LOCAL property lettings specialist, Belvoir, is celebrating after striking gold in the 2013 Lettings Agency of the Year awards.

The company, which has an office on Lower Bridge Street in Chester, was named Best Lettings Agency Franchise 2013 at a ceremony staged at the Lancaster London Hotel.

Widely regarded as the most prestigious awards scheme of its kind in the property industry, this annual event is run in association with the Sunday Times and The Times, and sponsored by Zoopla.

This latest Gold Award accolade comes hot on the heels of Belvoir also being named Best Large Lettings Chain at the Estate and Letting Agent Awards (ESTA’s) 2013. The ESTA’s are awarded based on feedback from Belvoir customers across its national UK network of 150 offices.

Gordon Rogers, who owns Belvoir Chester, said: “My team and I are thrilled to be celebrating this latest success. It means a lot when our professionalism and standards of service are recognised by industry experts and our peers, in this way.

“It’s a testament to the way in which we look after our landlord and tenant clients in the Chester area and I must thank each and every member of our staff for all their hard work and commitment.”

Belvoir’s chief executive officer, Dorian Gonsalves, received the trophy from Karren Brady, business entrepreneur and Lord Sugar’s aide on The Apprentice TV programme.

Dorian said: “I am extremely proud of Belvoir’s achievements in winning this highly prized award. It is the one that everyone in the franchised lettings industry strives for – and winning it speaks volumes about the quality of our brand, our service and our people.

“Another recent success in the ESTA’s, just a couple of weeks ago, was also a very significant milestone for the company, since our success as Best Large Lettings Chain was based purely on feedback from many hundreds of online customer reviews of our specialist service provision.

“For so many people to have taken the time to comment so positively on our approach to client service is extremely satisfying and rewarding and it is great recognition of the hard work put in by all of our offices.”

Gordon Rogers added: “Winning awards of this calibre really sets us apart from the competition and goes a long way towards cementing our reputation as the local – and national – lettings agency of choice.”