The new owner of a lettings agency is aiming to fuel growth in his new business after swapping petrol stations and car hire for property.

Sajid Patel purchased the Whitegates’ Mirfield branch in West Yorkshire from previous owner Paul Bottomley, with Whitegates’ also having managed some of his own buy to let properties.

Patel, who owned a BP franchised petrol station on the Wirral and was previously a Europcar car hire franchisee on the same site, says: ““One of the other reasons I purchased the Mirfield branch is because it’s an area I know well and is very close to where I live. Mirfield is a relatively small area but one with great potential, so we have ambitious growth plans, bringing in additional resources to grow the lettings portfolio and sales business too.”

After 20 years as a landlord himself, Patel is also making his latest venture a family affair, with son Junaid in place to run the Mirfield branch alongside him.

Penny Sanders, Head of Franchising at The Property Franchise Group – parent company of Whitegates – adds: “We are delighted to welcome on board Sajid and his son. We are keen to support him in continuing to grow and develop his business through our dedicated acquisitions programme, which assists all the offices across the network in terms of acquiring other businesses.”