Tenant Maintenance

JAMES EVANS Property Portfolio Manager

James Joined Grisdales in March of 2021 as Property Portfolio Manager. His role is split between leading the Property Management Team, as well as overseeing a portion of our Portfolio. James loves problem solving and working as part of a team and best enjoys being involved with the variety of day-to-day operations. With a background in the hospitality trade and experience running multiple hotel-restaurants, James understands the balance of urgency and accuracy, which comes in handy when co-ordinating refurbishments and repair work in our managed properties. This past-experience also brings with it a wealth of people management skills and a great handle on fine tuning processes and systems. Customer service is at the forefront in all that James does to ensure our clients get the best service they deserve from Grisdales. When James isn’t working you will find him either spending time with his wife Destiny, their daughter Paige, friends and family; Or, somewhere in the rough of a local golf course.

KAREN PRITT Compliance Officer

Karen works alongside the Property Management Team as our Compliance Officer. Joining us in 2021, she is responsible for all aspects of safety within our properties, including organising routine gas and electrical safety checks. Before joining Team Grisdales, Karen worked within Trading Standards, the Fire Service and Children's Services and is our go-to for the latest lettings legislation. Karen has three grown-up daughters and a little Yorkie called Trampas who is trained to do lots of tricks! When she isn't in the office, you'll likely find her gardening, possibly with a cocktail in hand. Karen also loves to travel to the tropics and especially enjoys scuba diving with the big fish.

MELANIE WYKES Property Portfolio Co-ordinator

Mel is part of the lettings team at Cockermouth, looking after the portfolio of properties and their maintenance, repairs and refurbishments.  Mel also carries out inspections and check-outs whilst ensuring health and safety compliance for our properties. Mel started her career as a graduate Hotel and Catering Manager at Marriott Hotels in London.  Working through various management roles in the field of hospitality led her more into Sales and Business Development.  She was  eventually able to escape the “Big Smoke” and moved, in 2005, to enjoy country life in Cumbria. Mel loves being in West Cumbria and enjoys everything this great outdoor playground offers both to her and her family, whether it’s up on the Fells or kayaking on one of the beautiful lakes.

REBECCA TODD Property Portfolio Co-ordinator

Beckie works as part of the Lettings team at Whitehaven and is involved with many parts of looking after our portfolio of properties, including inspections and check-outs. She joined us after redundancy following several years in the world of banking and says that property management just “caught her eye”. Beckie weaves her work life around being mum to her son and enjoys taking the family travelling.  Her recent experiences include Iceland and Paris.  If not able to travel to far flung corners of the world she’s equally happy having a family day out closer to home.

RUTH HUTCHINSON Property Portfolio Assistant

As a Property Portfolio Assistant, Ruth works as part of the team looking after our portfolio of properties, maintaining the properties to a high standard and keeping our customers happy. The safety of our tenants is paramount and Ruth is responsible for sustaining this, arranging the relevant safety checks required to meet industry standards. Ruth has a great deal of experience in customer facing roles across a diverse and varied range of businesses.  She has “enjoyed” the challenge of getting to know the intricacies of double glazing, plumbing and social housing. As a mother of two young energetic boys, Ruth works hard at getting the work/life balance just right to keep everyone happy. There is little time for her own hobbies but usually manages to make some time to keep on top of her social media page and creating personalised gifts.