A YORK lettings and property management firm which went from a front room operation to looking after more than 1,000 properties is celebrating ten years in business.

Letters of Distinction, based in Holgate Road, now employs a team of 12, and has plans for future expansion in 2015.

Managing director Richard Littlefair said: "From humble beginnings in the front room of our family home, Letters of Distinction has thrived over the last ten years.

"We currently manage more than 1,000 properties in York and the surrounding area for hundreds of landlords, many of whom have been with us since we launched the business.

"Our business, and the returns we have been able to deliver to our clients, have continued to grow, despite some very turbulent economic times, and we are confident that residential property investment here in York will remain one of the very best options for anyone wanting to achieve a valuable and dependable financial return."

Letters of Distinction is currently reporting a 97.6 per cent occupancy rate across its property portfolio.

Director Scott Littlefair said: "The recent upturn in the housing market certainly hasn’t curbed demand from tenants looking to rent in and around York. The area has always been popular with tenants, and we’re experiencing plenty of demand for everything from small city centre apartment’s right through to large family homes both in the city and further afield in Selby, Wetherby and all the villages in between."