Dedicated letting team has a real passion for property
Its 21 years since Robert Jordan put his name to a chain of rental agencies and established one of the best known and highest regarded property firms in the region.
His son, William, has since joined him and the firm, now trading as Jordan’s, has eight branches covering the whole of the UK with head offices in Wilmslow based at Dean Row. However, Robert has been involved with property for decades since qualifying as a chartered surveyor and going to work for Samuel Rains and Son.
In addition, despite retiring twice he admits he finds it hard to leave the business.
He said: "I started as a rent collector at a time when semis in Cheadle were selling, for £2,965. If you asked £3,000 you would not get it. In those days £40 or £50 made a huge difference. "And you had to have a deposit saved in a building society before you could ask for a mortgage which would be three times a combined income.
"But doing that job was a real eye opener. In the early '60s people were still living in some really terrible conditions and it made me want to get into the property business to try and make a difference."
He made his mark with various companies, gaining experience and qualifications before starting his own company which was so successful it was bought out by a large chain and he was made their north west chairman. However, as Robert recalls: "I stayed with them for two years and turned the company round but realised I preferred working for myself.
"I went into resign and came out having bought the lettings side of the business. They believed it was just hassle with no future but I knew, because it was where I had started out, that it was a key business."
The lettings market has changed radically since then. Tenants now demand high spec properties with high quality interior finishes, modern furnishings, security systems and up-to-date gadgets. New laws surrounding tenancy agreements and the way deposits are held have helped regulate the industry and provide more safeguards for the tenant and landlord; but both Robert and William believe agencies should be licensed.
Robert is a past president of ARLA - the Association of Residential Lettings Agents and feels tenants often fail to check the credentials of agents, He said: "Bad agents, who fail to look after properties, ignore tenants request and ' failure to protect deposits blemishes the brand and the industry."
Since April 6, 2007 all tenancies created as assured short holds must have a deposit registered with one of three Government approved schemes within 14 days of receipt of the deposit. These schemes act as an unbiased bank to cover the cost of tenancy breaches and give an official route to sort out any disagreements regarding proposed deductions.'
William said: "It is surprising how few tenants realise their money should be protected in this way. "There is currently a renting boom and people who would in the past have bought are now renting which means we have to educate a new wave of people on the standards to expect.' "I think there's likely to be a European attitude to long term renting developing over the coming years. It is now popular to rent rather than rush to buy because tenants know that mortgages are scarce and jobs uncertain. ‘Most people like the freedom of renting and knowing they can move at any point."
He added: 'the moment, in the north west, an increasing number of tenants are looking for private housing but very few landlords have many properties available for rent as access to funding has been difficult recently."
The firm continues to innovate as well as inform and improve the sector -and in 2004 it introduced its On Time rent scheme where landlords get paid on time each month even if, the tenant did not pay. The changes in the rental market have all made the process much safer and smoother for tenants and firm predictions suggest that by the end of the decade the private rented sector will take up 20 per cent of the housing market.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|