Fast-growing Lomond has acquired the lettings book of Edward Mellor, one of the longest standing and most widely respected agents in the North West.  

Founded in 1983 in a single office in Denton, the business has grown to 140 employees across 12 offices and describes itself as “one of the most successful independent estate agency businesses within the Greater Manchester area.”

The deal will see Lomond acquire the firm’s letting arm which currently has some 900 properties under management: they will now fall under Lomond’s Julian Wadden and Thornley Groves brands. 

“Edward Mellor is a fantastic business that’s family owned, and run, and it’s these values that we operate with at our core on a daily basis. We’re a people business and we do right by those people, whether they are our customers, or one of the 140 staff we employ. We are confident that Lomond is the ideal partner to take our Lettings business to new heights and to continue to support our staff and customers” explains Peter Barlow, managing director of Edward Mellor.

He continues: “Whilst it’s never easy to hand over a part of our business, we are excited about the opportunities on the horizon for our Estate Agency, Auctioneering and Financial Services Divisions, which are the heart of our business. 

This move will enable us to channel our time, resources, and management expertise into driving the technological transformation that the property sector urgently needs.”

Lomond chief executive Ed Phillips adds: “Edward Mellor is an outstanding business and one that still operates with true family owned values at its core, which is rare to find in this day and age.  Make no mistake about it, by acquiring the lettings arm of the business, we’ve acquired a competitor within the Greater Manchester area and so this is a deal that strengthens our presence within the region considerably.” 

Earlier this year Lomond snapped up Oakwood Homes in Kent and Uni2Rent in Nottingham.

The acquisition of the Edward Mellors lettings division was brokered by Adam J Walker & Associates. 

Walker says: “Many owners of mixed sales and lettings businesses are deciding to sell off their lettings department because the profit they can achieve from reinvesting the proceeds in another division or another business are much greater than the profits they were achieving from their lettings division.”