Port Elizabeth-based property company Just Letting was named best lettings agency in Africa at the International Property Awards in London last week.
The company, which is a division of the Just Property Group, was nominated for the prestigious global award after winning the South African category at the Africa and Saudi Arabia regional awards in November.
According to Just Property Group chief executive Paul Stevens, he was pleased to receive recognition from his peers in the industry but said it held more value for consumers from a credibility perspective.
Most importantly, it means that people can trust who they’re dealing with.
Stevens said the award also showed that African companies could do business and compete as equals at an international level.
He believed factors that set the group apart were the size of the company, the specialised focus of the letting and sales divisions, and unique products such as deposit and rental guarantees.
With 102 franchise offices in South Africa and another in Namibia, Stevens said Just Property was a young, dynamic and truly South African brand.
Just Letting was founded in 1999, with the official formation of the group following eight years later.
“We started our sales division in 2010 but letting was, and still is, the core of our business.
“According to the Tenant Profile Network, we currently hold more than 20 per cent of the residential letting market share,” he said.
Stevens said the group was also aggressively expanding its residential sales and commercial divisions.
“We’re about to enter an exciting new phase in the new year. We’re moving into a whole new segment of the market that we believe has been previously uncatered for in South Africa.” Meeting the needs of the South African consumer seems to be something the Just Property Group has been particularly good at.
In 2015, it received the PMR Africa Golden Arrow Award for excellent customer service in the Eastern Cape and was voted the Best of Pretoria Rekord Readers’ Choice in the estate agency category.