Online agency mergers gather pace as Howsy buys another rival
Leading online agency snaps up The Happy Tenant Company, its third online lettings and property management platform acquisition in 18 months.
Leading hybrid letting agency Howsy has bought rival The Happy Tenant Company for an undisclosed sum.
The Happy Tenant was incorporated in 2011 by London agent and landlord Adam Joseph along with several other landlords including Jonathan Monjack, who was its CEO, promoting itself as an ethical online property management company.
At the time it ruffled agent feathers by claiming to be an antidote to the ‘extortionate maintenance fees and excessive mark-ups by letting agencies’.
The Happy Tenant Company’s says its aims remain to offer transparency and integrity, first by having fixed fees for landlords and also passing benefits back to its members.
In September last year Howsy acquired a 75% controlling stake in the company and it has taken until now to officially complete the acquisition.
8,000 properties
Howsy, which until three years ago was known as NoAgent, has been growing through acquisition and now has 8,000 properties registered on its platform.
Other acquisitions have included the purchase of Upad out of administration in January 2020, and Urban in late 2019, which until then had been part of the former eMoov/Tepilo online empire prior to its demise in January 2019.
“The founders of The Happy Tenant Company have built a great business,” says Calum Brannan, founder and CEO of Howsy (pictured).
“Their brand values and ethos align with those of Howsy and we’re confident we can offer a greater selection of services for Happy Tenant customers to further enhance their experience.”
In August last year Howsy raised £2.29 million via a Seedrs fund raising effort.
Read more about Howsy.