Property investor and former Finance Director David Slann has acquired Belvoir Stone and Stafford through a franchise resale.
Slann (main picture) takes ownership of the established sales and lettings operation covering Stone, Stafford and surrounding areas, with the existing team remaining in place.
The previous owners will also continue to support the business following the change of ownership, while Slann plans to invest in growing its managed lettings portfolio and sales operation.
He brings experience as a landlord and property developer, having managed residential investments across the Midlands and North East, including blocks and HMOs.
GROWTH PLANS
Slann says acquiring an established agency offered the opportunity to build on an existing landlord portfolio, local brand and experienced team rather than starting an operation from scratch.
He says: “Belvoir Stone and Stafford came with a loyal landlord base, a strong local name and a team who know the area properly, and that’s very hard to replicate.”
His plans include investment in technology and automation, alongside greater use of performance measurement and reporting.
Slann also believes increasing regulation of the private rented sector will encourage more landlords to seek professional property management.
“The lettings market is going through the biggest regulatory shift in decades,” he says. “Landlords are increasingly deciding that self-managing is a challenge, and that plays directly to a professional agency that gets compliance right.”
LANDLORD OPPORTUNITY
Slann says his own experience as a landlord has highlighted the importance of managing voids, arrears and compliance effectively.
“The main lesson is that landlords don’t want surprises,” he adds. “Voids, slow arrears chasing and compliance gaps are what keep people awake, and most of it is avoidable with good process.
“The other lesson is that regulation is now the single biggest driver of landlord decisions, so an agent who can explain what’s changing and what to do about it is worth far more than one who simply collects rent.”
Ellie Hall, Group Managing Director of Belvoir, says: “David is exactly the type of entrepreneur we look to support through our franchise resale model.
“He combines strong commercial experience with genuine first-hand knowledge of property investment, and he has a clear understanding of the value an experienced agency can bring to landlords.”
