John D Wood & Co

What John D Wood & Co does

John D Wood & Co. is a London-based residential estate and lettings agency founded in 1872 by John Daniel Wood, specializing in premium UK property transactions (sales from £1.5m+ and lettings from £2k+ pcm) across London and the South of England. The firm operates 30 physical offices staffed by local property experts and serves individual HNW buyers and sellers, landlords, tenants, corporate relocation clients, and country estate owners through both face-to-face advisory and an online property search portal. A wholly-owned subsidiary of Connells Group (acquired in 2021), it operates as a prime-brand alongside retained sub-brands APW Property, CHK Mountford, Aspire, Faron Sutaria, and Fitz-Gibbon.

The company's revenue model is transaction-based, with commission on property sales, fees on lettings and management, and an incremental professional services layer spanning valuations and surveying (via London Chartered Surveyors), conveyancing (via Country & Capital Property Law), mortgage broking (via Capital Private Finance), insurance, leasehold enfranchisement, short lets, and corporate relocation. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. Distribution combines the branch network, the website, channel partnerships with OnTheMarket and Rightmove, and a dedicated International Department leveraging 2,000+ partner offices across Europe, the Caribbean, and the USA. Underlying technology includes a co-developed estate agency software system used widely in the UK, an early computer-linked branch network (1980), and an early-adopter property search website (1995). The firm reports proprietary TwentyEA-derived performance data showing sales 60% faster and lettings 33% faster than market averages, with over 50% of business sourced via referral and recommendation.

The company is currently active, operating through its branch network and online channels while complying with sector regulators (NAEA Propertymark, ARLA Propertymark, The Property Ombudsman) and holding FCA authorization via Countrywide Principal Services Limited for financial services. There are no current funding rounds, and ownership is fully concentrated within Connells Group.

Name

John D Wood & Co

Legal name

Countrywide Estate Agents Limited

Website

https://johndwood.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1872

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

John D Wood & Co. is a London-based premium residential estate and lettings agency founded in 1872. Owned by Connells Group, it operates 30 offices across London and South East England delivering sales, lettings, property management, surveying, and relocation services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Property Sales Commission: Commission-based fees on residential property sales across London and South of England. The company specializes in high-value properties (£1.5m+) with performance data showing properties sell 60% faster than market average.
2. Lettings Fees: Fees from residential property lettings and rental management services. Performance data shows lettings complete 33% faster than market average.
3. Professional Services: Additional revenue streams including property valuations, surveying (RICS valuations), conveyancing, mortgages and protection, insurance, interior consultancy, and property management services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

John D Wood & Co. is a traditional estate and lettings agency that buys, sells, lets, and manages premium residential properties across London and the South of England through a network of 30 offices. It complements these core sales and lettings services with ancillary offerings such as surveying, conveyancing, mortgage broking, insurance, property management, short lets, new homes, and corporate relocation services.

Product overview

John D Wood & Co. is a traditional estate and lettings agency offering a comprehensive property services portfolio. The core offering comprises property sales and lettings services, supported by integrated add-on modules including mortgages (via Capital Private Finance), conveyancing, surveying, property management, and insurance. Additional specialized services include short lets, new homes, corporate relocation, interior consultancy, and international property assistance. The brand family includes sub-brands APW Property, CHK Mountford, and Aspire. All services are accessible through a network of offices across London and the South of England, with property listings also published on third-party portals including OnTheMarket.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• APW Property: Established in 1986 in Weybridge and 2004 in Cobham, APW Property is a market leader in lettings, having helped thousands of clients rent their properties in Surrey and Berkshire.
• CHK Mountford
• Aspire

Products and services

• Property Sales Services Residential property sales service including valuation, marketing, and negotiation across London and South East England, focused on properties valued at £1.5m and above.
• Property Lettings Services Residential property rental services including tenant finding, rent collection, and ongoing tenancy management, primarily for premium rental properties in London and South East England.
• Property Management

Quantifiable outcome

• 60% more likely to sell your home (vs market average)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• OnTheMarketcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2026John D Wood & Co. listings are now available on OnTheMarket, a major UK property portal. This partnership extends the company's digital distribution reach and exposes properties to a wider audience of potential buyers and tenants.
• RightmovecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026John D Wood & Co. collaborates with Rightmove on landlord events to discuss market trends, new legislation (Renters Rights Act), tax planning, and practical strategies for landlords in the changing lettings landscape.
• Connells GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn 2021, John D Wood & Co. was acquired by Connells Group, the UK's largest estate agency and property services provider. The company operates as one of Connells Group's prime estate agency brands, benefiting from shared resources, technology, and national scale while maintaining its premium brand identity.
• International Partner OfficesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOver 2,000 international partner offices across Europe, Caribbean, and United States of America support John D Wood & Co.'s International Department, enabling cross-border property transactions for clients.
• NAEA PropertymarkminorOthersJohn D Wood & Co. is a member of NAEA Propertymark, a professional body representing estate agents in the UK, providing credibility and regulatory adherence.
• ARLA PropertymarkminorOthersJohn D Wood & Co. is a member of ARLA Propertymark, the body regulating lettings agents, with Client Money Protection Scheme coverage for lettings operations.
• The Property Ombudsman (TPO)minorOthersJohn D Wood & Co. is a member of The Property Ombudsman scheme, providing consumer protection and dispute resolution for property transactions.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Savills: Global real estate advisory with a strong prime London residential agency franchise, directly overlapping with John D Wood & Co.'s core segment. Both compete for £1.5m+ mandates and cross-border HNW clients across London and the South East.
• Carter Jonas: UK-wide property consultancy with strong residential, country house, and rural estate coverage. Competes with John D Wood & Co.'s Country House service and broader South of England footprint.
• Chestertons: London-focused estate and lettings agency with international presence, serving similar prime and mid-prime residential segments. Competes on office footprint, lettings volumes, and corporate relocation mandates.
• Hamptons: Premium London and Southern England estate and lettings agency. Sister brand under Connells Group, with overlapping geography, premium positioning, and similar full-service sales/lettings/management offering.
• Douglas & Gordon: Independent London-focused residential sales and lettings agency. Direct competitor in prime and mid-prime central London postcodes, with overlapping service lines including property management.
• Strutt & Parker: Premium UK residential, country house, and rural estate agency now part of BNP Paribas Real Estate. Competes directly for prime London stock and country estate mandates across the South of England.
• Winkworth: London-focused sales and lettings franchise model with significant South of England coverage. Comparable offering across prime and mid-prime residential, including international referrals through its network.
• Knight Frank: Long-established prime residential and country house agency in London and the South of England, with comparable international partner reach. Direct head-to-head competitor in the luxury London market and country estates segments.
• Marsh & Parsons: Prime London residential sales and lettings specialist owned by LSL Property Services. Targets the same affluent buyer/renter segments in Chelsea, Kensington, Mayfair, and similar prime postcodes.

Broad incumbents

• Foxtons: London-centric estate and lettings agency with strong brand recognition and high-volume mid-market coverage. Overlaps with John D Wood & Co. in inner-London sales and lettings but operates at a lower average price band.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/johndwoodandco
• Facebookfacebook.com/JDWandCo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/91976/admin/feed/posts
• Instagraminstagram.com/johndwoodco

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about John D Wood & Co