Leaders Estate Agents – A Review

Selling, buying, or letting a property can be stressful. But it can also be extremely rewarding. Whether you’re looking for your dream home or want to dabble in property investments, Leaders can help. 

This trusted UK agency consists of a team of highly qualified and professional property estate agents that have the knowledge and expertise to make your real estate dreams a reality. But before you sign a contract or commit, you should know exactly what sets Leaders apart from other UK agencies.

Keep reading to uncover the key features that make Leaders one of the top property estate agencies in the UK. 

 

A Brief History

Before we dive into what makes Leader’s one of the top estate agencies in the UK, let’s take a look at how it all began. One of the largest independent residential property groups in the UK, Leaders currently has nearly 130 branches specializing in sales, lettings, and buy-to-let investment properties. 

Founded in 1983 by Neville Lee OBE, Leaders started as a single branch located in Brighton. Over the next several decades, the company expanded and earned the reputation of providing first-class customer service. What started as rapid expansion throughout the South of England soon led to continued growth in countless towns and cities across the UK.  As of this writing, Leaders now has branches in London, across the South East, in East Anglia, the North West, and the Midlands.

In 2016, Leaders merged with a sister company, Romans, combining both agencies’ experience and expertise in letting and selling new and established homes, offering mortgage advice, and more. After this collaboration, the company changed its name to become Leaders Romans Group and was backed by Platinum Equity, a leading private equity firm in the area. This Group now grosses an annual revenue of over £100m and boasts over 125 branches across the UK. 

Even as the agency continues to grow, it maintains the same level of impeccable customer service. Although their letting agent fees are higher than average, Leader’s have exceptional, in-depth knowledge of the local area and property market. It’s this pulse on the local market that gives Leaders a leg up on the competition. Every branch location is staffed with qualified, professional, and knowledgeable local agents that deliver high-quality results. That means that no matter where you live or your property is located, you’ll still receive the type of top-notch service that’s synonymous with the Leader’s name. 

Leaders also takes pride in its integrity, which is why it’s a member of several professional organizations including The Property Ombudsman, the NAEA, and the ARLA. Leaders’ agents are committed to delivering the highest possible standards when it comes to letting and sales. Leaders’ agents take the time to get to know their customers on a more personal level, including their financial needs and goals, and their priorities. In time, these become the agent’s top goals and priorities as well. 

 

Other Important Facts About Leaders

In addition to their amazing customer service, years of experience, and professionalism, Leaders’ agents also place great importance on environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG). While many online estate agents enter the market, including Strike & Purplebricks, Leaders are still holding the flag for traditional estates firmly high

Environmental

Leaders places great importance on sustainability and the company’s impact on the environment. The agency has committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2030. In order to reach this goal, Leaders is making significant company-wide changes and upgrades, including:

• Encouraging remote work
• Going paperless
• Transferring offices to renewable energy
• Planting trees for every property that’s sold or let
• Using recycled for sale and let boards
• Launching a zero-to-landfill initiative

In 2022, Leaders launched its very first sustainable branch and the company promises more environmentally-friendly changes in the near future.

Social

Without an amazing staff, Leaders couldn’t offer the top-notch customer service it’s become known for. Leaders ensures that their staff feels supported and appreciated by providing meditation sessions, mental health first aiders, well-being seminars, and employee assistance programs. 

Leaders also embodies and embraces diversity, inclusion, and equality. The company offers an internal training course for all employees and guarantees that every staff member is given the same opportunities. All staff is treated with respect and encouraged to speak up if they experience or witness discrimination of any kind. 

Leaders wants staff members to feel like part of the family. When agents come on board at any of Leader’s branches, it should be viewed as a long-term career, not just a job. Leaders’ career frameworks guarantee that every staff member knows and understands the job requirements and what it takes to be promoted. The company also hosts quarterly award ceremonies and achievement and promotion announcements in the weekly newsletter. 

Leaders’ reach extends beyond the walls of their branch offices and into the community as well. Many branches support local charities, while the head office makes a charitable donation to a local food bank every year. Leaders also donates to MacMillan Cancer Support and hosts annual fundraisers to help raise money.

Corporate Governance 

Leaders has special plans in place to ensure that daily business is never disrupted and that clients are never affected. This includes a protective approach to risk management, major investments in cyber security, and constant safety checks for potential threats and risks. 

Leaders takes customer privacy and protection very seriously, which is why the company also has extensive data protection policies and a dedicated in-house data protection team. As regulations in the world of property management and the industry as a whole continue to change, Leaders remains proactive. This ensures that all agents and clients are safe and compliant and that every transaction runs smoothly. 

 

Leaders Reviews

One of the best ways to find out more about a property estate agency is to read customer reviews. This includes reviews from both former and current clients. 

• Excellent customer service
• Hands-on support and guidance for new landlords
• Smooth, quick, and efficient sales process
• Flexible and knowledgeable agents
• Timely responses and thorough communication

Agents provide a large pool of suitable tenants 

Services Provided by Leaders

While letting is Leader’s primary niche, the agency offers a variety of other property services including buying, selling, and helping tenants find rental properties. Here’s a closer look at how each service works when you work with one of the best!

Letting

Let’s start with Leader’s “bread and butter” service – letting properties across the UK. Whether you’re an accidental landlord, a property investor, or are just looking to rent out a single room or home, Leaders can help. 

Leaders offers everything from free valuations (both in person and online) and rent collection to fully managed services. Three of Leaders’ most popular services are let-only, rent collection, and fully managed services. Depending on your need, you can choose an individual service or a combination that fits your budget.

The let-only option is designed for hands-on landlords that plan to be involved in the daily operations of their rental properties. This means that while you maintain the property, Leaders works to find and reference suitable, responsible tenants to fill your vacancies. Let Leaders do the legwork so you can focus your efforts on other, more pressing issues.

Dealing directly with tenants and collecting rent can be stressful for some landlords. If this describes you, then Leaders’ rent collection services can help. This package includes not just finding and referencing tenants but also rent collection. No more fighting with your tenants for past due rent or delivering eviction notices. Leaders’ agents will take care of all the dirty work for you. All you need to do is cash the rent check! 

Being a landlord or property manager takes a lot of time and effort. It can also be incredibly stressful. If you want to get involved in property investment without the daily hassle of managing a property, you can take advantage of Leaders’ fully managed services. This package includes everything from tenant referencing and rent collection to repairs, maintenance, and filing of all the necessary paperwork. With fully managed services, you’re landlord by name only. Leaders’ experienced agents will ensure that the rental process runs smoothly, you get paid, and your property is protected and well-maintained. 

Leaders offers a simple 10-step process to letting your property, which looks something like this:

1. Request a property valuation
2. Choose the right service for your needs and budget
3. Find reliable tenants
4. Schedule and arrange viewings
5. Negotiate and agree on a final offer
6. Perform credit and background checks plus tenant referencing
7. Sign a tenancy agreement
8. Take inventory of the property
9. Collect the deposit
10. Hand over the keys!

Renting

Every good rental property needs a reliable tenant. If you’re the second part of this equation, Leaders can help you find quality rental properties that are within your budget and desired location. Leaders lists the most recent and popular properties, flats, and houses in a given area. The website’s convenient search tool makes it easy to find numerous properties to choose from and an experienced agent to facilitate the process.

Leaders also offers a variety of services to both first-time renters and experienced tenants. These include a No Deposit Option for those working within a certain budget and legal advice through the company’s Legal Helpline.

Similar to the letting process for landlords, tenants can follow a similar 10-step process to streamline their property search and find the perfect rental, faster. 

1. Set your budget (and stick to it)
2. Start a property search
3. Schedule viewings of properties you’re interested in 
4. Act quickly to secure your next home
5. Undergo necessary reference and credit checks
6. Pay the deposit
7. Sign the tenancy agreement 
8. Get ready to move in

The last two steps in this process occur following move-in day. During your tenancy:

1. Expect routine property visits by the property manager
2. Renew your tenancy agreement if you and the landlord are in agreement

Buy a Property

If you’re ready to settle down and buy a property, there’s no better estate agency than Leaders to help you every step of the way. From the website’s convenient search tool to the simple 8-step process, finding and securing your dream home has never been easier.

1. Determine your buying budget
2. Start your property search on Leaders
3. Take a closer look at the properties you like
4. Find the right conveyancer for your purchase
5. Make an offer
6. Request and schedule a building survey, or HomeBuyer report
7. Make mortgage arrangements
8. Sign and exchange contracts and finalize the sale

Sell a Property

Many property owners need to sell their current residence before they can purchase or rent a new one. Selling a home you’ve lived in for years can be emotional and difficult. From setting the right price to hosting viewings and completing all the necessary paperwork, most homeowners need help. Leaders can be the support you need.

The Group offers virtual and in-person home valuations, a winning formula for choosing the best listing price, and a speedy sale. With over 30 years of experience, Leaders’ agents ensure that the entire sale process runs smoothly from start to finish. 

Since every customer is unique, Leaders’ agents craft an individualized approach to selling every property using two main methods – the traditional way or at auction.

The traditional method involves listing your home on the website and other property portals where potential buyers can request and schedule viewings. Leaders works to match your property with suitable, serious buyers. Your agent will host viewings and open houses for maximum exposure. 

The other option is to sell your property at auction. Homes sold at auction usually sell faster and generate a higher price. Leader’s online auctions offer all the same benefits of a live auction without the high-stakes pressure of bidding in person.

Some benefits of using this approach include:

• A potential sale within 4 weeks
• Nationwide exposure and promotion of your property
• All bids are public
• Contracts are signed and exchanged on the day of the auction

Here are the 11 steps that Leaders uses to help facilitate your home sale.

1. Make a financial plan
2. Request a home valuation
3. Fill out the required paperwork
4. List your property 
5. Accept an offer
6. Start searching for your next home
7. Find moving or removal companies to help facilitate your move
8. Schedule a survey for your new property
9. Finalize your finances
10. Complete all the final paperwork
11. Celebrate your new house!

Impressive Leaders Statistics

Not only does Leaders offer countless services for property investors, homeowners, renters, and tenants but they have the experience and statistics to back them up. Here are a few figures that help paint a clear picture of what sets Leaders apart.

• A 4.6 customer satisfaction rating on Google
• 6,815 home sales just last year
• Over 125 branches across the UK
• 4,000 new registered buyers every month
• Over 21,500 landlords let using the platform
• 13,824 valuations were performed last year

 

Let Leaders Facilitate Your Next Move or Sale

Moving, renting, and letting can all be stressful and complicated processes. But with the right estate agents on your side, it can be an enjoyable, smooth transition. Whether you’re a landlord, tenant, or property owner, Leaders has a service to fit your needs and budget. With over 30 years of experience and over 125 branches across the UK, you can rest easy knowing Leaders has your best interests in mind.