynda Paine (pictured).
“Claire had taken a year out to travel but when she returned I was thrilled to be able to offer her old job back. In the interim Ben had joined to replace Claire but now they are both fully employed. I think that is a fair indication of how well the company is doing. This is our tenth anniversary year and I hope that we will be talking to you again in another ten years time. I see no reason why not.”

Lynda Paine Lettings Ltd,
62 Church Road, Hove, BN3 2FP
01273 220 300 www.lyndapainelettings.co.uk