LSL, the parent company of Reeds Rains and Your Move, has sharply increased its activity across its Estate Agency Franchising (EAF) division, with franchisees completing significantly more lettings-book acquisitions and opening new branches during 2025, according to the latest City update.

Adam Castleton, CEO of LSL( pictured), says franchise partners have made 10 lettings-book acquisitions in 2025, up from three in 2024, describing the rise as “a significant step-up in activity which demonstrates the successful execution of a key growth lever for the division”.

EAF strategy

The group says the assisted acquisition programme continues to be central to its EAF strategy. It supports franchisees by sourcing deals, executing transactions and providing finance – typically loans – enabling partners to grow their lettings portfolios and, in turn, generating increased royalties for the Group.

LSL also reports that lettings-book acquisitions have driven branch expansion. Three new branches opened in 2025 directly off the back of these acquisitions – in Torquay, Oundle and Jesmond – while a further three branches opened during the year through both new franchisees and expansion by existing ones, making six new branches in total.

LSL has provided £3.2m of loans to franchisees under the assisted acquisition programme in 2025. As of the date of the update, the Group operated 293 estate agency branches and managed a 37,500-strong lettings portfolio.

Supporting the expansion of our EAF franchisees is an important growth driver for LSL.”

Castleton says: “Supporting the expansion of our EAF franchisees is an important growth driver for LSL.  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.”

You can read the full update here.