Birmingham Property Company Goes Against The Grain Reaping Rewards Through Service Delivery

21/10/2005

Niche developer Leasemethod Management Ltd (LMM) has established a dominant position in Birmingham's developing serviced apartments market. Find out more about the property company that goes against the grain.

With an ever increasing number of apartment owners in central Birmingham competing for tenants on a medium to long-term basis, niche developer Leasemethod Management Ltd (LMM) has established a dominant position in the citys developing serviced apartments market.

Revolutionising Birmingham's business accommodation, their comprehensive serviced apartment portfolio is attracting record numbers of hotel users and business travellers who are enjoying the flexibility and privacy of their own space in the city. Available for a night or more, this intensely managed flexible alternative to hotels and the traditional six-month Assured Shorthold Tenancy provides a stylish, cost effective solution for both business and leisure.

The buildings benefit from strategic locations; 'Burne Jones House' in Birmingham's vibrant financial quarter, 'Harborne West' situated 2 miles from the city centre in the nearby upmarket suburb of Harborne and 'Shaftesbury House', which is adjacent to New Street Station and situated directly between the city centre's thriving retail and theatre districts. All are amongst an array of quality bars and restaurants, parking is available at most of the developments, and they all benefit from excellent transport links on the doorstep.

Each apartment is individually designed to maximise the available space - light, airy, bright and clean, providing every home comfort with stylish, uncluttered lines, neutral colour ways and all the services and amenities you would expect from a quality hotel suite. Fully equipped, self catering facilities (including broadband internet and telephone connections); just unpack, relax and enjoy the comfort and convenience of the fashionable surroundings. The customer focused team ensure you receive a clean, well maintained space, fresh linen and towels. A selection of services are available to make your stay more comfortable, including welcome packs of groceries and essentials, ironing and dry cleaning.

If all this sounds expensive think again, as you can enjoy the comforts of a hotel suite at prices comparable with a standard hotel room! At 60 to 105 a night, guests get the use of a spacious one bedroom, two bedroom or studio apartment, offering a comfortable home away from home.

LMM has proved that investment in service delivery makes business sense. Giles Horwitch-Smith, CEO of LMM commented; "Two years ago, if you asked most people what a serviced apartment was, I expect they would struggle to answer, these days we have an increasing number of regular guests. Our properties appeal to business visitors, regular travellers, and those visiting the area alike who find a typical hotel room too restrictive and prefer to have the space and comfort that would otherwise only be available in an expensive suite. Whilst serviced apartments are commonplace around the world we've carved a good position in the Birmingham market; by listening and responding to our clients we are opening up developments around the country in the New Year."

So who are LMM?

LMM was established in Birmingham in the 1980's and has grown from managing individual stand alone buildings, to the substantial portfolio of purpose built mixed-use developments in central and south-west Birmingham. The underlying strategy has always been customer driven.

LMM has established a good reputation and a wealth of experience in both residential and commercial property, and as a result now owns and manages a variety of mixed-use developments incorporating a commercial property portfolio of offices, retail and bar/restaurant units.

In line with its continued success, LMM is keen to acquire more sites and expects to significantly expand the number of serviced apartments it owns and manages within the next two to three years. They are particularly interested in developing relationships with investors that have blocks of apartments in major cities that might suit being run as service apartments. With LMM's expertise and operational efficiency it should prove to be an exciting opportunity for any investor wanting to see greater returns in a fading residential investment property market.

The solid foundations, quality service and accommodation on which LMM has been built is clearly visible, and can only be of benefit to maintaining and expanding the extensive business growth being experienced. As Mr Horwitch-Smith explains; "Service excellence is core to our business; the CIOB award for 'built in quality' is testament to the quality of our developments, combined with a growing number of prestigious multi-national clients who we would not attract and retain if this were not the case. [...] We've built up a focused, friendly team of professionals to look after a diverse market. In addition to business professionals, we cater for sports personalities, pantomime and theatre stars over the Christmas period, whilst July and August is a popular time for television production companies on location. We also have guests who are moving house or relocating and need somewhere to stay for several weeks, as well as overseas travellers who want to stay in the UK on vacation for a few months, but don't want to be tied down by a tenancy agreement. We've even recruited multi-lingual staff to ensure we can fully cater for these markets."

LMM are clearly well organised and focused in all the essential areas required in today's competitive business environment. With customer service and satisfaction being high on its priority list towards both its clients and suppliers, they are always investigating and developing opportunities that come their way. They are keen to respond to demand by expanding and exploring opportunities in key business centres such as London, Leeds and Reading amongst others.

Interested? Want to know more? Then call 0845 402 5000 and speak with one of LMM's dedicated account managers, or log on to www.lmm.co.uk

LMM - great people, great properties.