Challenger telecoms company TenTel has acquired ownership of utility management firm Hallmark to provide an all-inclusive hub for the lettings industry.

This acquisition offers a one-stop shop for change of lease management, including change-over administration of tenants, broadband and phone services, and all utilities.

Investment of over £100,000 in new technology, such as Hallmark’s letting agent portal, enables fast check in/outs at no charge, offering commission to letting agents and expediting the process for tenants.

This acquisition has also led to additional staff hires to focus on customer experience with the office moving to Edinburgh.

Robert McKechnie, managing director of TenTel, said the acquisition was an exciting next step for the telecoms provider, increasing service capacity for letting agents nationwide.

He said: “The combined experience and services of TenTel and Hallmark will help letting agents save time and resources while earning additional revenue from our referral programme.

“We were impressed with Hallmark’s 12 years’ service in the industry and identified this merger as the way forward to provide an all-inclusive service.”

Hallmark offers services to assist letting agents manage tenant utilities, council tax and property services, and is currently used by over 1,200 agents in the UK.

TenTel is one of the few service providers that offers no-contract and short-term contract broadband and telephone services, a concept that has proven popular with the lettings market with over 1,000 new customers joining every month.

TenTel claims to offer a unique service giving residential tenants the opportunity to have phone, broadband and TV services ‘live the day they arrive’ at their new property.

TenTel’s nearest competitor is Spark Energy, which also targets the lettings market.