LSL is accelerating the growth of its estate agency franchising arm after a sharp rise in assisted acquisitions and new branch openings across its network.
The group used its annual franchise conference last week to outline how innovation and tighter collaboration with partners are reshaping its B2B property services strategy.
The assisted acquisition programme remains central to LSL’s push for scale.
Franchisees have completed 10 lettings-book purchases so far in 2025, up from just three last year – a clear shift in momentum that underscores the division’s growing firepower.
NETWORK EXPANSION
These acquisitions are feeding through into network expansion. Three new branches in Torquay, Oundle and Jesmond have opened directly off the back of lettings-book deals, while a further three branches have been added through new franchisees or existing franchisee growth. That takes total new openings for 2025 to six.
LSL has deployed £3.2m in franchisee loans this year to support these transactions. The group now operates 293 estate agency branches and oversees a lettings portfolio of 37,500 properties.
GROWTH DRIVER
Adam Castleton (main picture), Chief Executive of LSL, says the expansion of the EAF network is a key growth driver.
He adds: “Our aim is to support our franchisees with our expertise and to help grow their footprint, improving their positions in their markets and creating capital light ROI for LSL.
“The assisted acquisition programme is one of several services through which we support franchisees, who are operating in a dynamic and fast-changing environment with increasingly significant regulatory requirements, such as the proposed Renters Rights Bill.”
