Welcome to Richmondshire

Our discovery of and subsequent partnership with PTK was somewhat serendipitous. Although Richard had officially retired, I was searching for a new challenge, one that used my professional skills of yesteryear in the copywriting and communications industry with my current job of running our own holiday cottage in Teesdale, County Durham.

A PTK flyer with their unique franchisee proposition dropped through the letterbox one day and with it, the opportunity I had been looking for; the chance to use my experience in the holiday letting industry and expand my property portfolio with the backing of a young, dynamic company and its ground-breaking business model.

Luckily for me, Richard also saw the potential and it didn’t take much to tempt Mandy on board too. Together we have a nice combination of skills and experience to provide the best possible service for property owners of our territory. Richard has worked in the mining industry as a mining engineer for 45 years and likes nothing more than a juicy project to get stuck into, and Mandy’s talent, know-how and experience lie in organisation and administration – key competencies for the successful and efficient delivery of the PTK model.

From the outset, we were impressed with PTK’s technology, software and systems which effectively automate 70% of the routine management of a short-let operation and, consequently allow franchise owners to focus on providing a bespoke service to each and every property owner.

But what really appealed to us was the PTK ethos – the idea that all stakeholders must benefit from the relationship: property owners first and foremost, but also service providers, suppliers, franchisees, PTK itself and the local economy. Not forgetting the guests who are giving up their precious time and money to stay in a PTK-managed property. This duty of care aligns nicely and naturally with our own business philosophy.

We have lived in the Richmondshire area for over 20 years now and know how popular is with local and international holiday-makers. Unsurprising really, with its amazing landscapes and unspoiled countryside, a rich history and cultural heritage, and a host of picture-postcard towns and villages served by an interesting mix of independent shops and local eateries.

Just over the River Tees and perhaps less well-known as a holiday destination, County Durham is a small, compact county that packs well above its weight in terms of holiday attractions and experiences. The Durham Dales are part of the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and a UNESCO Global Geopark so are a haven for lovers of the great outdoors. But the area also boasts charming towns and villages, medieval castles, award-winning museums, and an amazing cultural legacy to explore and enjoy.

Both areas have benefitted massively from the popularity of staycations over the last couple of years and, while this may have plateaued, we believe that they will continue to be on most local holidaymakers’ menus. After all, we’ve grown to like the home-from-home comforts associated with self-catering short-lets, are less inclined to endure the inconvenience of international travel, and are more aware and attuned to ecological-related issues.

Pass the Keys can help this trend grow and flourish with its comprehensive end-to-end service and dynamic pricing model; we cover all the bases so the property owner doesn’t have to, so removing all the stresses and strains of short-term letting while maximising the benefits in terms of rental income.

It has all the makings of a beautiful partnership: we bring PTK’s complete wraparound service to property owners of Richmondshire, Darlington and the Durham Dales while giving a small, stunning piece of the North-East to the PTK network for guests to discover, visit and savour.

The only thing landlords should consider is how to make their property as attractive and appealing as possible to potential guests. Our top tip here is to look at it from the guest’s point of view; if you put a lot of thought and effort into creating a lovely living space that would suit you, the chances are that your guests will like and appreciate it too. Above all, though, it must be sparkling clean and well-maintained.