Isle of Wight estate agent Hose Rhodes Dickson is being bought out by the mainland-based Leaders Romans Group, it can be revealed.
Leaders Romans is 1 of the UK’s largest property services groups and was formed in 2016 following the merger of Leaders, Romans and Boyer. The group boasts over 219 branches and employs more than 2,600 people.
It’s understood that Hose Rhodes Dickson – known as HRD – will become part of the estate agency giant next month, 32 years after Jeff Hose and Mark Rhodes founded the independent firm in Ventnor. The agency got its current name when Richard Dickson joined the team in 1992.
Staff at HRD’s 8 offices across the Island were informed of the takeover this morning (Thursday), although news leaked to Island Echo late last night.
It’s understood retirement is the reason for the sale.
It’s unclear at this early stage if there will be any branch closures or redundancies. However, it is known that HRD Auction Rooms is Brading is unaffected by this takeover as it is operated as a separate business.
Leaders Romans has, however, confirmed that the takeover is proceeding. It’s expected to complete by the 2nd week of August.
The company currently operates in Newport, Cowes, East Cowes, Ryde, Bembridge, Shanklin, Ventnor and Freshwater. The Bembridge office came about in 1995 when Waldron & Co merged with HRD.
Hose Rhodes Dickson has not yet issued a statement.
UPDATE TUESDAY – The Directors at Hose Rhodes Dickson have today said:
“We can confirm that we have agreed to a partnership with Leaders Romans Group, which is due to complete next month.
“We want to reassure our customers and the residents across the Isle of Wight that any change of ownership will not affect our name, our values or our knowledgeable local team. Our customers can expect the same high-quality service at every point of their experience with us.
“Hose Rhodes Dickson will always be a local company, led by Isle of Wight based directors, who are committed to supporting the community.”
Oh good, more holiday homes, how spiffing wot wot….
Rather hol homes than more social housing with vile low lifes filling them to over capacity to max the benefit for children, who then, in 14 years are shoving a buggy full wanting another free home of their own, at OUR expense.
Sounds too me, like your bitter and twisted envy of such people are making you ill. If you can’t beat them, then join them. Come and join the dark side.
The lower etchings of the lower working class. Where only fools and horses work. 2% of the nation own 98% of the wealth. Not really fair is it ?
There is quite a community of nasty old gits on this site. A lot of them moved here to retire and are shocked to find that we have young people and poor people already living here.
Their hatred of everything and anyone that doesn’t fit with their own myopic world view makes them like a kind of geriatric Taliban.
Well don’t forget they already rent homes there and they have zero regard for the trash that they put into the lower quality dives.
Well said !!! Totally agree.
Not like anyone looks on any nationwide property selling site is it?
That can only be good news. Hopefully listings on that site will now be a little more accurate. Perhaps even have photos of the properties being sold rather than general stock photos of the nearest beach taken twenty years ago.
Mainland brains required
Suppose Caulkheads will be moaning, an island company cashing in from mainland money.
Don’t be like Cornwall, locals wants the most money for properties and then moan it’s owned by 2nd home owners.
You can’t have your cake and eat it!
So what, who cares?……………