The Victoria Park House Company manage a selective portfolio of elegant properties for short lets close to the 2012 London Olympics site in London.
Company Background
Directors, Candida and Tamar, are both property owners with second homes, and live in the fashionable part of East London, which is currently under the Olympic Games' spotlight. Realising there was a gap in the London market to cater equally for the Homeowner and Visitor, The Victoria Park House Company has created a boutique hotel-style experience for the visitor that also provides a concierge management system for the Homeowners' peace of mind.
Our Homeowners are all successful, mostly arts-based professionals, with busy and interesting lives. These lifestyles are very clearly reflected in the quality of the properties, from elegant London townhouses to stylish warehouse apartments. Our service offers discretion, local knowledge and practical management skills. We are also looking to grow into areas of tourism such as partnering with independent bespoke travel agents.
Who books your properties?
Who indeed? It is great fun every morning to see who has come whizzing through the airwaves to us from around the world! We have just found accommodation for the family of one of the world's leading Paralympic stars and are delighted to welcome a cross section of visitors, from individuals and families to corporate lets.
How do owners prepare for holiday lets?
We hand pick our properties based on selling a lifestyle as well as accommodation. Therefore, we ask Homeowners to present their property as they would when they are living there. The minimum Homeowners are required to do, is to pack away all personal items, such as clothing and bathroom essentials; the kitchen needs to be clear of clutter, with the fridge emptied and all perishable products removed. Homeowners are required to leave their houses clean and tidy... then we do the rest - providing flowers, wine and welcome packs to visitors. We also bring in bed linen and towels, etc.
Insurance is an FAQ from our Homeowners. We do point Homeowners in the direction of insurance companies who have created policies for short/one-off holiday lets. However, a major concern from Homeowners are gaps in policies which do not cover contents insurance, therefore we insist on professional independent inventories to provide some extra protection.
Walk to the Olympics!
What is the demand for accommodation in the area?
We noticed a sharp increase of activity the minute the clock turned to 2012. The psychology of the countdown to the Olympic Games is proving effective, however the uncertainty over ticketing and the Olympic Games booking system we find is causing some confusion and slowing the ability to confirm bookings quickly.
How you are promoting the accommodation?
Our main marketing is concentrated on personal contacts and word of mouth. However, we are in the middle of a steep learning curve on the effectiveness of social media ...follow us on Twitter!
What is the earning potential for owners?
The Olympic Games clearly add a premium to rental property. We are negotiating prices for Homeowners that reflect the value of the location we specialise in. Many of our properties are clustered around Victoria Park, which has the benefit of both great facilities on the doorstep and excellent transport links to the City and West End.
However, our biggest selling point is that most of our properties are a pleasant stroll away from the main Olympic Stadium, therefore these can attract the highest prices, as no hotel is closer. Broken down per person, our room rates equate to good quality hotel prices at normal times of the year (currently London hotels have more than doubled their normal room rates for the Olympic period). Owners are encouraged to maximise potential income by creating longer periods of availability for their properties.
You can find out more about The Victoria Park House Company on their website: http://thevictoriaparkhousecompany.com or contact them on tel. 0208 525 5570 or e-mail.
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