WardHorne acquisition marks sixth deal in three years

A 70-property portfolio in Richmond became the sixth business to join My Property Box in three years when the group bought North Yorkshire letting agent WardHorne in September 2021.

Owner Judy Ward had decided to retire, and every property she managed moved across to the Darlington-headquartered group. WardHorne was no newcomer: for over 30 years it had handled residential lettings in Richmond, Catterick and the villages around them. It grew out of Ward's own investments: having bought several homes, she launched a property management service, running it from home at first. Its office in Dundas Street, Richmond, shut on completion.

The deal closed a productive spell. Earlier in 2021 the group had taken on Bishop Auckland estate agency Lifestyle Property and South Shields firm Westoe Lettings, the latter adding weight on Tyneside and Wearside. Garrison Lettings, another Richmond agency, was acquired in 2020, preceded in 2019 by Sanderson Lettings in Darlington — the firm where Ben Quaintrell worked for eight years early in his career — and, shortly before that, Thornaby-based Holt Estate Agents.

Quaintrell, the group's founder and managing director, reflected on how far the business had travelled: "It's amazing to think that My Property Box was only founded in 2012 and it has already established a strong regional presence in both lettings and sales."

He credited colleagues for that progress: "Its success is due to our team's in-depth knowledge and experience of the property market, together with a national reputation for excellence and innovation."

Looking ahead, he added: "Our ambition is to continue to strengthen My Property Box's position within the North East and North Yorkshire, while continuing to examine opportunities to expand into other regions."

Ward's thoughts turned to her clients. She said: "I've thoroughly enjoyed working with so many landlords and tenants over the years, many of whom are long-standing clients of WardHorne. However, I can assure them that they will continue to enjoy the same high standard of customer service with My Property Box."

Her timing owed something to circumstance too: "It seemed the right time to relinquish the business, given I'm approaching retirement and my office manager Sarah Carr, who I thank for her many years of dedication and hard work, is moving away."

Owners reach this point by all sorts of routes: retirement, a trusted colleague moving on, or tiring of the risk. Whatever prompted the thought, we are ready to listen.