Robert Murphy, Director of Operations at Orchard & Shipman

Q: What does it say on your business card? 

Director of Operations – South

Q: Who are Orchard and Shipman? 

Orchard and Shipman is a property services company offering a fully managed lettings service to Landlords across the UK. We work with local authorities and central government to provide social housing solutions. 

Q: How long have Orchard and Shipman been trading?

The Orchard and Shipman Group was established over 25 years ago and currently provides homes to over 12,000 people across the UK and manages over 4000 homes on behalf of landlords. We have considerable experience working with Landlords and Property Investors nationwide.

Q: How did it all start?

John Orchard and Chris Shipman began business as a local estate and letting agent and over time grew the Orchard & Shipman Group to be a unique leading national property services provider. We provide a complete range of residential, commercial and associated professional property services. We offer a range of residential real estate services (including sales, lettings, property management and land acquisition) and commercial property services (including surveying, valuation, property management, project management and agency).

We specialise in providing social and affordable housing management services to local authorities, central government and investment portfolios across the UK. We are one of the few private sector providers accredited by the Homes & Communities Agency (HCA) and a contributing organisation to the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH).

Q: Why choose Orchard and Shipman?

If you’re considering letting a property or seeking a property investment opportunity, Orchard and Shipman will provide a quality managed service and a low risk return at the same time contribute to tackling our nations ever-increasing social housing needs..

Our proposition to Landlords allows them to benefit from low risk returns, guaranteed payments, long term leases as well as a professional management service that ensures the avoidance of property related concerns. In addition, we offer very attractive incentives for new Landlords.

Q: What are your three unique selling points?

·        Low risk management services including guaranteed monthly rental payments

·        Long term leasing and partnering arrangements

·        Experienced professionals in managing complex Local Authority and tenant relationships

Q: Who do you currently work with?

We manage over 4000 Landlord properties nationwide and work with many Local Authorities and central government agencies including, amongst others, in England; Hillingdon Borough, Bromley Council, Southwark, City of Westminster, South Gloucestershire and Brighton & Hove City Council; and in Scotland, Edinburgh City, Midlothian, East Lothian, Scottish Borders and Glasgow City Councils.

Q: How do you overcome your competitors?

Simply by providing the best quality of service and the best long term returns in all of the markets we operate.

Q: How do you create value for your clients (how do you go above the call of duty)?

It starts with delivering on our promises of providing long term, low risk returns and a quality service. It continues through the development of our services and products, our understanding of the markets in which we operate and the relationships we build with our clients, suppliers and partners.

 

Q: What is your greatest achievement and what made it so special?

Moving to Scotland in 2005 and setting up the first Scottish office in Edinburgh, we managed to successfully procure and manage over 800 units within the first 12 months of the contract.

Q: What do you feel it takes to be successful in the industry?

·        Knowledge of your market

·        Ability to communicate effectively with all stakeholders

·        Transparency

·        Flexibility

Q: Are you offering any special promotions?

Working in partnership with a number of different local authorities there are a range of promotions to attract Landlords on to our leasing schemes. These range from cash incentives ranging from £25- £1000 paid in the first month of rent. Also we can enable access to local authority grants for property improvements.

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