Douglas Allen

Douglas Allen, estate agency in East London and Essex

Douglas Allen is an estate agency operating in East London and the county of Essex, with more than five decades of experience. The company presents itself as the largest independent estate agency in the South East of England and as a specialist in the local market. Its activity covers residential sales, lettings, property management and mortgage advice.

Services for owners selling or letting

The firm offers owners an in-person or instant valuation as a starting point. For those selling, it details services for marketing the property, conveyancing, full market launch and a service called Secure My Sale. It also provides guides on the selling process and a tool to check how many potential buyers there are in a specific area, as well as online sale tracking.

In the lettings field, Douglas Allen handles lettings and property management, with rental marketing services and access to buy to let investment opportunities. The company has a programme called 14-Day Challenge and materials aimed at increasing the profitability of property investments.

Services for buyers and tenants

For those looking for a home, the agency allows searching by town or area, registering for property alerts and accessing mortgage calculators, including a tool to estimate borrowing capacity and another to calculate Stamp Duty. It also offers information on programmes such as Shared Ownership and Help to Buy, as well as buying guides and a selection of new homes.

Tenants have their own portal to manage their tenancy, information on deposit protection and tenant advice.

Areas of expertise

• Residential property sales.
• Lettings and property management.
• Mortgages through in-house experts.
• Conveyancing and property transaction management services.
• Buy to let investment.
• Land and new homes developments.
• Advice for the over-60s (Over-60s Budget Booster).

History and evolution

The company's history dates back to the 1960s, when Ivor Spiro and Cyril Dennis teamed up with Martin Garrard to found Dennis Garrard Spiro in East London. In the 1970s, Ivor and Cyril acquired Douglas Allen, with a presence in Gants Hill, Ilford, Wanstead, Woodford Green and Chigwell. After Cyril Dennis left in 1979, the firm operated as Douglas Allen & Dennis Spiro for six years. In 1985, Ivor Spiro sold 33% of the agency to IFICO and the company expanded to 17 branches in East London and Essex under the name Douglas Allen Spiro. Three years later, the remaining shares passed to Refuge Assurance and the network spread across North and East London and Essex.

In 1992, Paul Rooney acquired Douglas Allen Spiro, which was integrated into the Arun Estates group under its current name. In 1996 the lettings department opened, with property management services in the South East. In 2000 Mortgage Matters Direct was created, giving access to in-house mortgage experts. In 2005 the company began its relationship with Move With Us to expand conveyancing services in the area. In 2012 a rebranding took place to integrate new audiences and connect with sister brands in the South East, and in 2020 it adopted a new premium image with gold as its distinguishing colour.

Management team

The company's management includes Aldo Sotgiu as Group Managing Director, Jason Bunning as Operations Director, Vicki James as Lettings Operations Director, Michael Wright as Operations Director, Gavin Welch as Financial Services Managing Director and Jo Potter as Human Resources Director. Several of them have decades of experience in the property sector and financial services.

Community commitment

Douglas Allen's staff have raised £750,000 for local charitable causes through activities such as runs, cycling, swimming, marathons, triathlons, cake sales, quiz nights and car washes. The company contributes to the entry fees for these events and offers internal support to promote fundraising. The firm describes itself as an active part of the communities in which it operates.