Property management firm Dwelly has acquired Eden Harper, a south west London lettings agency, marking its entry into the capital’s rental market and its third acquisition this year.
The transaction adds approximately 250 fully managed properties to Dwelly’s portfolio, expanding its operations into areas including Brixton and Battersea. The deal follows Dwelly’s recent funding round of £69 million.
Management transition
Eden Harper was established in 2002 by Richard Symes and Ajaye Gopal. Under the terms of the acquisition, Symes will continue with the business as managing director, whilst Gopal will exit. The transaction was facilitated by Atomic Consultancy.
Symes stated that the focus had been on finding a partner that recognised the value of the local agency model. “It was important to find a partner that recognised the value in what we had built and shared our belief that the strength of a local agency lies in the people, relationships and reputation behind it,” he said.
Consolidation trend
Sam Humphreys, head of mergers and acquisitions at Dwelly, described the deal as a significant step for the business. “We’re delighted to have completed our third acquisition of the year and, in doing so, make our first move into the London rental market,” he said.
The acquisition comes as the lettings sector faces increasing regulatory scrutiny, with rental advertising platforms facing compliance questions and landlords shifting to strategic portfolios as regulation reshapes the sector.
The transaction represents part of a broader consolidation trend within the property management industry, as larger operators seek to expand their geographical footprint and increase portfolio scale.