Property Jobs Today - all the industry's key moves in recent days

Hello and welcome to PJT, our weekly round up of key moves within the industry.

Let us know what’s going on with your agency, supplier or property-related company and you can get a mention here too - just email press@estateagenttoday.co.uk and we’ll tell the industry.

Let’s start the week with good news - the reappearance of top residential analyst Fionnuala Earley, this time in her new role as head of market insight at MyHomeGroup, owner of SellMyHome and RentMyHome websites. 

Fionualla was formerly chief economist at Countrywide, and joins on a consultancy basis. 

Before her stint at Countrywide Fionnuala was senior economic advisor at The Royal Bank of Scotland and chief economist at the Nationwide. Fionnuala also serves as a non-executive director at Bath Building Society and is a highly respected and well known housing market commentator.

“I’m delighted to have joined the MyHomeGroup at this very interesting time in the housing market. I’m looking forward to representing them as a spokesperson and helping to provide insight to the group and its clients on housing market issues” she says.

Earlier this year Manoj Varsani was appointed as chief technology officer further to a multi-million pound investment into MyHomeGroup from Guinness Asset Management’s Enterprise Investment Scheme Fund.

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Last week’s acquisition of two north of England independent lettings services by Savills has prompted some staff moves.

The team of 15 at Case McNair in Manchester - one of the acquired agencies - will all join Savills, led by managing director John-Paul Case who will become head of northern metropolitan lettings. Co-directors Alastair McNair and Maria Case each join with over 10 years industry experience.

Savills Knutsford, the former Meller Braggins office in the towen, will be headed up by Charlie Kannreuther who has worked for the Savills residential business in Cheshire for six years. 

Charlie will be supported by Rebecca Postles and Tom Burke will head up the lettings department. Meller Braggins managing director, Nigel Lammas and two colleagues will move across to Savills with immediate effect.

Meller Braggins’ four other residential and lettings branches are unaffected by this acquisition.

Now let’s congratulate Val Holmes, who is the new chair of the Society of Licensed Conveyancers. 

She’s been an active SLC Board member since 2013 and has over 30 years’ experience in conveyancing working for large and small companies. Valerie founded Valerie Holmes Property Lawyer in 2007.

Now she says: “I look forward to working with the Society’s Board and its members to provide constructive responses to government consultations, and to working together with the CLC and other legal bodies to make the conveyancing process easier for conveyancers, which will ultimately also benefit the general public”.

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Finally, and unusually, a story about a firm on the look out for new talent rather than announcement definite appointments.

We’ve been contacted by Pattinson Auctions - which partners a number of agents - about the firm’s need for more space, and therefore its move to almost 10,000 square feet of office accommodation at Silverlink Business Park on Tyne & Wear. 

Justin Beckwith, Pattinson Auction Director says: “We are confident the new building will provide a modern and vibrant work space for our staff and are on the look out for talented individuals to join our growing teams. Moving to the new office will allow us to continue to grow and offer a fantastic white label auction service to our partner agents. 

“With Brexit there may be uncertainty in the property market and auction offers security to sellers with buyers paying non-refundable deposits and fixed time scales for exchange and completion. Training and conference rooms will allow us to fine-tune our process even more and make the service we offer smoother and more accessible to our partner agents.”

You can get hold of the company on 0191 232 4392.

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So that’s it for this week. We’re back next Monday, and until then…