New ethical letting agency launches with focus on 'people, not fees'

A new ethical letting agency has launched in partnership with a housing association and is promoting its low fee structure.

Home Makers, based in south London, is part of the Phoenix Group which lets and managers over 6,000 homes in the capital.

The agency is offering 'market-leading' low management fees to landlords at 9.5% which it says compare favourably to the 'low to mid-teens' offered by many high street agencies.

Home Makers lets properties from private landlords as well as those owned by Phoenix's leaseholders.

Tenants living in properties managed by the new agency will get access to Phoenix Community Housing's services, including employment and training programmes and family-friendly festivals, while landlords will have access to a repairs service and income recovery initiative.

"At Phoenix, we already work closely with hundreds of our leaseholders who let their homes. We know what we’re doing and that’s why I’m really excited about what Home Makers is offering," comments Jim Ripley, chief executive of Phoenix Community Housing.

"With our team, you’ll get expert private lettings advice and an ethical approach that protects your property and cares about your tenants."

Rachel Jackson, the agency's lettings manager who has over 20 years' lettings industry experience, adds: "We’re a community-based organisation that’s about people, not fees, and that means we offer an unparalleled service."

The agency, which works out of the Phoenix Housing Association in Bromley, South East London, says that any profit it makes minus the surplus will be reinvested back into the community. It will also be sponsoring an upcoming Christmas Fair in the local area, and has already given its support to a women's football club, The South East Parakeets.

Home Makers, which officially launched in September, currently has two properties to let on Zoopla.

You can see the ethical letting agency’s website here.