North East property management company Stay With Us has completed its first acquisition, taking its portfolio to more than 200 properties.
The company has acquired the serviced accommodation portfolio of Horizon Stays and is now looking for further acquisitions as it expands across the region.
Founded in 2023, Stay With Us manages properties from North Yorkshire to Northumberland, with operations also beginning to extend into the Lake District. It employs around 15 people.
The company manages bookings, guests, maintenance and the day-to-day running of properties on behalf of owners.
Around half of its bookings are now made directly rather than through third-party platforms such as Airbnb, with business also coming through corporate travel agents, insurance and relocation companies, emergency housing providers, contractors and local authorities.
Chief executive and co-founder Ryan Cresswell said: “Completing our first acquisition is a major milestone for Stay With Us and takes us to more than 200 properties under management.
“We’ve grown significantly since launching and a big part of that has been building a model which isn’t reliant on one or two booking platforms.
“Around half of our bookings now come directly through us and we’ve built strong relationships across corporate travel, relocation, insurance, emergency accommodation and contractor stays.”
Stay With Us plans to grow through a combination of new management instructions and acquisitions and is seeking further portfolios in the North East.
Cresswell added: “This is our first acquisition, but we certainly don’t intend it to be our last. We’re actively looking to speak to owners and operators who may be considering selling a portfolio, whether that’s relatively small or much larger, particularly across the North East.”
Horizon Stays was established in 2021 and built a serviced accommodation portfolio across the region.
Its director Martin McManus said: “It was important to us that the portfolio moved to a business that could continue to look after both property owners and guests properly.
“We’re pleased to have completed the deal with them and feel Stay With Us is the right home for the portfolio.”
