We started Executive Living last year with just one property; we now have seven in total, all situated around the Birmingham catchment area.

These comprise of three, six bed-roomed houses, one four bed-roomed house and one, two bed-roomed apartment. We also own a further two, two bed-roomed apartments, that we let on a conventional basis. We anticipate adding further properties in the near future.

We believe Executive Living has been successful for two reasons.

The first is that the idea of executive lifestyle accommodation seems to have captured the imagination of professionals who want a different way of living.

The second is that because the company is ours, we care very much about the quality of service on offer. From the way a new tenant is introduced to others, to the fact that we are on the end of the phone 24 hours a day, seven days a week if needed.

It means as a result that our best form of advertising is word of mouth.

Chris Yates & Annette Yates