Northwood

Northwood - Estate and Letting Agency Franchise

Northwood provides residential lettings, property management and sales services. Its market leading Guaranteed Rent scheme is the brands key point of difference, offering landlords predictable income and reduced risk by providing rental payments even during void periods. With 80+ offices nationwide, this is a business model built around a competitive advantage.

What Sets Northwood Apart

The Guaranteed Rent scheme means Northwood becomes the tenant. The landlord receives a fixed monthly income whether the property is occupied or not - Northwood absorbs the risk of void periods, non-payment and associated legal costs entirely. For landlords, this removes uncertainty and typically delivers more income over time. For franchisees, it is a powerful differentiator: a clear, compelling reason for landlords to choose Northwood, and a model that builds deep long-term loyalty once it is established.

No other property franchise operates this model at scale. That distinctiveness gives Northwood franchisees a genuinely defensible position in any market with strong rental demand.

About Northwood

Founded in 1995 in Portsmouth, Northwood was built around a single idea: give landlords a guaranteed rental income regardless of whether a tenant is paying or even in the property. The proposition proved immediately popular. The business expanded into a national franchise network from 1999 and today operates from over 80 offices across England, Scotland and Wales, combining its market-leading Guaranteed Rent scheme with a full estate and lettings service.

Your Routes Into the Business

Resale - Stepping into a Northwood resale means acquiring a business with something particularly valuable at its core: a Guaranteed Rent portfolio. You inherit the portfolio, the established landlord base and the brand presence that the outgoing franchise owner built. For individuals who want to reduce risk, a Northwood resale is a compelling opportunity.

Cold Start - Build your own Northwood office in a vacant territory with strong rental demand.

Franchise fee: £22,500+vat. Minimum investment from £35,000. Major banks typically lend up to 70%.

Part of The Property Franchise Group

Northwood has been part of The Property Franchise Group (TPFG) since 2024. TPFG is the UK's largest multi-brand property franchise business - a listed group operating 15 franchise brands across more than 1,900 lettings and estate agency businesses, with approximately 149,000 managed properties nationwide.

For Northwood franchisees, being part of TPFG adds a significant layer of resource and opportunity on top of an already distinctive brand:

• Financial strength and long-term stability from a listed, multi-brand group
• Shared best-in-class systems, technology and marketing infrastructure
• A dedicated Sales and Acquisitions Team to support franchise growth and business purchases
• Greater credibility with consumers and lenders
• Group buying power that reduces monthly operating costs

What You Get

• Dedicated operational support and helpdesk
• Comprehensive training covering lettings, sales, compliance and the Guaranteed Rent model
• National and local marketing materials and digital support
• Full compliance guidance
• Technology platforms, CRM and IT infrastructure
• Access to the Northwood network for peer support and best practice
• Acquisitions support through TPFG's dedicated Sales and Acquisitions Team

Who We Are Looking For

Northwood suits people with high personal integrity, strong communication skills and the drive to build lasting relationships with landlords and investors. Candidates come from a wide range of backgrounds - property, corporate sales, finance, armed forces and other client-facing roles. Experience in estate agency is not required; the ability to build trust and deliver on promises consistently is.

"I think one of the best things about being a Northwood franchisee is the fact that we are able to invite our landlords to be part of our Guaranteed Rent Scheme. This offers great value to landlords, as it essentially means that Northwood Eastbourne becomes their tenant, who will pay their rent every month, regardless of whether there is a tenant in situ or not."

Paul Ryder, Northwood Eastbourne