Online agency’s unusual move to establish a lettings division

The online agency Yopa is linking with an existing PropTech platform to offer a lettings option to landlord customers.

The link is with Accommodation. co.uk, which describes itself as “one of the UK’s fastest growing letting agents”. 

The partnership says it will allow both companies to offer a more comprehensive service to their customers, with Yopa offering Accommodation’s lettings service to homebuyers and landlords who intend to let property, as well as landlords who are exiting the sector and selling up. 

The partnership will launch in selected territories in England, Scotland, and Wales - but neither Yopa nor Accommodation say which territories - with a plan to roll out nationally later in 2023 “based on customer demand.”

Aaron Short, chief executive of Accommodation, says: “We are very excited to be partnering with a business as forward-thinking as ourselves in order to provide a sales and lettings service to all our clients whilst still focusing on what we do best. 

“This is going to give our landlords an easy way to sell their properties, and Yopa’s vendors an easy way to let theirs.”

And Yopa’s chief executive Verona Frankish adds: “Yopa’s partnership with Accommodation enables both businesses to widen their service offering to customers by partnering with experts in each relevant field. We will do this using the best blend of people and technology, and ensuring customers have the most up-to-date information to make the right decisions for their future based on their needs.”

Accommodation is currently trying to raise £355,000 via the Seedrs crowdfunding platform: it has some 110 investors so far and has achieved around 80 per cent of its target.

This crowdfunding campaign will enable the company to launch more branches across the UK.