The Last-Minute Request
The Brief:
We received an urgent request from a client’s HR Manager – the lease on a Senior International Executive’s property in Hampshire was ending in 10 days time. He was going home to South Africa for a vacation with his family then returning to the UK to start a new project in Canary Wharf. His family would be staying in South Africa. Could we help?
Our first step:
We were on the case immediately. One of our Client Account Managers contacted a preferred removal company to check availability. The removal company visited the next day and discussed with the employee what furniture was to be shipped to South Africa for the family, and what was to go into UK storage for his new property in Canary Wharf. With this agreed they provided us with a quote later that same day, which was approved by the HR Manager, and packing was agreed for later that week.
The employee completed our Needs Assessment online for his new property and was contacted by one of our Relocation Consultants to discuss options and budgets. Two days later the Relocation Consultant met with the employee at Canary Wharf. They viewed a number of suitable apartments that the consultant had sourced within the budget. With a firm favourite chosen he left for the airport and the Relocation Consultant put in an offer with the letting agent.
The inventory check out at the former property had not been arranged, and with the HR Manager anxious for the return of the substantial deposit held by the landlord, we arranged with the letting agent for one of our Departures Co-ordinators to attend on their behalf. We compared the check out report on that day to the report prepared at the start of the tenancy, to ensure that any claims were limited to damages caused during the tenancy and were not in place at start of tenancy. Water, gas and electricity meter readings were also taken and the utility companies advised of the final readings.
Behind the Scenes:
With the employee enjoying his vacation in South Africa, we co-ordinated the agreed rental price with the HR Manager and ensured that a Letter of Guarantee was negotiated into the contract, negating the need for a large deposit. Two days before he returned to the UK we attended the inventory check in on behalf of the company, meter readings were taken, and we oversaw the delivery of the furniture from storage. With the majority of the deposit returned on the original property and a smart new property waiting for the employee after his holiday, both the HR Department and the employee were happy.