Arden, a proudly female-led business, has built its reputation on personal service, professionalism, and a people-first approach. With Smart Property’s director Kat Usher joining the Arden leadership team as a partner, that ethos is only set to grow stronger.

Catriona Smith, senior partner at Arden, said: “This is a big and exciting step for us - not just in terms of growth, but in how we can support our clients.

“Kat and I share a similar outlook when it comes to doing business: putting people first, being hands-on, and keeping standards high. It made complete sense to bring our teams together.”

The acquisition marks a significant milestone for Arden, broadening its portfolio and service offering to include property sourcing, refurbishment advice, insurance claim support, and access to a network of private investors – giving landlords more opportunities to grow and future-proof their portfolios.

As part of the transition, Phil Nugent, who co-founded and led Smart Property alongside Ms Usher for over 25 years, will be stepping back from day-to-day operations to focus on other business ventures.

Ms Usher said: “Joining forces with Arden felt like a natural next step. I’ve known Catriona for many years and always admired the way she runs things. The fit felt right from the start – our values align and we’re both passionate about delivering great service.”

The expanded agency will continue to operate under the Arden Property Management name, with no disruption to existing service.