Winkworth says its lettings business has remained resilient following the introduction of the Renters’ Rights Act, despite wider political and economic uncertainty creating a more uneven sales market.
In a trading update accompanying its latest dividend announcement, the estate agency franchisor said trading had started the year strongly before confidence softened in recent months.
The company said first-half sales had broadly tracked the strong performance seen during the same period last year, while its lettings business had not been “unduly impacted” by the Renters’ Rights Act, which came into force on 1 May.
During the first six months of 2026, Winkworth opened four new offices and closed one as it continued to expand its franchise network.
QUALITY RECRUTIMENT
The company says it remained focused on recruiting high-quality operators to strengthen its presence across the UK.
Looking ahead, the board says it expects full-year revenue and pre-tax profit to be in line with current market expectations.
Excluding the disposal of its controlling interest in the Crystal Palace office, underlying revenue is expected to be slightly ahead of last year.
Alongside the update, Winkworth declared an interim dividend of 3.3p per share for the second quarter of 2026.
Main picture: Dominic Agace, CEO, Winkworth
