Orbit appoints new head of empty homes renovations
Coventry-based housing provider Orbit has appointed Jonathan Hazeldine to lead its vacant property refurbishment programme.
Hazeldine joins Orbit after almost 20 years with Travelodge, where he most recently worked as operations manager for the hotel chain’s national refurbishment programme.
He will lead the development of a new standard for renovating empty properties and coordinate refurbishment work across Orbit’s portfolio of around 47,000 homes.
The newly created role will focus on preparing empty properties for new tenants.
“In hospitality, our aim was always to make customers feel like they were the very first people to stay in their room. I want to bring that same mindset to our empty homes, raising lettable standards and refining our specifications so that every new customer walks into a home that feels fresh, high-quality, and ready for them to make their own,” he said.
“I was particularly drawn to Orbit’s genuine commitment to improving customer experience and the opportunity this role offers to make a real and lasting difference to people’s lives.”
Orbit operates across the Midlands, East and South East, managing around 46,000 affordable homes and more than 100,000 customers.
Jacqui Campbell, Director of Home Safety and Improvements at Orbit, added: “Providing customers with safe homes that they can be proud of, is fundamental to what we do. This new role gives us a clear focus on such an important area.
“Jonathan brings a depth of refurbishment experience from outside the sector, alongside an engaging, people-focused approach, innovation and a strong emphasis on value for money across the supply chain—and he is already making a positive difference.”
