Online rental matching service strengthens its offering with Aspect Maintenance link up.

Upad (www.upad.co.uk), the recently-launched online service that matches renters with landlords, has partnered with Aspect Maintenance(www.aspect-maintenance.co.uk), a leading property maintenance and refurbishment company, to provide landlords with a maintenance solution. This is a first for the online private rental sector.

With the aim of reinventing renting, upad manages the landlord and tenant relationship during the course of the tenancy. Through its partnership with Aspect Maintenance, upad's registered landlords will have 24/7 access to the property maintenance company, 365 days per year.

Specialising in all areas of maintenance from the drains to the roof, and everything in between – Aspect Maintenance provides reactive emergency maintenance, as well as pre-planned estimated work. Services offered to landlords include: gas safety checks, boiler servicing, appliance testing, emergency repairs, refurbishments and installations. In addition, landlords listed with upad will be provided a 10% discount on all work carried out by Aspect Maintenance.

James Davis, founder and CEO of upad, commented: “We are pleased to have linked up with Aspect Maintenance – a professional and forward-thinking company. Our aim is to champion a transformation in the way that the Private Rental Sector (PRS) operates, and we can only do this by partnering with companies that have the same ethos. This deal is the first of many, as upad embarks on removing the 'hassle factor' for both landlords and tenants.

“In today's market, over two thirds of landlords manage their portfolios as a sideline to having a full-time job (1). Therefore, landlords need a quick and easy solution for maintenance and repairs during the course of a property tenancy.”

William Davies, managing director at Aspect Maintenance, added: “It is encouraging to see a company operating within the PRS space, which is trying to reshape the way the sector is run. And, for that reason, we have decided to support upad in its endeavours.

“As landlords find it increasingly difficult to find the time to manage their properties, there is a need to pass the activity on to a reliable property maintenance company. We work for vast numbers of commercial and private landlords, and will offer the same high levels of support through upad.”

upad has over 82,000 rental properties available in London, and will continue to add to this portfolio in order to offer the largest choice of homes to rent in the capital. The service will be rolled out across other major UK cities in the next few months.

-ends-

(1) CML, Profile & Intentions of Buy-to-Let Investors Report

Notes to editors

About upad:

upad (www.upad.co.uk) is a new online service that connects renters to landlords to help them find their ideal property quickly and easily. Launched in October 2008 under the banner 'reinventing renting', the company's innovative approach is aimed at filling a gap in the property rental market.

upad's website deploys bespoke state-of-the-art technology to overcome issues identified by renters such as out-of-date information and poor online experiences. In particular upad enables online searches that are interactive and intuitive to produce relevant properties. For example searches for parking and broadband connectivity can be undertaken.

With over 60,000 rental properties available in London, upad will continue to add to this portfolio in order to offer the largest choice of homes to rent in the capital. The service will be rolled out across other major UK cities in the next few months.

Free to renters, upad costs landlords £59 per listing (with an initial half-price introductory offer for properties registered before 31st December 2008).

About Aspect Maintenance:

Aspect Maintenance is a leading property maintenance and refurbishment company operating across the domestic and commercial sectors.

Specialising in all areas of maintenance, from the drains to the roof and anything in between, Aspect Maintenance sets new, modern and highly professional standards. The company provides both reactive emergency breakdown maintenance and planned and estimated works.

Aspect Maintenance prides itself on the fact that its engineers turn up on time for their scheduled two-hour appointment window. The company does not charge hidden costs, such as parking, congestion charge or travel time, and jobs are completed as professionally and promptly as possible.

Founded in 2004, Aspect Maintenance has grown at over 100% year-on-year. The company is based in South West London, and operates primarily across the city and all areas inside the M25. Today, more than 100 staff are employed by the company, and there are plans to expand nationally.

For further information and interviews, please contact: Katrina Suppiah/Kate Alexander, Publicité Tel: + 44 (0)20 8543 6582/+44 (0)20 8543 8481/+44 (0)7809 028711 Email: k.suppiah@publicite.co.uk/k.alexander@publicite.co.uk