Student specialist doubles in size following acquisition of Welsh rival’s lettings book
StudentDigz has bought the lettings portfolio of Swansea competitor Charles Perrett Properties for an undisclosed sum.
A student lettings specialist in Wales has doubled in size overnight after acquiring a competitor.
Swansea-based StudentDigz was founded in February 20000 by businessman Mark Hobbs (main picture, extreme right) after a career in the forces.
The 48-year-old says his acquisition of local firm Charles Perrett’s lettings portfolio has taken a while to finalise but doubles the size of his company’s book overnight to 500 properties, which includes let-only and fully-managed homes.
It also increases the company’s staff headcount from two to seven along with ‘a large army of subcontractors’.
The deal also means his company, which Hobbs runs with his wife Sharon (main pic), is now a major player in the SW Wales area, which is home to some 2,000 students every year.
Landmark deal
“I am delighted to have completed this acquisition, which was a landmark deal for us instigated in the same year we celebrated our 20th anniversary as a company,” says Hobbs.
“The deal effectively doubles the size of our portfolio, meaning we can offer a great choice to students, a better service to landlords and invest in further job creation in the Swansea area.
“I am also pleased with the way in which we have successfully integrated the new portfolio into our existing systems and technology. “Our cloud-based software also means a more efficient customer journey for students and landlords, and we are already seeing the fruits of that in satisfaction levels.”
Companies House records show Charles Perrett Properties continues to trade, but the firm’s social media channels have not seen a post since before the pandemic, and The Neg could find no properties either for sale or to let on any of the portals.
Read more about the Welsh property industry.