East Midlands property stalwart Ray Valenti will act as a consultant to Harris Lamb as the business forges ahead with its plans to cement its presence within the region further to establishing its Nottingham office last year.
The business expanded its reach into the county in September with the acquisition of the Rating arm of Humberts, and has gone on to extend its offering in recent months with the completion of a number of commercial and investment deals in Nottingham, Derbyshire and along the M1 corridor.
Ray brings extensive knowledge of both the region and the sector, which will be applied to drive forward with Harris Lamb’s growth plan.
With some ten years’ previous experience as a rent review Arbitrator and Independent Expect on the RICS Panel, Ray has a diverse skillset, with expertise including rent reviews, arbitrations, valuations, financial viability appraisals, land acquisitions and disposals, commercial land and property acquisitions. He also carries out consultancy work on commercial and residential property developments, offers advice on and negotiation of Section 106 Agreements, oversees dilapidations claims and negotiations and acts as an expert witness at Planning Appeals.
Neil Harris, Director at Harris Lamb, said that both he and Andrew Lamb had identified Ray as an ideal fit for the business having worked with him previously, and had approached him to play a crucial part in developing the business’ Nottingham office and securing further business across the East Midlands.
“Ray is an experienced, knowledgeable and professional property expert, well known within Nottinghamshire and the surrounding counties, and we are confident he will be a huge asset in working with, colleagues Victoria Trafford and James Ward to grow our service offering further throughout the region.
“His expertise in the commercial and residential land fields, teamed with an excellent reputation and a sold contact-base will enable us to offer a far more advanced level of consultancy for landowners, developers, occupiers and investors along the M1.
Neil added that the business had taken on additional space at its Regent Street office and was continuing its recruitment drive to strengthen its foothold within the region.
“The experience we’ve had within the East Midlands in the past nine months has reinforced our conviction that it is a vibrant place to do business and we’re looking to strengthen our team further in order to maximise on that,” .
Ray added: ‘I have really enjoyed the freedom and challenge of being a sole practitioner over the last four years and have been hugely appreciative of the loyalty and continuing flow of instructions from longstanding clients and business contacts. I am now looking forward to bolting myself on as consultant to Harris Lamb and am very confident indeed that we will both be able to add significant value to each other’s businesses.’
Harris Lamb was established in 1992 and now operates across four offices; Birmingham, Worcester, Stoke and Nottingham. The business currently employs 70 people.
