Redwing ticked all our boxes!
In November 2021, Redwing partnered with Warrington Housing Association (WHA) and Incrementum on a two-year contract to market, let and manage 161 properties at their Foxwood & Sycamore development. This new development provides a mix of sustainably designed, modern houses and apartments across two areas of Warrington, with all homes available for private rent.
We sat down with David Cummins, Chief Executive Officer at Warrington Housing Association, to find out more about the partnership and why they chose Redwing as their property agent.
What was ‘the ask’ of Redwing?
“Our growth ambition at WHA is to provide our own private rent sector (PRS) service in-house. So when we were approached by Warrington Council to let and manage 161 PRS homes, we knew it was an excellent opportunity. However, as a small, registered provider with little experience of PRS, we wanted the support of an experienced agent, to ensure the success of these new developments.
We asked Redwing to manage the PRS contract on our behalf in the interim and to share their knowledge, expertise and skill set, enabling our talented staff to grow and allowing us to provide a first-class service for the short term and beyond.”
Why did you choose to partner with Redwing?
Redwing ticked all our boxes! As a housing association ourselves, social value is key to our presence, and we knew we wanted to partner with a business who shared our vision of profit for purpose. As part of The Regenda Group, Redwing had the ethical edge, as all of their profits are reinvested into local good causes. Redwing are well-known experts in the PRS sector, with numerous successful schemes, including their own Plaza 1821 development and contracts with other well-known organisations. They provide end-to-end services, including marketing, lettings and property management. Redwing were able to step in quickly and were willing to share their knowledge and expertise to support us in our mission to provide our own PRS service.
What did you hope to achieve by partnering with Redwing?
The main goal was to ensure our flagship PRS development was a success. I’m delighted to say that all available properties are currently reserved off plan, and the properties to be released in the next phases have a waiting list of interested tenants.
We hoped that Redwing would help us achieve our growth ambition of providing an in-house PRS service within WHA. As the contract continues, it’s exciting to see our team learn and grow their knowledge of PRS, which would not be possible without the support of Redwing.
We were also excited to demonstrate a great example of a small housing association being supported by a larger partner. After all, we all do what we do for the same reason - to provide good quality homes for local people - so we thank Redwing for supporting us to offer this service in-house.
What was the result of the partnership?
In addition to the successful marketing and letting of homes, any profit made from this partnership will be reinvested into existing services, from providing good quality homes to helping those who need extra support.
WHA are also on track to provide a PRS service in-house and are currently growing as a provider of PRS within the area of Warrington, with specialist support from Redwing.
What would you say to anyone else considering partnering with a property agency such as Redwing for their next development/project?
If you are a registered provider looking to grow your business in niche areas such as PRS, it is completely different to social housing. Having the support of an expert such as Redwing makes the whole process easier and more successful for your customers, staff and business.
When considering an agent to partner with, we will always recommend Redwing. They know their stuff operationally, produce excellent work with quick turnarounds and most of all are just great people to work with.
Find out more about the Foxwood & Sycamore development here www.redwing.co.uk/foxwood-sycamore
If you’re a business looking for a trusted local agent to help with your investment, contact Redwing today or find out more here www.redwing.co.uk/businesses
Telephone – 0151 703 3703
Email – info@redwing.co.uk