Estate agents to acquire in the UK

Name: Estate agents to acquire in the UK
Creator: Firmbase
License: https://firmbase.co/terms

Updated 9 November 2026

Looking to acquire an estate agent in the UK? Firmbase ranks 1,955 estate agents using public company information to help buyers prioritise firms for research and potential outreach. The Approach Score ranks firms using public signals including director age and tenure, ownership, business scale, financial strength and recent changes. These firms are not listed for sale, and the ranking does not indicate that an owner is considering a sale.

The median firm has 9 staff and has been in business for 16 years; 19 firms are owned by groups that have acquired several firms in this sector.

Estate agency fees depend on the instruction agreed with the property owner, including the rights granted to the agent and payment terms. An acquisition review should distinguish fees for property transactions from referral payments for introducing clients to other services, such as conveyancing or mortgages. The instructions behind these fees and the associated referral arrangements deserve separate examination by anyone buying an estate agency.

Connect neighbouring branches without losing local insight

An estate agency buyer should learn how each branch wins new business in its local market. Firmbase covers 1,955 UK limited-company and LLP estate agency businesses with five or more staff. The ranking helps you compare firms across local property markets while keeping each branch and its customer relationships in view. This gives you a practical way to choose where your local management experience would be useful.

Ownership records give you a way to find independent operators without making assumptions about their owners. Among firms in this list, 27% have one person holding 75% or more. The median director age among these estate agency firms is 50. A director's age cannot show whether an estate agency owner would welcome a call. Use the public signals to choose where direct research is worthwhile.

Plot the locations where your existing team can support a new branch without losing its local knowledge. Ask how branch managers keep instructions and referral relationships active when personnel change. Compare the resilience of each office against the work carried by its busiest negotiators. Review the depth of local management before estimating the support a new branch would need.

Firmbase is a sourcing tool for estate agency research, not a list of businesses for sale. Before any acquisition discussion becomes serious, confirm redress membership for residential estate agency and the applicable money laundering supervision. Review client instructions, commission payment terms, referral arrangements and the treatment of active property listings. A company record cannot show whether property vendors would stay with the agency after a change of ownership.

1,955

Firms

24%

Every director 55+

27%

Held 75%+ by one person

Median years in business

Median headcount

£250k to £500k

Median turnover band

includes our estimates

19 firms owned by 3 groups that have bought several firms in this sector. That is 1% of this list. Groups that own firms on this list include Dwelly and Lomond. To have a group's name removed, email dave@firmbase.co.

Key facts

Residential estate agents in the UK must join an approved redress scheme. GOV.UK

HM Revenue & Customs says an estate agency business must register for money laundering supervision before it trades. HM Revenue & Customs

National Trading Standards offers a Property Agent Checker for redress-scheme status. National Trading Standards

The first 25 firms, in Approach Score order

Rank	Firm	Approach Score	The facts behind the score
1	Homes Independent Co Antrim, N. Ireland	Approach Score 90/100	1 director aged 65-69, 1 aged 55-59 · longest in post since 2001 2 individuals hold 50%+ · independent More about this firm 13 staff · turnover est. £311k Net assets £102k (Mar 2025) Director resigned Jan 2025 Company no. NI040499 · Companies House homesindependent.co.uk
2	Osborne Estates Tonypandy	Approach Score 89/100	In post since 2011 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 5 staff · turnover est. £180k Net assets £38k (May 2025) Company no. 07645897 · Companies House osborneestates.co.uk
3	Tate Residential	Approach Score 89/100	In post since 2000 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 9 staff · turnover est. £578k Net assets £376k (Mar 2025) Director resigned Oct 2025 Company no. 03952557 · Companies House tateresidential.co.uk
4	Cooke & Co Weston-Super-Mare, North Somerset	Approach Score 89/100	Longest in post since 2008 2 individuals hold 75%+ · independent More about this firm 10 staff · turnover est. £239k Net assets £94k (Nov 2025) Company no. 06706625 · Companies House cooke-and.co.uk
5	Pennell & Partners Peterborough, Cambridgeshire	Approach Score 87/100	In post since 2004 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 6 staff · turnover est. £185k Net assets £89k (Dec 2025) Company no. 05314315 · Companies House pennellandpartners.co.uk
6	CPS Property Armagh	Approach Score 87/100	Director aged 60-64 · in post since 2005 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 16 staff · turnover est. £635k Net assets £123k (Jul 2024) Company no. NI055821 · Companies House cps-property.com
7	In House Estateagents Wallingford	Approach Score 86/100	Director aged 60-64 · in post since 2007 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 9 staff · turnover est. £445k Net assets £434k (Mar 2026) Company no. 06356199 · Companies House inhouseestateagents.co.uk/properties-to-let
8	David Blount Lettings & Commercial Nottingham, Notts	Approach Score 86/100	Longest in post since 2001 2 individuals hold 75%+ · independent More about this firm 9 staff · turnover est. £151k Net assets £109k (Mar 2026) Company no. 04164398 · Companies House davidblount.co.uk
9	Livermores Dartford	Approach Score 86/100	Longest in post since 2006 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 19 staff · turnover est. £454k Net assets £6k (Apr 2026) Company no. 05837423 · Companies House livermores.co.uk
10	Ariston Property A director sits on 4 or more companies	Approach Score 86/100	Director aged 65-69 · in post since 2001 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 11 staff · turnover est. £863k Net assets £572k (Jun 2025) Company no. 04323928 · Companies House aristonproperty.co.uk
11	West – The Property Consultancy Bicester, Oxfordshire	Approach Score 86/100	Longest in post since 2003 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 6 staff · turnover est. £216k Net assets £12k (Nov 2025) Company no. 04695676 · Companies House west-tpc.co.uk/privacy-policy-and-notice
12	Northwood Leicester	Approach Score 85/100	Director aged 70 or over · in post since 2001 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 6 staff · turnover est. £143k Net assets £2k (Jun 2025) Director resigned Sep 2025 Company no. 04334498 · Companies House northwooduk.com
13	GOC Estate Agents Belfast A director sits on 4 or more companies	Approach Score 85/100	1 director aged 70 or over, 1 aged 50-54 · longest in post since 2011 2 individuals hold 75%+ · independent More about this firm 12 staff · turnover est. £684k Net assets £202k (Feb 2025) Company no. NI609559 · Companies House gocestateagents.com
14	Thomas Merrifield Oxford, Oxfordshire A director sits on 4 or more companies	Approach Score 85/100	Longest in post since 2000 2 individuals hold 50%+ · independent More about this firm 11 staff · turnover est. £270k Net assets £27k (Dec 2025) Director resigned Jan 2026 Company no. 03930451 · Companies House thomasmerrifield.co.uk
15	VG Estates Elland, West Yorkshire	Approach Score 85/100	Director aged 65-69 · in post since 2007 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 7 staff · turnover est. £250k Net assets £161k (Nov 2025) Company no. 06054984 · Companies House vgestates.co.uk
16	Crook and Blight Newport, Gwent	Approach Score 85/100	In post since 2008 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 9 staff · turnover est. £235k Net assets £132k (Mar 2025) Company no. 06495411 · Companies House crookandblight.com
17	Hayward Tod Carlisle, Cumbria	Approach Score 85/100	Longest in post since 2003 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 9 staff · turnover est. £361k Net assets £242k (Dec 2025) PSC register changed Oct 2025 Company no. 04912186 · Companies House haywardtod.co.uk
18	Thomas Merrifield Oxford A director sits on 4 or more companies	Approach Score 85/100	Longest in post since 1997 Independent More about this firm 10 staff · turnover est. £334k Net assets £21k (Dec 2025) Director resigned Mar 2026 · PSC register changed Jul 2026 Company no. 03409630 · Companies House thomasmerrifield.co.uk
19	Robert Cooper Pinner, Middlesex	Approach Score 85/100	2 directors aged 70 or over · longest in post since 2004 2 individuals hold 50%+ · independent More about this firm 19 staff · turnover est. £521k Net assets £698k (Jun 2025) Company no. 05097161 · Companies House robertcooperandco.com/terms-of-use
20	Farr O'neil Chelmsford	Approach Score 84/100	1 director aged 60-64, 1 aged 55-59 · longest in post since 2014 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 6 staff · turnover est. £255k Net assets £272k (Mar 2025) Company no. 09226122 · Companies House farroneil.co.uk
21	Hunters Watford, Hertfordshire A director sits on 4 or more companies	Approach Score 84/100	Director aged 60-64 · in post since 2013 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 7 staff · turnover est. £397k Net assets £155k (Mar 2025) Company no. 08436356 · Companies House hunters.com
22	JEN Homes Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire	Approach Score 84/100	Director aged 60-64 · in post since 2013 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 11 staff · turnover est. £942k Net assets £935k (Mar 2025) Company no. 08460123 · Companies House jenhome.net
23	Brunt & Fussell Bristol	Approach Score 84/100	Longest in post since 2013 2 individuals hold 75%+ · independent More about this firm 6 staff · turnover est. £173k Net assets £25k (Aug 2025) Company no. 08623896 · Companies House bruntandfussell.co.uk
24	Manson Property Consultants Newcastle Upon Tyne	Approach Score 84/100	In post since 2001 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 9 staff · turnover est. £339k Net assets £428k (Mar 2025) Company no. 04167689 · Companies House mansons.net
25	Sleeps12.com Limted Taunton, Somerset A director sits on 4 or more companies	Approach Score 84/100	2 directors aged 60-64 · longest in post since 2005 2 individuals hold 75%+ · held via a trust or firm · independent More about this firm 16 staff · turnover est. £2.6m Net assets £622k (Mar 2025) Company no. 05380191 · Companies House sleeps12.com

1,930 more firms are in the list, in Approach Score order.

You're seeing the first 25. Buy all 1,955 for £1,754 + VAT, with the facts behind each score, director names, shareholders and financials.

Buy the list of all 1,955 firms, with director names, ages and shareholders

Each row comes with the facts behind its score, financials with dates and contact details.

What's in the file

One row per firm, in Approach Score order, as Excel + CSV.

The score and the firm

Approach Score

The facts behind the score

Points for each part of the score

Financials with dates

Website

Publicly available contact details, where identified

Directors and shareholders

Director names

Director birth month and year

Director appointment dates

Named shareholders with more than 25%, with ownership bands

Some people with significant control appear as Other individual, with no further detail. Director email lookups are not included.

Frequently asked questions

How should I approach an estate agency owner?

At first contact, identify yourself and explain the local agency footprint you hope to build. Say you found their details on the public Companies House register through Firmbase. Give a clear way to object to your use of their data, and stop using it if they do. Check a phone number against the Telephone Preference Service and the Corporate Telephone Preference Service before calling. Keep any discussion of property instructions confidential.

Which estate agency checks matter before a deal?

Residential estate agents across the UK must belong to an approved redress scheme. Check the scheme status and establish who supervises the business for money laundering compliance; HM Revenue & Customs explains when its registration is needed. Then examine the terms of client instructions, referral payments, complaints and branch-level performance. A company name alone cannot show which legal entity holds a client instruction.

GOV.UK · HM Revenue & Customs

Why is an estate agent ranked where it is?

A branch network can look attractive for many reasons that Companies House does not record. Use the Approach Score to choose the order in which you inspect the public ownership and financial evidence, then consult the methodology page for how that order is formed. Check local market coverage and client instructions separately. An owner may never wish to discuss a deal, whatever position the firm occupies on the list.

What happens to client instructions when an agency changes hands?

Map the legal entity and the contractual terms behind each active instruction. Ask which appointments can continue, which need consent or fresh paperwork, and how clients would be told about any change. Review referral arrangements separately because they may sit with different parties. Agree an orderly handover with the agency before treating current instructions as income the buyer can rely on.

How this list is filtered

Active on Companies House. Companies in liquidation, administration, receivership or a voluntary arrangement, or with a proposal to strike off, are left out.
Dormant companies are left out.
Firms whose owners asked to be removed are left out.
Private limited companies, public limited companies, LLPs and private unlimited companies only. Sole traders and partnerships are not covered.
Firmbase industry tag: Residential Estate Agency.
SIC code 68310.
5 or more staff, from filed headcount or our estimate where none is filed.
Registered office in the UK.

How this list is built

The Approach Score ranks firms mainly on public Companies House information about owner tenure and age, ownership, size, financial strength and recent register changes.

Firms with higher scores appear first in each list.

Use the ranking to order research, then check each business directly.

Read how the Approach Score works

What it does not mean

No firm here is for sale, and the score says nothing about any owner's plans.

At least 95% of the firms where we hold directors had them checked in or after November 2026.

What we do not cover

We cover limited companies, LLPs and private unlimited companies. Sole traders and ordinary partnerships are not on Companies House, so they are not here. Regulatory information is not included in this list. Buyers should check the relevant register as part of their due diligence. Check redress membership through National Trading Standards' Property Agent Checker. Check any required HMRC money-laundering supervision through its Supervised Business Register, allowing for supervision by another recognised body.

Why age bands but no people's names

Age bands come from the month and year of birth on Companies House. This page shows no exact ages and no people's names. Both come with the purchased list. The band edges from 45 to 65 are the ages where the score changes. A row shows no age bands when a director's surname is in the firm's name, its group's name or its website. Those directors' ages still count towards the score.

Is this your firm?

You can ask us to take it off every acquisition page, and out of every list we sell after that. Give us your name and work email, and we send you a link to confirm. If your email address is on the firm's own website domain, the firm comes off once you confirm. If it is not, a person reviews your request first. A list already sold stays with its buyer.

To have personal data erased, see our privacy policy.

Other areas

East Midlands East of England London North East North West Northern Ireland Scotland South East South West Wales West Midlands Yorkshire and The Humber

The standard Firmbase list

Estate Agency Companies in the UK