Harrogate’s commercial property sector is showing positive signs of bouncing back after lockdown according to one of the town’s biggest property firms, FSS.
The agent has reported an increase in new instructions and lets agreed in recent weeks with Regent House, a mixed use retail and office premises which it took over the management of nine months ago, now fully let for the first time in 15 years.
Adam Crawfurd-Porter of FSS said the firm’s commercial management portfolio had doubled over the past couple of years.
“We now look after local commercial properties generating a total of £2m worth of rent a year and we have seen a significant uplift in enquiries from landlords since lockdown started easing,” he said.
“Some of this is because landlords have not been getting the service they need elsewhere and some is because landlords who have previously managed their own tenancies are looking for more support to manage rents and agreements, which has become more onerous due to the impact of coronavirus.”
FSS has recently invested in sophisticated property management software to streamline its systems and processes and enhance service delivery, along with a new website with simplified search for tenants looking for premises.
Adam said the commercial department was currently busy negotiating with tenants, collecting rents, chasing arrears and setting up payment plans for tenants on behalf of property owners.
“Our job is to make life easier for landlords by taking away a lot of the hassle involved in managing tenancies and also to support those renting properties to help them through any short-term difficulties they might be facing because of Covid-19,” said Adam.
“We are also receiving enquiries from new businesses looking for premises and those wanting to move, which is extremely encouraging.
“All the signs are that Harrogate has a robust commercial sector and we hope that by working together we can come through the current period of uncertainty stronger.”