Editor's note: This brief was summarised by The Property AI Newsroom from a report by PropertyWire. Read the original article for full details.

Martin & Co Franchisees Acquire Third Office in North West Expansion

Martin & Co franchise owners Peter Mahoney and Craig Wicking have acquired their third office in the North West, adding Martin & Co Widnes to their existing operations in Rochdale and Leigh. The acquisition expands their lettings portfolio across the region in under two years since joining the franchise network in October 2023.

The duo’s first acquisition was Martin & Co Rochdale through a resale purchase in October 2023, followed by the launch of Martin & Co Leigh in July 2025. With the addition of Widnes, Mahoney and Wicking now operate a multi-office network spanning a strategic corridor across the North West.

According to the report, the new Widnes location aligns with their existing portfolio, which operates in markets with strong rental demand and a solid base of landlords. The franchisees stated that having three offices provides a better spread across the region and supports operational consistency.

Mahoney and Wicking attributed their ability to scale to establishing a management structure before expanding further. They indicated that this framework made subsequent acquisitions more straightforward, allowing them to add to an existing structure rather than build from scratch each time.

Their immediate priority in Widnes is to maintain continuity for existing landlords and tenants before fully integrating the office into their operational framework. Both franchisees expressed openness to further expansion, provided suitable opportunities arise and standards can be maintained.

Martin & Co Managing Director Toby Phillips described Mahoney and Wicking as demonstrating a clear and disciplined approach to growth, with a focus on operational structure enabling them to scale across multiple territories. The acquisition reflects broader activity in the franchise lettings sector, as operators seek to build regional portfolios in established rental markets.