Our Story

Our Story

We are Alexandre Boyes

Peter Boyes established Alexandre Boyes Independent Estate Agents & Independent Letting Agents in 1998 after a long career at Alan de Maid. Peter wanted to use his extensive professional and personal knowledge of Tunbridge Wells to open an Estate Agent which would be flexible to clients’ demands and put customer service at the heart of the house buying experience. Under Peter’s stewardship Alexandre Boyes became the only residential firm in Tunbridge Wells to be accredited to train staff for membership of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, with responsibility for over 20 members of staff, nearly 3000 properties under management, and becoming one of the longest established resolutely independent sales agents in the town.

Nearly 30 years later and Alexandre Boyes is a multi disciplined professional family run firm regulated by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors with teams in residential sales, residential lettings and estate & block management. In 2017 we acquired the sales and lettings book of Foxwood Maclean in Edenbridge. Our fee earning staff are members of the RICS or TPI and / or have over 10 years industry experience as we believe in a combination of genuine professional knowledge & values with a forward thinking approach to marketing and service.

We would like to take this opportunity to say thank you very much for your extremely professional and friendly service over the last two-and-a-half years. Rachel and Dan – along with others – have been first-class in helping us enjoy our time living here and always been incredibly responsive and progressive. They are both a significant credit to Alexandre Boyes.

Tenants

Our Values

Knowledge
Our staff have exceptional local and professional knowledge and we strive to always be at the top of our profession.

Personal Service
Our clients feel as if they are our only client. We go the extra mile because we want to, not because we feel we have to.

Reputation
We are a family business, our name is over the door and we are very proud of that. We treat our clients with respect, that way they recommend us to their friends and colleagues.

Investment in staff
The staff at Alexandre Boyes are our most important asset. We invest in comprehensive training to help staff develop to their full potential.

The timeline

1998

Back in 1998, John Alexandre and Peter Boyes were quick to spot an opportunity to open a best in class residential sales agency in Tunbridge Wells. Alexandre Boyes was born. At the opening party on 31 July, Lord Weatherall, former speaker of the House of Commons and longstanding friend of John Alexandre, delivered a memorable opening speech whilst standing on one of the newly installed desks. Nearly twenty years on, with a team of over 20 staff members, we remain an independent, family run business. Here are some highlights from our history.

1999

Newly graduated from the University of Reading, Dan Boyes joined the business. John Alexandre retired from the partnership.

2002

Kate Boyes was in London working for a leading commercial property consultancy. From a telephone box in St James’s Square, she called Peter and asked for a job. Peter said no.

2003

Kate tried again, this time pitching the idea of setting up a Residential Lettings department. Peter eventually agreed and she joined Alexandre Boyes in the summer.
Alexandre Boyes received accreditation by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) to train staff (and we’re still the only independent estate agent in Tunbridge Wells to have this).

2004

Kate became a member of the RICS and Fellow of the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA). Alexandre Boyes’ first electronic mail was sent and our first website launched.

2007

After numerous requests from existing landlord clients, Alexandre Boyes expanded to offer block management services. Dan and Kate became Partners.

2009

Kate headhunted Emma Gasson to the lettings team who shorty after qualified for her ARLA membership. Sharon Caulfield-Browne joined our block management bookkeepers team.

2010

As ‘the best lettings office in West Kent and East Sussex with consistently high performance’, we were awarded Lettings Office of the year at the West Kent Property Awards and shortlisted for the Best Block Management Office in The Times & Sunday Times Letting Agency of The Year awards.

2011

Our Grade II listed offices on Mount Ephraim had an extensive refurbishment resulting in a flexible contemporary workspace.
Winners of the Silver Award for Best Single Lettings office in the South East and shortlisted for the Best Block Management Office at the Times & Sunday Times Letting Agency of The Year awards.

2012

Alexandre Boyes was awarded another Silver at the Times & Sunday Times Letting Agency of The Year awards. We were also commended in the Best Block Management Office category. Shortlisted for Best Single Lettings Office.

2013

Appointed as the residential letting agent for Tunbridge Wells Borough Council on an initial two year contract. Peter Boyes officially retired from 47 years in the property industry. We became responsible for insuring more than £100 million of property in declared values. We joined Facebook.

2014

Kate launched a national product, RESIDENT, an online property solution for leaseholders and freeholders to self-manage blocks of flats. Rachel North joins as Head of Property Management.

2015

Kate develops RESIDENT into block management software for managing agents. Resident is selected for the Alpha Class of 2015 at the Dublin Web Summit.

Kate was appointed to the board member of ARLA, the UK’s foremost professional body for letting agents Alexandre Boyes won Gold for Property Management Company of the Year.

A dedicated block management team were taken on along with our new office at 43 Mount Ephraim and Alexandre Boyes Maintenance is added to our services.

Rachel Norris joined the lettings team and Kevin Guthrie join our block management team.

2016

Alexandre Boyes started its first full year trading as a Group of Companies. Version 3 of Kate’s block management software RESIDENT was launched and is now used by c.250 managing agents across the UK and Ireland. Clare Hopkin joined the block management team.

2017

AB were appointed to sell Sunset Lodge on behalf of the Salvation Army. We advised the developer purchaser on estate management and service charges, re-sale values and buy to let values and agreed sales on the developed properties.

Appointed on Tunbridge Wells first build to rent scheme.

Our management portfolio now reaches 2500 properties.

The block management portfolio grew to over 100 blocks from West London to Tunbridge Wells to the South Coast. Marek joins as AB’s web developer and Daniel Walker joins as property manager

Alexandre Boyes Group acquired renowned Edenbridge estate agents Foxwood Maclean to combine unrivalled local knowledge with a shared culture of outstanding customer service.

2018

Ashleigh joined the team and we relocated from Edenbridge to East Grinstead. The first build to rent development was completed and all 23 apartments were let within 6 weeks.

2019

We celebrated our 21st Birthday and Emma celebrated 10 years at AB. We re-sold the first property we ever sold in 1998. We launched the third edition of our website. Rachel North is appointed Operations Manager

2020

AB Virtual was established offering Valuations, Viewings and Site Inspections online often via Zoom!.
Alexandre Boyes created and started offering a new block management hybrid book keeping service.

2021

We launched our current website designed and hosted by our sister company, Resident.
We created the Alexandre Boyes Green policy encouraging our team and clients to adopt climate friendly communication as much as possible.
Our Letting team launched AB Lettings Online offering a cost effective 'pay as you go' Lettings initiative for Landlords.

Kirsty joined the block management team.

2022

The East Grinstead lettings portfolio centralised to head office. Ashleigh joined our block management team.

2023

 AB said goodbye to 3rd generation Gracie Boyes who left to travel and study, AB celebrates its 25th silver anniversary.

Kirsty qualifies as an Associate Member of The Property Institute'. RICS audit our Client Money Handling compliance. Kim becomes our Block Management Compliance Co-ordinator

2024

This year Rachel North and Resident celebrate 10 years. The Rent Reform Bill is likely to be passed.

Block Management launched Alexandre Boyes prime being small select portfolios where property managers look after a capped number of clients. Alexandre Boyes appointed by Berkeley Homes to manage Royal Wells Park an estate of 202 units in Tunbridge Wells seeking a local estate management company.

Our people

Dan Boyes

SALES

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Kate Boyes

DIRECTOR

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Rachel Norris

LETTINGS DIRECTOR

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Rachel North

OPERATIONS DIRECTOR

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Clare Hopkin

SERVICE CHARGE BOOKKEEPER

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Sharon Caulfield-Browne

CREDIT CONTROL

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Kevin Guthrie

Estate & Block Property Manager

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Ashleigh Taylor

Estate & Block Property Manager

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Julie Heyworth

Estate & Block Property Manager

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Daniel Walker

Head of Property Management | Lettings

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Kirsty Davis

Estate & Block Property Manager

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Kim Leonard

COMPLIANCE CO-ORDINATOR

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Sharon Atkins

SERVICE CHARGE BOOKKEEPER

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Mark Bryant

MAINTENANCE

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Marek Czajkowski

WEB DEVELOPER & GRAPHIC DESIGNER

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Frank Taylor

HEAD OF PRESALES

We are here for you

Our Lettings team is happy to answer your questions. Please feel free to give us a call on 01892 525522 or at rachel.norris@alexandre-boyes.co.uk

Client Money
Protection

We are a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) (membership number 784294) who provide a RICS Clients Money Protection Scheme.

Your money in held in accordance with the RICS client money protection rules, limits and exceptions which  can be found at RICS website:

What people say about us?

I just wanted to say a big “thank you” to Dan and his team for all the effort they have put into assisting us with our house purchase. They were always very responsive to our queries and were willing to go the extra mile to ensure that any issues were addressed as smoothly, calmly and efficiently as possible. Having been on the buyer’s side of a transaction and experienced the levels of service and professionalism that Dan and his team gave, I would be sure to instruct them for any future sales as I know they will do everything possible to ensure the process is as efficient and stress-free as it can be.

Purchaser

Purchaser:

I just wanted to thank you for your help and support. Assuming our purchase goes to plan, I hope not to need an estate agent for a good few years! But when I do I’ll be sure to come back to Alexandre Boyes. You and Kate and your teams have given me excellent, professional services and support with the flat over the past three years for which I’m very grateful.

Vendor:

Dan – Thank you for doing such a great job. Your levels of service, professionalism and expertise are second to none and we will be recommending you to everyone we know with a house to sell. We hope Alexandre Boyes continues to grow and thrive and wish you all the best for the future

Landlord:

Thanks so much for all your hard work so far. I have been really impressed with how much you have kept me informed with your information and how trustworthy and honest you all seem to be. It is much appreciated.

Tenant:

Thank you for seeing that these issues were resolved quickly and professionally. We are very impressed with high standard of service we received. Especially on a Sunday which we can appreciate must have been inconvenient.

They are pro-active in their approach to both day to day and longer term issues and adopt a very cost conscious attitude to any items of expenditure. This links in with their overall financial management ethos of providing timely and accurate information, which is much appreciated.

Resident of Managed Estate

In just over three months since their appointment Alexandre Boyes have achieved more than our previous managing agents did in a year.

Resident of Managed Estate

Just want to thank you for the kindness, professionalism, effectiveness and hard work on the letting and selling of Flat 3, with a great result.

Resident of Managed Estate

Thank you also for your very efficient and helpful service. You all make running a small BTL business a lot less stressful than it could be.

Landlord

Thank you so much for everything Emma. Your company has made the transition from Canada to Europe for us very easy

Tenant

We needed an agent that we felt would take care of everything and make the whole process as stress free as possible. You were the only agent that made us feel like that.

Landlord

Landlord:

Alexandre Boyes have been invaluable to me as a landlord and for buying my home. They are friendly, knowledgeable and efficient. I’ve been using Alexandre Boyes for well over 10 years now, I trust their judgement and wouldn’t want to use anyone else to let my house with.

Landlord:

Always helpful, professional and efficient. Using Alexandre Boyes takes all the stress out of the tenant process

Landlord:

Alexandre Boyes have looked after us for over twenty years and have never failed in finding us superb Tenants. We would never consider approaching any other Agents. In our opinion they are the most professional, most understanding and we highly recommend them