Orange Sales and Lettings named Residential Agency of the year 2026

Orange Sales and Lettings named Residential Agency of the year 2026

Growing Billingham-based property firm achieves more awards success

A growing Billingham-based sales and lettings business has been named Residential Agency of the Year, at the National Property Awards, held in Birmingham.

David Lamb, owner of Orange Sales and Lettings, picked up the prestigious award on behalf of his whole team, during a ceremony acknowledging excellence amongst property industry professionals from across the UK, including financial service providers and property developers.

Orange Sales and Lettings was named in the final 15 after competing with hundreds of nominees from all over the country - and the agency – which is run by landlords for landlords - was eventually crowned the winner, after being judged by a panel of 12 professionals.

David said that what made the award even more special was that someone nominated Orange independently - and they had not had any part in putting themselves forward.

David said: “This is great recognition for the whole team at Orange Sales and Lettings, and I am immensely proud of the efforts they put in for our landlord clients and our tenants day in, day out.

“The panel looked at our growth, our customer reviews and the new building we have recently opened on Belasis Avenue in Billingham - and that all played a part in us winning the award.

“We’ve recently opened an office in Sunderland too and that is supporting us with our growth across the North East.”

David added there were bigger agencies than Orange up for the same award.

However, Orange still prevailed on the night.

“I was shocked to be honest,” said David.

“It was amazing and I was delighted – very proud.

“The staff are also very proud and happy with our new title.”

The latest award comes on the back of David and the Orange team being named UK Property Manager of the Year at the Blue Bricks Awards in Liverpool, at the Titanic Hotel, last year.

“I have a great team behind me at Orange and the awards are for them really – they are fantastic,” said David.

“They are the ones who are in the office every day and they have built the reputation that we have got.

“I started the business, and I lead the business, but ultimately, they are the ones that our customers are raving about.”

Throughout 2026, Orange has continued to grow through acquisitions, with David having his sights set firmly on Orange becoming the North East's go-to property management company.

Having recently purchased another two agencies, one in Hartlepool and one in Sunderland, he has taken on four more staff from one of those businesses, taking his current team of agents to 12.

In addition, he also contracts a number of tradespeople to carry out repairs and refurbishments to his high standard.

David, who is from Billingham, got into property through investing money earned from working in the steel industry and offshore.

He also went to work in a dairy’s laboratory for 18 months – but always knew that property was the area he wanted to work in.

He has previously told how his Dad had a painting and decorating business, and he used to go to building sites with him, which is how he became curious about building and renovating properties.

“I think it’s just in my blood and I don’t think I was ever going to do anything else,” he said.

Alongside the business, Mr Lamb also presents a property podcast, Back to Brick, and has been a guest speaker at a series of events across the UK and on other property podcasts all over the country.

The National Property Awards took place at The Eastside Rooms in Birmingham.

The awards were free to nominate, due to the organisers’ ethos to support the property sector by celebrating excellence without fees for taking part, which means they attract a significant amount of nominations from all over the UK.

 In 2026, the theme of the National Property Awards, which also recognise architects, was #RiseInProperty.

This was rooted in the reality of the current market, rising pressures, shifting policies, economic uncertainty and the “extraordinary resilience of an industry that continues to adapt, innovate, and deliver”.