Dwelly has completed its 11th deal of 2026, with the acquisition of long-established Kent lettings agency Helen Breeze Property Management, adding a further 400 fully managed properties to its rapidly growing portfolio. Dwelly is set to exceed 16,000 properties under management by the end of October.
Helen Breeze Property Management was established in 1988 and operates across Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding areas. Founded by Helen Breeze, the business has remained within the family and is now being sold by Partners within the business, Hilary Breeze and Diane Hopkins, who continue to be involved in the business.
“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.”
Sam Humphreys, Head of M&A, Dwelly
The latest deal arrives despite a challenging period for the private rented sector, with increasing regulation, higher operating costs and landlord exits contributing to a largely negative narrative around the future of the market.
The firm’s confidence is underpinned by the long-term growth of the private rented sector. Dwelly’s analysis of historic government housing tenure data shows that privately rented homes accounted for 12.5% of the combined owner-occupied and privately rented housing stock in 2000, compared with 23.3%. The number of privately rented homes has increased by almost three million over the same period, from 2.089 million in 2000 to 5.030 million today.
“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.”
Hilary Breeze, Partner, Helen Breeze Property Management
Dwelly believes that, while increased regulation is making the sector more challenging to navigate, it is also accelerating the professionalisation of the rental market and increasing the importance of experienced, well-resourced property management.
Its acquisition strategy is focused on established independent agencies with strong local teams and reputations, retaining the people and local expertise behind those businesses while providing greater investment, technology and operational support.
Dwelly has added agencies including Paramount Properties, Goodwin, Lime Property, Albery Tyson, Elliot Oliver, Move, Eden Harper, AP Morgan, Settio and Shaws to its growing network.
