Houseful (company)
{{Short description|British real estate company}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Houseful Limited
| logo = Houseful Logo RGB.png
| type = Private
| foundation = {{start date and age|January 2008}}
| predecessor = Zoopla Property Group
| founders = Harrison Wright
Simon Kain
Alex Chesterman
| location = London, England, UK
| locations = United Kingdom
| area_served = United Kingdom
| key_people = Charlie Bryant, CEO
| industry = Software, real estate
| products =
| services = Property and Comparison search Software
| revenue = £317.3 million (2018){{cite web|url=http://www.fasttrack.co.uk/company_profile/zpg-2/|title=Fast Track Company Details|publisher=Zoopla|access-date=24 June 2020}}
| assets =
| equity =
| owner = Silver Lake Partners (since 2018)
| num_employees = 600
| parent = Silver Lake Partners
| divisions = Zoopla, Hometrack, Alto, Jupix, Primelocation, Calcasa, Mojo Mortgages, Yourkeys
| homepage = {{URL|https://houseful.co.uk}}
}}
Houseful Limited{{Cite web |date=2018-10-19 |title=Houseful Limited overview - Find and update company information - Gov.uk |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/11632420 |access-date=2024-12-15 |website=Companies House |language=en}} is a British residential property software, data, and insight company based in London, England, owned by Silver Lake Partners.{{Cite news |last1=B |first1=Rahul |last2=Sandle |first2=Paul |date=2018-05-11 |title=Britain's Zoopla, PrimeLocation bought by Silver Lake for $3 billion |language=en-US |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN1IC0HZ/ |access-date=2023-12-06}}{{cite web|url=http://www.cityam.com/285615/zooplas-parent-group-zpg-looks-set-taken-over-us-private|title=Zoopla's parent group ZPG looks set to be taken over by US private equity firm Silver Lake for £2.2bn|author=Lucy White|work=CityAM|date=11 May 2018 |access-date=11 May 2018}}
Its brands include the property website Zoopla, automated valuations (AVMs) provider Hometrack, and software brand Alto.{{Cite web |last=Khan |first=Mehreen |date=2017-01-31 |title=Zoopla snaps up Hometrack in £120m deal |url=https://www.ft.com/content/79b82827-9a21-3336-abcf-6b87010a5819 |access-date=2017-10-29 |website=Financial Times}} Alongside these sites, Houseful owns and operates several brands providing services to estate agents, housebuilders, brokers, lenders, and consumers. These include Jupix, Calcasa, Primelocation, Yourkeys and Mojo. ZPG Ltd., Houseful's previous parent company, which included the brands USwitch and Money.co.uk, was listed on the London Stock Exchange until it was acquired by Silver Lake Partners in July 2018.
History
The company was originally founded as Zoopla in 2007 by Alex Chesterman and Simon Kain. Chesterman and Kain also founded ScreenSelect (later LoveFilm).{{cite web|url=http://www.zoopla.co.uk/about/ |title=About Zoopla! |access-date=2008-07-26}} The Zoopla website was launched in January 2008. Zoopla was backed by Accomplice, Octopus Ventures and other investors.{{cite web|url=http://www.atlasventure.com/ourportfolio/portfoliodetail.cfm?id=222 |title=Our portfolio – Zoopla |access-date=2008-07-26 }}{{cite news|url=http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/commercial/article5536918.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110612092729/http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/commercial/article5536918.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 12, 2011 |title=Business Digest |access-date=2009-01-18 | location=London | work=The Times | date=2009-01-18}} In July 2009, Zoopla acquired property website Thinkproperty.com from the Guardian Media Group.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/jul/15/thinkproperty-zoopla-guardian-media-group |title=Zoopla buys Thinkproperty.com from Guardian Media Group |access-date=2009-07-28 | work=The Guardian | location=London | first=Mark | last=Sweney | date=2009-07-15}}
In August 2009, Zoopla acquired the PropertyFinder Group, consisting of the websites Propertyfinder.com, Hotproperty.co.uk and UK Property Shop, from prior owners the REA Group and News International for an undisclosed sum.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/aug/07/news-international-propertfinders |title=News International sells PropertyFinder website to Zoopla.co.uk |access-date=2009-08-08 | work=The Guardian | location=London | first=Mark | last=Sweney | date=2009-08-07}} These businesses had combined annual revenues of £7 million. In January 2011, Zoopla acquired the historic database of UK house prices HousePrices.co.uk.{{cite web| url=http://www.zoopla.co.uk/press/releases/zoopla-acquires-housepricescouk/ | title=Zoopla acquires Houseprices.co.uk | access-date=2016-01-19}}
In October 2011, Zoopla and Digital Property Group, the subsidiary of A&N Media, operating property websites Primelocation.com, Globrix.com and FindaProperty.com, merged their respective businesses. In May 2012, Zoopla acquired property information website UpMyStreet.com.{{cite web| url= http://www.zoopla.co.uk/press/releases/zoopla-acquires-upmystreetcom/ | title=Zoopla acquires UpMyStreet.com – Zoopla | access-date=2012-11-08}}
In April 2016, Zoopla acquired property software firm PSG for £75 million from Lloyd’s private equity arm LDC.{{Cite web |last=Negotiator |first=The |date=2016-04-20 |title=Zoopla acquire PSG |url=https://thenegotiator.co.uk/property-software-group-psg-goes-zoopla-75-million/ |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=The Negotiator |language=en-GB}}
In May 2018, Hometrack sold off the Australian arm of its business for £71m. It was sold to property portal and media business REA.{{Cite web |last=Lewis |first=Nigel |date=2018-05-01 |title=ZPG sells of Hometrack Australia to Oz counterpart the REA Group |url=https://thenegotiator.co.uk/hometrack-australia-zpg-sale-to-rea/ |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=The Negotiator |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |title=Zoopla owner sells Aussie home valuation unit after 15 months |url=https://www.ft.com/content/3d34cf6e-4d0f-11e8-97e4-13afc22d86d4 |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=www.ft.com}} In January 2021, Hometrack acquired the mortgage automation arm of EDM Group.{{Cite web |last=Reporter |first=Financial |title=Hometrack acquires EDM's mortgage automation arm |url=https://www.financialreporter.co.uk/mortgages/hometrack-acquires-edms-mortgage-automation-arm.html |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=Financial Reporter |language=en}}
In November 2020, ZPG sold the company Ravensworth back to its original owning entity, The Printed Group.{{cite web |date=18 Nov 2020 |title=ZPG sell off Ravensworth |url=https://propertyindustryeye.com/newsflash-zpg-sell-off-ravensworth/ |publisher=Property Industry Eye}}
In April 2021, the company acquired software provider Yourkeys.{{Cite web |last=Lewis |first=Nigel |date=2021-04-26 |title=BREAKING: Zoopla acquires sales progression platform YourKeys |url=https://thenegotiator.co.uk/yourkeys-zoopla-sales-progression/ |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=The Negotiator |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last=Salisbury |first=Ben |title=Zoopla acquires sales progression platform YourKeys - AIM Group |url=https://aimgroup.com/2021/04/27/zoopla-acquires-sales-progression-platform-yourkeys/ |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=aimgroup.com |language=en-US}}
= 2012: Formation of Zoopla Property Group (ZPG) =
In June 2012, Zoopla and its constabularies formed Zoopla Property Group Ltd.{{cite web |date=1 June 2012 |title=Zoopla and Digital Property Group merger completes |url=http://www.zoopla.co.uk/press/releases/zoopla-and-digital-property-group-merger-completes/ |access-date=8 September 2014}} Zoopla's biggest shareholder, the Daily Mail and General Trust, floated Zoopla on the London Stock Exchange in June 2014.{{cite web |date=18 June 2014 |title=Zoopla float to value property website at £919m |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/jun/18/zoopla-float-property-website-919m-pounds |access-date=8 September 2014 |work=The Guardian}}
In June 2015, Zoopla bought the price comparison website Uswitch for £190m.{{cite news |date=30 April 2015 |title=Zoopla to buy Uswitch price comparison site |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-32529326}} In February 2017, the company changed its name to ZPG plc.{{cite web |date=7 February 2017 |title=Zoopla Property Group changes name to ZPG |url=http://www.propertyportalwatch.com/zoopla-property-group-changes-name-zpg/ |access-date=2 June 2017 |publisher=Property Portal}} In September 2017, Zoopla purchased the financial services comparison website Money.co.uk for £140 million.{{Cite web |title=Zoopla is buying financial comparison site Money.co.uk in deal worth up to £140 million |url=https://nordic.businessinsider.com/zoopla-buys-moneycouk-2017-9/ |access-date=2017-10-06 |website=nordic.businessinsider.com}}{{Cite news |date=2017-09-08 |title=Zoopla buys the financial services of Money.co.uk in deal worth up to £140m |language=en |work=Express.co.uk |url=https://www.express.co.uk/finance/city/851617/zoopla-buys-financial-services-money-co-uk |access-date=2017-10-06}}
= 2018: Acquisition of ZPG by Silver Lake Partners =
In May 2018, US private equity firm Silver Lake Partners made a $2.2 billion bid for ZPG's property division (now Houseful) and its comparison division RVU.{{cite web |date=11 May 2018 |title=Zoopla's parent group ZPG looks set to be taken over by US private equity firm Silver Lake for £2.2bn |url=http://www.cityam.com/285615/zooplas-parent-group-zpg-looks-set-taken-over-us-private |access-date=21 July 2018 |publisher=City AM}}{{cite news |title=Property Refurbishment London |url=https://london-refurbishment-company.co.uk/ |access-date=14 April 2023}} The transaction was completed in July 2018.{{cite web |date=10 July 2018 |title=Court sanctions £2,2 billion ZPG deal |url=https://www.insidermedia.com/insider/national/court-sanctions-2.2bn-zpg-deal |access-date=21 July 2018 |publisher=Inside Media}}
= 2023: ZPG Property Division rebrands as Houseful =
In September 2023, the ZPG property division was renamed Houseful to reflect the evolution of the business from a property website to a software, data and insights business in residential property. ZPG’s comparison division remains known as RVU.{{Cite web |last=Callaghan |first=David |date=2023-09-12 |title=Zoopla parent ZPG rebrands property division as 'Houseful' |url=https://thenegotiator.co.uk/goodbye-zoopla-hello-houseful-says-portal-parent/ |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=The Negotiator |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |title=ZPG's Property Division To Undergo Name Change To Houseful {{!}} Online Marketplaces |url=https://www.onlinemarketplaces.com/articles/zoopla-property-group-to-undergo-name-change-to-houseful/ |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=www.onlinemarketplaces.com |date=12 September 2023 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Zoopla parent company unveils rebrand |url=https://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/breaking-news/2023/9/zoopla-parent-company-unveils-rebrand |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=Estate Agent Today |language=en}}
Operations
Houseful operates across three distinct business units: Homes, Software, and Data and Risk. The Homes business unit includes Zoopla, Mojo Mortgages, and Prime Location.{{Cite web |title=ZPG's Property Division To Undergo Name Change To Houseful {{!}} Online Marketplaces |url=https://www.onlinemarketplaces.com/articles/zoopla-property-group-to-undergo-name-change-to-houseful/ |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=www.onlinemarketplaces.com |date=12 September 2023 |language=en-US}}
The Software business unit connects businesses and consumers, powering more than half of all UK housing transactions each year. It includes brands Alto, Jupix, and Yourkeys.{{Cite web |last=Callaghan |first=David |date=2023-09-12 |title=Zoopla parent ZPG rebrands property division as 'Houseful' |url=https://thenegotiator.co.uk/goodbye-zoopla-hello-houseful-says-portal-parent/ |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=The Negotiator |language=en-GB}}
The Data and Risk business unit is focused on increased automation across the mortgage lending and wider property industries. It includes the brands of Hometrack and Calcasa.
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- [https://www.zpg.co.uk ZPG website]
- [https://www.zoopla.co.uk Zoopla]
{{Real estate in the United Kingdom}}
{{Online real estate databases}}
Category:Real estate companies established in 2007
Category:British real estate websites
Category:Real estate valuation
Category:Property services companies of the United Kingdom
Category:British companies established in 2007
Category:Online real estate databases
Category:Internet properties established in 2007