Has Charles Dunstone struck out at Purplebricks?

An administration error this week mistakenly removed Carphone Warehouse billionaire Charles Dunstone as a person of significant control at Purplebricks parent company Strike.

Companies House filings yesterday revealed that Charles Dunstone (pictured) is no longer listed on Strike’s records as a person of significant control.

However, another filing shows his investment vehicle Freston Ventures is now listed as having significant control of Strike.

A spokesperson for Purplebricks told The Negotiator that this was an admin error and is being resolved.

It is unclear whether Purplebricks, Strike or Companies House is at fault but the filing shows that the change was made electronically and authorised by one of a “Director, Secretary, Person Authorised, Liquidator, Administrator, Administrative Receiver, Receiver, Receiver manager, Charity Commission Receiver and Manager, CIC Manager, Judicial Factor.”

A spokesperson for Companies House said the organisation is unable to comment on individual businesses.

Meanwhile, Companies House documents show both Purplebricks and Strike’s annual accounts for the year to the end of March 2025 are overdue.

Both brands were meant to file accounts by 24 June.

Companies House usually issues a striking off notice as part of a formal warning if a company’s account are overdue. There is no sign of this yet and no suggestion of wrongdoing.

A spokesperson for Purplebricks said the accounts have been delayed due to the appointment of a new chief financial officer and will be filed shortly.

CHANGING TIMES

It marks a busy few months for Purplebricks.

Its original founder Michael Bruce returned to the business in June after being named as a director at Strike Limited.

Bruce was previously chief executive of Purplebricks but left in 2019 amid the brand’s deteriorating financial performance and concerns about its international expansion, which have since been scaled back.

There have been other director departures in recent months.

These include Andrew Harrison, a partner at Freston Ventures who was previously chairman of Strike.

Companies House filings show his appointment as director was terminated at the start of July alongside John Stevenson, a director at investment firm Vanneck.

Purplebricks was sold to Strike for a token £1 to rival online agency Strike in June 2023.

The Strike brand was later retired and now trades under the Purplebricks name.