A moving experience with Sure Property Solutions

Sure Property Solutions open stylish new offices in Kemp Town to represent their city-wide business

You may not recognise the name Sure Property Solutions, but that doesn’t mean they are new kids on the block. On the contrary, Sure has been trading since 2008, with experienced director Zena Trow having been a landlord from an early age, investing her passion in a portfolio of her own properties and building up a management company working for clients. She originally began with no high street premises, simply employing the potential of an internet presence and the power of positive personal recommendations.

For six years that worked well for Zena and colleague Eilidh Macpherson, and they have indeed built up a strong and loyal client base of both landlords and tenants. Zena was originally a mortgage broker and financial advisor who, almost by chance, got into the student lettings market. At the start, Sure’s work was based in the Lewes Road area, a real stronghold of property in the student lettings market, but like so many successful businesses there was the desire to grow. For Zena and the team this has meant keeping a finger on the pulse of the market and promoting what they do.

When the opportunity to purchase premises in Kemp Town arose, it was decided that the time was right to launch onto the high street. Whilst working as a mortgage broker, Zena realised that she had a flair for helping developer and property investors to find not only the appropriate financial help but also the right kind of investment properties. “I helped developers by finding finance for them, yes, but I also started to advise them on how to buy and create portfolios of properties for letting. Investors then began to ask me to manage their portfolios, and so Sure Property Solutions was born in 2008.

“A customer service focused business is something that we, as a team, feel we offer. With a transparent, committed and holistic approach we pride ourselves on being able to adapt our service to suit the individual needs of our landlords and tenants. As landlords ourselves working with landlords on a financial level, it was clear there was need for a different type of service.

“Personally, we were frustrated by the lack of flexibility, transparency and value for money in the lettings industry. Our business model has been based on our own and our clients’ expectations.

Zena Trow Director
Eilidh MacPherson Office manager
Dan Greet Senior Negotiator

“Although the strength of our portfolio was originally found in student accommodation and HMO lettings, our portfolio is now strong and varied, and we have everything from studio flats to mansion flats and single rooms to family homes on our books. We have certainly grown massively since the start and bring the same level of professional service to every area we work in.

“We are very excited about our new shop here in Kemp Town. We wanted to create a new look that was modern, mixed with traditional. We have managed to retain some of the original features in the new design of the building – the look is warm and inviting, we are delighted with how it has gone. Our aim is to offer service of a very high standard, but the atmosphere of the premises is important too; we want to look friendly, non-clinical and homely. After all, homes are what we promote.

“Letting property is a strictly regulated industry and we are fully committed to staying at the very forefront of the ever-changing and complex legislation. At the same time, we want to be recognised for being flexible and transparent in our business practices and for encouraging the landlords that we represent to offer the very highest standards to tenants possible, in their given markets.

“We always encourage landlords to repair and maintain on an ongoing basis, and not just to have a reactive maintenance programme in place that deals with problems only as they arise. We are proactive, with regular interim property visits feeding back to landlords. By doing this we can certainly ensure that a property will make the best possible return for the landlord, stay in line with the current market, and importantly, make for the best possible tenant experience. We are one of the very few agents in the city to fully comply with The Property Ombudsman’s Letting Code of Practice relating to secret profit by not adding any commission onto our contractor invoices, as well as having our own trade accounts for materials, thereby ensuring all savings are passed on to our clients.

“It is also true that we are seeing a new generation of renters in a society where getting that first foot on the property buying ladder is less easy than for previous generations. Many people now rent as a matter of choice or need. Good service therefore, from a tenant’s perspective, is more important than ever.

“As lettings agents, we have a duty of care to our tenants. This is a two way relationship between landlords and tenants and we aim to maintain that relationship as smoothly as possible.

“This expansion onto the high street is a positive step for us, maintaining our strong brand image which will only become more visible. We want to grow, but we want to grow organically, working with people that fit in with our ethos – which is why I wanted Dan Greet on the team. Dan had worked for six years in his previous job, with a good, solid track record and exceptional knowledge of the local market. He has brought a great deal of experience to our operation, and has taken on this new challenge in a very customer-focused setting with a great career and training trajectory.

“We like to keep our landlords involved in all aspects of the business, and it has to be said that our portfolio has been built to date solely on word of mouth recommendations, with clients looking for a different type of agent. We firmly believe that our financial background and more rigid referencing process carried out in-house has lead to an excellent track record, with no rent arrears. Often agents will outsource their referencing to large companies – we feel that keeping this in-house enables us to get to know a tenant properly. Finding the right tenant from the start makes for a successful tenancy, but equally, providing a high standard of accommodation and service means our tenants often return to us.

“We do a lot of staff training, both internally and externally. As a member of both ARLA (Association of Residential Lettings Agencies) and The Property Ombudsman you know as a landlord or tenant that you are in safe hands, in regards to both Client Money Protection and a code of conduct.

“One thing we do not do is offer a cut price, bargain basement service. There are always agents who offer cheaper deals, certainly, but we feel that we offer a fair price for an excellent service – not the most expensive, but our aim is still to be the very best.”

Sure Property Solutions will celebrate their new office with a launch party on Saturday 26 July. Prospective and current landlords and tenants are invited to drop by to see them in person.

Sure Property Solutions,
31 Upper St. James Street,
BN2 1JN, 01273 243561 www.surepropertysolutions.co.uk

Upcoming properties

Cobden Road
A beautifully presented spacious, part furnished family home. The property is situated in the popular Hanover area, arranged over four floors with three double bedrooms and two reception rooms. There is a useful office/study, and the master bedroom with en-suite offers panoramic views. There is a spacious family bathroom, modern fitted kitchen and lovely, walled decked garden as well as a roof terrace, fantastic for entertaining. Available August £1,500 per month. EPC D

 
Brunswick Square
Shabby chic throughout, this lovely furnished studio is located just off Hove seafront, in this landmark Square with its stunning communal gardens. Some original features throughout, a modern fitted kitchen with appliances and marble worktops, dining area and spacious bathroom, shower over bath.
Available August £725 per month. EPC F

Kemptown Mews
A delightful mews house tucked away in a quite picturesque side street, whilst only a stone’s throw away from the shops, bars and cafes of Kemp Town village. Walking distance to Brighton Marina and the Royal Sussex County Hospital. The property has access to a secure parking space and is comprised of two bedrooms, one with an en-suite shower room, modern bathroom with shower over bath, contemporary fitted kitchen with separate living room and patio doors to a private patio. Available August £1,250 per month. EPC B

 
Bevendean Crescent
STUDENT HOUSE – Nicely presented six bedroom chalet style semi detached house with off road parking. Offered fully furnished with two bathrooms, good size separate living room and a large garden. Easy access to universities, a popular student location. Available September £2,210 per month. EPC D

St Paul’s Street
A newly decorated four bedroom house in the popular Lewes Road area. Ideal for professional or student sharers. Available now £1,600 per month. EPC D (Agent fees free on this property).

 
Marine Parade
A sea facing ground floor flat. With two double bedrooms both with en-suite shower rooms, modern fitted kitchen, marble floors throughout and access to the private garden enclosures of Marine Square. The property is fully furnished including flat screen TVs in the living room and bedrooms. Available September £1,000 per month. EPC D


All rents quoted exclude any agency fees which may be payable, please check our website for further details.
www.surepropertysolutions.co.uk