Dexters

A London estate agency group founded in Twickenham in 1993, now one of the capital's biggest, with branches across Greater London.

About Dexters

Dexters is a London estate agency and chartered surveying group. It describes itself as "London's leading independent Chartered Surveyors and Estate Agents", and says lettings and property management are central to its business, with sales, new homes and professional advisory work alongside them. Its owner, a City investment firm, describes more than 100 branches across Greater London, while a 2023 press report put the figure at about 150 after it bought other agencies and opened new offices. Dexters has grown partly by buying well-known local names, including Roy Brooks and Marsh & Parsons.

The company began in 1993 as a single branch in Twickenham. Its founder, Jeff Doble, named it after the England cricketer Ted Dexter, a boyhood hero. In a 2017 interview he said he started the business on a credit card, that the first year went badly, and that the company was modest and unflashy, growing through hard work. He said then that its aim was to be the leading agent in its market and that he was sceptical of online-only estate agents, because property still needs an on-the-ground presence. His stated goal has always been for Dexters to be the number one estate agency in London.

All of its branches are in Greater London. A 2023 article named recent openings in Tooting Broadway, Cricklewood, Muswell Hill, East Dulwich, Kentish Town, Wimbledon, Islington, Finsbury, Hendon, Wapping and Hackney Central, with Finchley next. The same article said the group had about 2,000 employees and had added nearly 200 jobs in the previous year, so this is a large employer. Its chief executive, Andy Shepherd, said many new or acquired offices were "not yet reaching their full potential" and that there were parts of Greater London where Dexters has no presence.

The company's culture has been described by its founder as modest, hard-working and focused on service. Its chairman is Justin King, formerly the boss of Sainsbury's. Its owner's page names Oakley Capital as a backer, but investors are not employees. We did not find a values page, staff reviews or a mission written for employees. Because the group buys other agencies, people who join may work in a branch that began life as a different local brand.

A group with this many branches employs a large number of negotiators for sales and lettings, property managers who look after rented homes, valuers and chartered surveyors, new homes staff and branch managers. Behind the branches are teams in marketing, finance, people, technology and compliance. Because it is entirely within Greater London, it can suit someone who wants a career close to home in the capital. Check the company's website for what is open now.

What they do

• {'desc': 'Letting and looking after rented homes, the largest part of the business.', 'title': 'Lettings and property management'}
• {'desc': 'Selling existing homes and new developments.', 'title': 'Sales and new homes'}
• {'desc': 'Chartered surveying and professional property advice.', 'title': 'Surveying and advice'}

Key facts

• Founded in 1993 as a single branch in Twickenham by Jeff Doble
• Over 100 branches in Greater London (investor page); about 150 and about 2,000 staff in 2023 (press report)
• Has bought London agencies including Roy Brooks and Marsh & Parsons
• Chairman Justin King; chief executive Andy Shepherd (as at 2023)

Website: www.dexters.co.uk