A fast-expanding Your Move franchise holder has bought its fourth independent lettings agency within the past 12 months, this time in the Hampshire coastal town of Southsea from a leading light of the region’s landlord and letting agent community.

Edward Rose Property Group (ERPG), which operates chiefly on the South Coast and South West of England, has been one of the brand’s most active franchise holders following LSL’s decision back in May 2023 to operate its estate agency via a franchise model rather than direct.

ERPG has taken advantage of LSL’s keenness to help franchise holders finance acquisitions, and the latest is the purchase of Flats in Southsea following the retirement of its owner Alwin Oliver.

His lettings business, which includes the management of many of his own properties. comes with a lettings book of 109 managed rental homes and 100 landlords. Its website is now offline.

Despite his retirement Oliver remains a leading light in the Southsea and Portsmouth private rental market, including his leadership of the city’s main landlord grouping the Portsmouth and District Landlords Association.

Although Alwyn is retiring and his former business name is switching to the Your Move brand, his team of two staff will be moving over to Your Move as well.

Landlords

“We are delighted to be adding new members to our dedicated team at Your Move Southsea as we take on over 100 new landlords following our latest acquisition,” says David Vertannes (main image) owner of ERPG.

“We wish Alwin a happy and well-deserved retirement following his decision, this process has been very smooth and he has been a pleasure to work with.

“Our team at Your Move Southsea are committed to continuing to provide exceptional customer service to landlords and tenants as well as guiding them through the implementation of the Renters’ Rights Act.”

Kate Ashley-Ives, LSL Estate Agency Franchising’s Franchise Director, adds “It has been a pleasure to work with David again, for his fourth acquisition in the past 12 months.

“This achievement is a testament to him and his team’s ambition, exceptional service and dedication to their landlords.”

Other acquisitions by ERPG have included Team 2 Property Management in Devon, Plymouth agency Barton Wykes and Whiteley firm LetCo and Harmony Property Rental in Torquay, taking its total number of branches to nine.