Estate agency franchise Winkworth has reported uneven trading in recent months, citing political and economic uncertainty as factors weighing on market confidence, though the company expects revenues and pre-tax profits to remain in line with market expectations for the year.
In a trading update issued this morning, the London-based franchise network said that after a positive start to 2026, recent months have seen more variable performance as broader uncertainty has affected buyer and seller sentiment.
Sales and lettings performance
Sales in the first half of 2026 remained resilient, closely tracking the strong start achieved in 2025, according to the company. The lettings division held up well and has not been unduly impacted by the Renters’ Rights Act, which has prompted concerns across the sector about buyers delaying purchase decisions.
During the first half of the year, Winkworth opened four new offices and closed one. The company said it continues to focus on bringing experienced operators into its network to improve performance across varying market conditions.
Financial outlook
Excluding the impact of the disposal of the company’s controlling interest in the Crystal Palace office, revenues are expected to be slightly ahead of the prior year on an underlying basis. Winkworth announced it will pay an interim dividend of 3.3p per ordinary share for the second quarter of 2026 to shareholders.
The company’s shares opened at 181p this morning. The update comes as the wider property sector faces regulatory changes, with landlords facing their first Making Tax Digital deadline and other firms such as Knight Frank creating board-level lettings roles to adapt to market shifts.
The franchise network operates across the UK, with offices primarily concentrated in London and the South East.
