John Shepherd vs Independent: What Solihull Landlords Should Know

The UK lettings industry is consolidating fast. Independent agencies that were locally owned and family-run a few years ago are now, in many cases, subsidiaries of private equity-backed property groups. For landlords in Solihull and Birmingham, that shift raises a straightforward but important question: does it matter who owns your letting agent?

This article sets out what the consolidation trend means in practice, what the research says about service quality, and what Solihull landlords should consider when choosing between a corporate-backed agency and an independent, family-run alternative.

Who Owns John Shepherd Letting Agents?

John Shepherd is one of the most recognised estate and letting agency brands across the Midlands. It now operates as part of Lomond Capital, a private equity-backed property group that has pursued an aggressive acquisition strategy across the UK.

The pace of that growth is worth understanding. Lomond completed its 55th acquisition in three years when it took on Xact Lettings, which brought John Shepherd’s portfolio to around 8,000 properties under management. The group as a whole, following further acquisitions including Kinleigh Folkard & Hayward in London, now manages in excess of 45,000 properties and generates over £100 million in annual revenue.

Lomond’s model is built on acquiring established letting books, integrating them into the group, and scaling from there. That is a legitimate business strategy. But it is worth landlords understanding that when they instruct John Shepherd today, they are placing their property with a business that is part of a large, nationally operating corporate group, not a locally owned independent.

Why This Trend Is Happening

Letting agency portfolios have become attractive acquisition targets because managed properties generate recurring monthly revenue. Every tenancy under management adds to a predictable income stream, which makes an established letting book genuinely valuable to a larger organisation looking to grow quickly.

The consolidation trend is not unique to Lomond or John Shepherd. Connells Group acquired Countrywide in 2021 for approximately £134 million. Leaders Romans Group, Lomond and others have each completed numerous deals in recent years. Closer to Solihull, Sheldon Bosley Knight, a respected Midlands independent, has also now been sold, removing another family-run name from the local market.

The direction of travel is clear. Independent letting agencies are becoming rarer, particularly those with significant local presence and genuine roots in the area.

What the Research Says About Service Quality

The service implications of this consolidation are real and documented. Research published by the NRLA found that tenants renting from independent landlords and agents reported higher levels of satisfaction than those dealing with corporate operators, pointing to the personal dimension of property management as a genuine differentiator.

There is also a financial dimension landlords should be aware of. Reporting from lettings industry commentary has highlighted that some corporate management agreements include clauses allowing agents to add a margin of up to 20% or more onto contractor invoices for maintenance works. That arrangement creates a structural conflict of interest: the higher the repair cost, the more the agent earns. It is not universal practice, but it is a clause worth checking for in any management contract, corporate or otherwise.

Continuity of staff is another factor. Corporate groups, particularly those growing through acquisition, can experience higher staff turnover as they restructure and integrate new businesses. For landlords, that can mean dealing with a different property manager each time something needs attention, and starting from scratch each time explaining the history of the property and the tenancy.

Does Bigger Mean Better?

Not automatically. Scale brings resources: technology platforms, centralised compliance teams, structured processes. A large group may handle regulatory changes more efficiently across its portfolio simply because it has dedicated compliance staff.

But scale also creates distance. When a letting agent manages 8,000 properties locally, or belongs to a group managing 45,000 nationally, the individual landlord with one or two properties in Shirley is not the business’s most pressing priority. The economics of large-scale property management push towards standardisation, which is the opposite of the personal, responsive service that most private landlords say they value.

The question is not which model is objectively superior. It is which model suits your needs and your expectations as a landlord.

What Partridge Homes Offers Instead

Partridge Homes is an independent, family-run estate and letting agency with offices covering Solihull, Shirley, Yardley, Sheldon and surrounding areas. The business has operated for over 20 years and has no corporate parent, no private equity backing and no outside ownership determining how it should run.

That independence is deliberate. The people running Partridge Homes work inside the business and are directly accountable to the landlords and tenants they serve. Decisions are made locally, by people who know the local market and who have a personal stake in the outcome.

That accountability has been recognised externally. Partridge Homes has been named Best Letting Agents in Shirley and Solihull B90-B91 at the 2026 British Property Awards, and has won the same award four years running. The British Property Awards are assessed on the quality of service delivered, not on the volume of properties managed.

The practical advantages landlords often associate with an independent, family-run agency include:

• Direct access to experienced decision-makers, not a call centre
• Continuity of staff and consistent point of contact
• Local knowledge that extends beyond a generic market overview
• A property manager who actually knows your property, your tenant, and your history with the agency
• Accountability that sits with people who are present and reachable, not with a corporate board

Independent does not mean small or limited in scope. Partridge Homes manages hundreds of rental properties and works with individual landlords, portfolio holders, developers and professional investors across the West Midlands.

Considering a Switch From John Shepherd?

If you currently use John Shepherd Lettings, or another agency whose ownership has recently changed, and the service feels different from what you originally signed up for, it is reasonable to explore alternatives.

The first step is to check your current management agreement. This will set out any notice period required to terminate, any conditions attached to ending the contract, and whether any fees apply. These vary between agreements, so it is important to read the specific terms rather than assume.

Changing managing agent does not require your tenant to move. The tenancy agreement remains in place, and management can transfer while the tenancy continues. The practical handover involves transferring key documents and information, including:

• The tenancy agreement and any addenda
• Tenant contact details and referencing records
• Deposit registration details and the scheme used
• Current rent amount and payment history
• Gas Safety Certificate and its renewal date
• Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR)
• Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
• Inventory and any inspection reports
• Records of maintenance carried out and any outstanding issues

Partridge Homes has a dedicated service called Simply Switch, designed specifically to help landlords move their property from another managing agent with as little disruption as possible. We can guide the handover process, liaise with the existing agent where appropriate, and communicate with your tenant directly.

Two Ways to Grow

There are essentially two growth models in letting agency. One is acquisition: buying portfolios and businesses to add managed properties quickly. The other is organic: winning landlords one at a time because they choose your service and recommend it to others.

Partridge Homes has grown through the second route. Every property we manage represents a landlord who has actively chosen to trust us with it. That shapes how we run the business. We are not trying to become the largest letting agent in the Midlands. We are trying to be one of the best, and to remain the kind of business where the people responsible for your property are accessible, experienced, and genuinely invested in the outcome.

If you are reviewing your current letting agent and want to understand what Partridge Homes could offer for your property in Solihull or Birmingham, we are straightforward to reach. You can contact us to discuss your situation, with no obligation to switch. Tell us who currently manages your property, what you pay, and what you are looking for, and we can give you an honest comparison.