Edinburgh-based property firm Rettie & Co signs contract hiring new head of lettings arm

Edinburgh-headquartered full-service property business Rettie & Co. has hired a veteran of the sector, helping in its bid to “significantly” increase its lettings activity over the next few years.

The firm, which says it currently manages about 2,200 rental properties altogether, has appointed Rob Trotter as director of new business for lettings, joining from DJ Alexander where he spent two decades, most recently as director of new business (Scotland). He has also run a food service and retail business.

In his new role, he will work closely with commercial director Neil Cunningham, who joined Rettie & Co. a year ago, bringing experience from Foxtons and Knight Frank, where he oversaw the financial performance of the lettings business in South-west London and the surrounding rural area. The new hire is also supported by Karen Turner, director of lettings, and by the firm’s lettings team across Scotland, along with Rettie’s research division, which it says is the largest in the Scottish private sector, and is led by Dr John Boyle.

Mr Trotter said: “There is massive potential for the firm to grow the lettings side of the business… By delivering a service centred around a team of dedicated, single-point-of-contact property managers, we want to be the best in our class, which doesn’t always mean being the biggest. We’re seeing strong demand from portfolio landlords who are demanding a more data-driven and pro-active approach.”

Rob Trotter, third from the right, with some of Rettie & Co's lettings and commercial team, including Neil Cunningham and Karen Turner who are both to his immediate side. Picture: Stewart Attwood.

Mr Cunningham said: “Lettings is a fast-growing division for us, and Rob adds the kind of high-level experience that will enable us to grow even more quickly, whilst maintaining our personal service.”

Rettie & Co., which has 180 staff across 11 offices – spanning Scotland in Glasgow, St Andrews, and Melrose, and south of the Border in Berwick, Newcastle, and London, is set to publish its Summer 2023 Market Briefing on the Scottish lettings market this month, seeing that demand is continuing to outstrip supply, particularly in the main cities, rent still at historic highs, the average time to let at historic lows, against the backdrop of new Scottish Government legislation on the sector.

Simon Rettie, the firm’s MD, said: “I founded Rettie & Co. just over 30 years ago, and now I look forward to the next 30 years… lettings will continue to be at the heart of our strategy for growth.”