Countrywide has bought 15 lettings businesses in the last six months, with five acquisitions in just one week this month. A further eight deals are in the pipeline – and the UK’s largest chain made it clear it has an appetite for more deals all over the UK.
Altogether, Countrywide has bought 18 lettings businesses this year, chalking up 59 acquisitions since 2007.
It has also grown organically, opening 180 new lettings branches since 2010.
The latest deals include two key acquisitions in Scotland, further strengthening its presence there. In July, Countrywide acquired Portfolio lettings agency in Hamilton, and this month it bought Carol Whyte lettings agency in Dundee.
Countrywide Residential Lettings’ presence has also been strengthened in Dorset, Hampshire and Wiltshire following the purchase of WSB Group. This month, Countrywide acquired Avon Lettings in Amesbury, which will combine with WSB Group, strengthening the group’s presence in the local area.
Further acquisitions include the portfolios of Knights of Bath; Flats in Leeds; Interlet Property Management, managing over 160 rental properties in Yeovil; South West Estates in St Ives, Cornwall; Rufus Stephens in Chandlers Ford, Hampshire; Tingleys in Hove; Plaza Lettings in Liverpool; Hawkins in Rugby; and Property Sales and Rentals based in Newton Abbot, Devon.
Countrywide has also acquired the portfolios of Fells Gulliver in Lymington, Hampshire, and Stoberry Lettings in Wells, Somerset.
Separately, lettings chain Belvoir has also said it is looking for acquisitions, particularly from independent agents looking for an exit strategy. The firm has also announced three new launches in Aldershot, Kingston-upon-Thames and Southampton.
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