Leaders lettings chain expands into Kent

Leaders, which has just been listed as one of Britain’s top-performing private companies in the Sunday Times Buyout Track 100, has acquired  Oak Residential Ltd, which trades as Oaklets in Lewisham and Forest Hill in south London and Sevenoaks, Kent.

This latest deal adds three branches to Leaders’ fast-growing network, taking the letting chain to 48 branches across the South. It also gives Leaders a presence in Kent for the first time.

Oaklets has been owned and run by the Pope family since 1984.

“We extend a very warm welcome to our new landlords, tenants and employees who join us as a result of our acquisition of Oaklets and we look forward to working with them all,” said Leaders’ managing director Paul Weller.

“We are delighted to bring our services to Kent for the first time. We look forward to growing the business further here and seeking new opportunities in the surrounding areas in the coming months and years.”

Leaders has followed a strategy of growth by acquisition for some time, which it has achieved at a rapid pace. Since 2005, the firm has bought and integrated more than 40 businesses, branches or portfolios.

It has extended its branch network from Sussex, Surrey and Hampshire into Dorset, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire and now into Kent.

Last weekend Leaders was listed 68th in the Sunday Times annual league table of the 100 top-performing private companies. Companies across all industries were considered and ranked according to growth in profits over the last two years.

Leaders says it plans to acquire further letting businesses across a wide geographical area to continue its expansion.