Featured Agent: Chapmans Property Management

This week we’re shining a spotlight on Chapmans Property Lettings and Management. We caught up with the founder of the company Laura Chapman to find out more about how she got started in the property business.

Q1. Tell us a little about yourself, your business, and what kind of properties you handle

My name is Laura Chapman and we are now entering our seventh year of business.  We’re based in Edinburgh and like to consider ourselves a small yet mighty property lettings and management agency.  Our team of friendly and cheerful letting experts apply a common-sense approach to our specialist services, which we tailor to suit our landlords.  We feel that in a sector that is becoming increasingly regulated we are a steadfast and accredited service provider. We offer our landlords peace of mind that their property is in good hands and their tenants well looked after.

Q2. What made you get into the property business?

I had been a landlord since 2002 and managed my husband’s property. I saw the level of compliance increase exponentially over this period. I also enjoyed helping my husband on building projects. It was during the financial crash that I realised my passion for people and property exceeded my desire to stay in commercial banking and thus started up Chapmans!

Q3. What is your favourite property you’ve had?

My favourite property we have managed has to be the one that started it all!  It belonged to a lovely lady who was moving into sheltered housing. She was a lovely client and we throughly enjoyed working with her and her children. It was lovely seeing new families move in to a home that she had had such happy memories in.

Q4. What advice would you give to someone looking for a rental property?

This is a very personal search as it all depends on your criteria for capital versus rental yield and how long you would plan to hold the property.  My key advice would be not to enter into this for the short term – it is a long term investment! Take professional advice and consider the option of buying through a limited company. Also, make sure you work with an accredited letting agent as well as one that meets the new standards demanded by the new Scottish Government Code of Conduct that comes into force in January 2018.

Q5. What did you do before you got into this business?

My career began in 1998 working with a Top 5 accountancy firm within their insolvency and administration team in London and was subsequently sponsored through university. Following a languages degree studying and working in Sweden and Germany, I worked in banking for almost a decade, acquiring my Chartered Banking qualifications whilst working with commercial businesses in a relationship management and new business development capacity.

Q6. What would be a good night out in your area?

We have only just moved into the area so not sure about the night life, but we are really looking forward to having our bacon rolls before the rugby at Murrayfield in due course!

You can keep up with Chapmans on Facebook and Twitter and you can click here to view their properties on Lettingweb.