Dwelly has completed its 11th acquisition of 2026, buying Kent-based Helen Breeze Property Management. The deal adds 400 fully managed properties to its portfolio, taking the total to approximately 15,665.
Deal details and transition
Established in 1988, Helen Breeze Property Management operates across Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells and surrounding areas. Helen Breeze founded the family-run agency. Partners Hilary Breeze and Diane Hopkins are selling the business. Both will remain during a transition period before retiring.
The latest deal extends Dwelly's expansion across the UK. It has acquired agencies in London, the Midlands and northern and southern England. The company has also completed its first international acquisition.
Expansion amid sector pressure
The buying spree comes amid growing pressure on landlords and letting agents. Increased regulation, rising costs and landlords leaving the market have created uncertainty across the private rented sector.
However, Dwelly believes the long-term outlook supports further investment. Its analysis of government housing data highlights the growth of private renting over the past 25 years. Privately rented homes accounted for 12.5% of combined owner-occupied and privately rented housing stock in 2000. That figure has since risen to 23.3%. The number of privately rented homes has also increased, rising from 2.09 million to 5.03 million.
Dwelly believes tighter regulation will increase demand for professional property management. Its acquisition strategy focuses on established independent agencies. The company aims to retain local teams while providing additional technology and operational support.
Comments from both sides
Sam Humphreys, head of M&A at Dwelly, commented: “Helen Breeze is a fantastic business with an established local presence, a strong managed portfolio and almost four decades of experience within the Kent rental market and so it was an easy decision with respect to acquisition on our side.
“There's been no shortage of negative sentiment surrounding the private rented sector of late, but we're investing based on where we believe the market is heading over the long term, rather than the headlines of the last six to 12 months.
“The rental sector is considerably larger than it was 25 years ago and, at the same time, it's becoming more complex and more professional. As regulation increases, we believe good property management becomes more important, not less.
“We expect to surpass 16,000 properties under management by the end of October. But we're not stopping there and we're continuing to look for great independent agencies where we can retain what made them successful in the first place, while providing the investment, technology and wider support to help them grow.”
Hilary Breeze, partner at Helen Breeze Property Management, said: “Having been a family business and an independent agent for so many years, deciding to sell was never going to be something we took lightly. It was important to us that we found the right home for Helen Breeze Property Management and, in particular, that our landlords, tenants and team would continue to be well looked after.
“We're incredibly proud of what we and the wider team have built over almost four decades, and Dwelly gives the business the opportunity to build on those foundations as it moves into its next chapter.
“We'll both remain with the business for a suitable period before retiring, and we do so knowing that Helen Breeze Property Management is very well placed for the future.”
