Newcastle’s JK Property Consultants LLP working with AHTO Group on homes venture

A property firm has been appointed to help drive an investment and asset management company’s new venture.

Newcastle-based JK Property Consultants LLP is working with AHTO Group.

Bosses say the partnership will forge relationships with councils across the North East and Cumbria, as well as developers and housing associations, to support the purchase of new build, affordable homes at the earliest stage in the planning and development process.

They say JK Property Consultants will help AHTO buy intermediate rent-to-buy (IRTB) and intermediate rent (IR) developments or units – typically with a value of £40 million to £50 million – to provide up to 400 homes close to freeport areas in the Tees Valley, Durham, Tyne & Wear, Northumberland and Carlisle.

Officials say the approach dovetails with the Government’s recently-unveiled ‘levelling-up’ white paper, with partner Citi UK acting as a structuring advisor and financing arranger to institutional capital.

The campaign also comes after AHTO announced plans in October to spend £1 billion over the next five years on new build residential units to provide IRTB and IR homes.

Kevan Carrick, JK Property Consultants’ owner, said: “We are delighted to have been appointed by AHTO to help create partnerships in the North East and Cumbria.

“Talks are well advanced with a number of parties, including local councils, housing associations, registered providers and developers.

“We look forward to generating further interest from parties not yet in discussion with us.”

AHTO, founded in 2020 and headquartered in London, is led by managing director Linda Robinson.

She added: “We are pleased to have appointed JK Property Consultants to work with us on our investment drive in the North East and Cumbria.

“We are looking at acquiring properties in areas north of Leeds close to freeports in order to help increase the number of genuinely affordable homes being delivered in the region.”