Our Committee

Chairman - Andrew Simpson

Andy has been a landlord for 14 years and is Managing Director of Landlord Broadband based at York Science Park. As Chairman of what he believes to be one of the best local landlord associations in the UK, he is passionate about York RLA encouraging and promoting good practice in York’s private rented sector. He is keen to continue to develop this area, along with enhancing York RLA’s association with other key bodies in the community, and further improving the support provided to members.

Treasurer - Barbara Deamer

Born in Newcastle upon Tyne, moved to York as a child. Educated at St. Margaret's School in York and then Pitman's Commercial College Leeds doing typing and shorthand.  Most of my working life has been in clerical work. Working for British Rail, then with the Council in the Rates Dept., Council Tax Dept and latterly in the Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Department.  I have been a landlord since 1998 and also I did the book-keeping for my husband's business. I have been retired for the last 11 years.

Membership Secretary - Roger Dobson

As well as being a landlord himself, Roger is an experienced property manager and has been managing rented properties in York since 2003. Through his extensive experience of managing both student and professional lets he has built up a good knowledge of the York lettings market and understands the challenges faced by landlords today. He is keen to ensure that all landlords are providing good quality housing and excellent levels of service to tenants in York. He believes the York RLA is a key organisation in helping landlords keep up to date with relevant local and national issues and has served on the York RLA Committee since 2007.

General Commitee Members

Dr. Graham Dykes
Graham is an experienced landlord of over 16 years, managing and developing commercial, HMO and residential property in the City of York. He has been a member of York RLA for over 11 years and has been a committee member for the last 6 years. He has served on the University of York’s governing Council and has been awarded several scholarships (ICI, Society of Chemical Industry) and prizes, for academic excellence (Whinfield, Ede), communication (BP, RSC) and skills to occupy leading positions in public life (City of London’s Great Livery Company of Salters). He is educated in both Law and Chemistry, having achieved a ‘starred’ first class honours (with distinction) and doctor of philosophy. He has published many times in leading international journals and has volunteered for local community outreach in both science and law. In the current political climate, Graham is passionate about landlords being portrayed in a fair and positive light and believes in raising standards primarily through bottom-up voluntary self-regulation rather than top-down controls.

Johanne Spittle
Johanne is a solicitor and Director at Ware & Kay solicitors based in York. She graduated from the University of Sheffield in 1983 and qualified as a solicitor in 1986. Johanne specialises in the resolution of property related disputes and has a particular interest in landlord and tenant law acting for landlords of residential, agricultural and commercial property. She is a member of the Property Litigation Association and is a Fellow of the Agricultural Lawyers Association.

Dr. Frantz Gregory
Frantz is a solicitor and Partner at Frantz Gregory & Co law firm based in Hull. He graduated from the University of Manchester in 2003 obtaining a PhD. He qualified as a lawyer in 2014. Frantz specialises in civil, family, employment and immigration related litigation and disputes. He was called to the English Bar by The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple in 2014. Frantz has held positions in law and property management including as a committee member of the defunct University of York Code of Practice for student accommodation. He is also an experienced landlord.

Nigel Deamer
Nigel was born, raised and educated in York. He started his working career at the age of 16 and served his apprenticeship as a decorator with D.W. Cook who was based in Heslington. He ran his own business for 42 years, the first 14 in a partnership and latterly as a sole trader when he retired in 2015. He is a member of the Painting and Decorating Association, currently serving on both Regional and National Councils, and has done for the last 15 years. He has been a landlord for the last 18 years and joined the York RLA a number of years ago which has given him a lot of valuable information due to the ever changing legislation. He strongly believes that being a member of Associations it is essential members show interest in the running of the affairs and not leave it entirely to others.

Rob Wood
Bio to follow