Key Facts
| Company name | Fast home sale “TRADING AS FRANCIS GROUP” |
|---|---|
| Also trading as | Francis Property Group; Need A Fast Home Sale appears to be an older/alternate marketing identity linked to the same business. |
| Companies House no. | 8281372 |
| Incorporated | 5 November 2012 |
| Year founded | Unknown |
| Corporate structure | Standalone private limited company |
| SIC code | 68100 |
| Operating model | Direct cash buyer (mixed internal/external funding) |
| Geographic coverage | UK-wide |
| Typical offer | Unstated. The site says it can beat competitors and make good offers, but does not publish a standard percentage discount range. |
| Typical timeline | Website says as little as 7 days; FAQ says often 2–3 days; sellers can also choose a later completion date. |
| Legal fees | Unknown |
| TPO member | Yes |
| NAPB member | Yes |
| Official website | fasthomesaletradingasfrancisgroup.co.uk |
PSW Company Index
Three independent measures, built from verifiable data rather than the company's marketing: how its offer compares with the cash-buyer sector, how quickly it completes, and how openly it operates. Every input is shown so you can check the working.
Transparency signals
Good-practice signals
- Member of The Property Ombudsman (TPO)
- Member of the NAPB
- Complaints procedure published
- Typical offer level disclosed
- Data protection / privacy in place
- Independent redress / ombudsman route
- Legal fees policy stated
Contract red flags
- Conditional or hidden fees noted
- Late price-reduction pattern
- Tie-in / exclusivity required
- Early contract before completion
- Requires use of their solicitors
- Restricts marketing elsewhere
- Exit penalties mentioned
How these are calculated. Offer Fairness ranks the company's stated offer (as a % of market value) within the cash-buyer sector — all cash offers are below open-market value. Completion Speed is the fastest completion the company advertises, shown as a fact, not a score, because most firms advertise a similar best case; confirm any timescale in writing. Transparency adds points for TPO/NAPB membership, a published complaints procedure, a disclosed offer level, data-protection registration, an independent redress route and a stated legal-fees policy, and deducts for contract red flags; only publicly verifiable signals score. Full methodology.
Company Overview
Francis Property Group appears to operate as a direct cash-buying business rather than a pure investor marketplace. The website says sellers deal directly with the company, with no middlemen, that it makes a formal cash offer, covers sales and legal costs, and can complete in as little as 7 days. The FAQ goes further, saying it can often complete in 2–3 days, has cash waiting for purchases, and uses trusted solicitors who can work to its timelines. The site also says it buys a wide range of property types, including poor-condition homes, rental properties, land, development properties and probate stock. Public filings support that this is a real established property company rather than a newly formed shell. However, the company’s charge history shows repeated use of external secured finance, so the best evidence-led reading is not “purely own cash in every case” but a direct buyer with a mixed funding footprint. Sellers should therefore clarify the exact contracting entity, whether funds for their specific deal are already in place, and whether any third-party lender drawdown still sits behind completion.
Products, Services & Process
Property types accepted
Residential — any condition
- Contact the company by phone or online form to provide property details.
- Receive a no-obligation indicative cash offer, typically within 24 hours.
- If the offer is of interest, a formal valuation is carried out.
- A formal offer is made. If accepted, solicitors are instructed.
- Choose a completion date to suit your circumstances.
- Contracts exchanged and funds transferred on the agreed date.
Fees & Pricing
Francis Property Group markets itself on price certainty as well as speed. The homepage says it takes a longer-term investment view so it can pay more than competitors, and it explicitly states that the offer made is the price the seller will get, with no sudden deductions toward the end of the process. The FAQ also says poor condition typically does not affect the offer because the business takes a longer-term return-on-investment view. Those are strong claims compared with many fast-sale operators. However, the public material does not clearly explain the pricing method behind those claims. There is no clear published breakdown of valuation inputs, survey timing, or the circumstances in which an offer could still change. One testimonial also recognises that a refurbishment case was bought at a materially lower price than the finished resale value, which is consistent with a margin-based direct-buy model rather than full-market-value pricing. Overall, the available evidence suggests a pricing model based on buying below open-market value in exchange for speed and certainty, but with the exact discount mechanism and review points not fully disclosed in public. Sellers should clarify the valuation basis and whether any later legal or property findings could alter the price.
What Offer to Expect
Cash-buying companies pay below the open market in exchange for speed and certainty. The benchmarks below are worked on the current UK average house price of £270,080 (HM Land Registry / ONS UK House Price Index, June 2026). Your own figure depends on your property's value and condition.
On the UK-average £270,080 home, a cash offer works out at roughly £203,000–£230,000. Open-market figure is before agent and legal fees. Source: HM Land Registry / ONS UK House Price Index, June 2026.
| Route | Typical proceeds | On a £270,080 home | Typical speed | Sale falls through? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash-buying company | 75–85% of market value | £203,000–£230,000 | 7–28 days | Very low |
| Open-market sale (estate agent) | Close to full market value, minus agent & legal fees | ~£270,080 less fees | about 5–6 months (≈25 weeks) | roughly 25–35% (about 1 in 3) |
Offers can fall below 70% for properties needing significant work.
Benchmarks: HM Land Registry / ONS UK House Price Index; Rightmove; Zoopla; Propertymark; TwentyCi. The cash-offer range reflects independent consumer guidance, not figures supplied by cash-buying companies. Illustrative only — verified June 2026.
Cash Sale vs Estate Agent vs Auction
How the three main ways to sell a home compare on the factors that matter most to sellers.
Fast home sale “TRADING AS FRANCIS GROUP”'s figure is its advertised fastest completion — confirm any timescale in writing. Approximate time from agreement (or listing, for the open market) to completion. Sources: Rightmove; Zoopla; Propertymark; TwentyCi.
| Factor | Cash-buying company | Estate agent (open market) | Auction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical proceeds | 75–85% of market value | Close to full market value (minus fees) | Variable — reserve plus hammer price |
| Typical timeline | 7–28 days | about 5–6 months (≈25 weeks) | ~6–10 weeks (incl. 28-day completion) |
| Sale falls through? | Very low | roughly 25–35% (about 1 in 3) | around 15% |
| Fees to you | Usually none — buyer covers legal costs | Agent commission (~1–2%+VAT), legal, EPC | Auction/entry fees, legal pack |
| Effort required | Minimal | Viewings, staging, chain management | Legal pack, viewings, reserve setting |
Sources: Propertymark; TwentyCi (fall-through); Rightmove; Zoopla (timelines); HM Land Registry / ONS UK House Price Index (prices). Verified June 2026.
Funding & Completion Stability
Publicly available information suggests stronger completion control than a typical introducer model because the website repeatedly presents Francis Property Group as the principal buyer and because Companies House shows an established active company with well over a decade of trading history. The site says it can complete in as little as 7 days, or often 2–3 days, and stresses that sellers deal directly with it rather than through middlemen. That points toward a direct-buyer structure. At the same time, the funding picture is more nuanced than the marketing implies. The website says it always uses its own money, but Companies House shows a significant secured lending footprint with 46 registered charges and 40 outstanding, including charges in favour of Together Commercial Finance, Landbay Partners, Birmingham Bank, ModaMortgages, MT Finance and others. That does not prove instability on any given deal, but it does suggest a lender-supported property business rather than a purely unleveraged cash buyer in every case. Sellers who want maximum certainty should clarify whether funds for their specific transaction are already in place, whether any lender drawdown is still needed, and when proof of funds can be shown.
Reviews & Reputation
The clearest review-style material currently visible is first-party testimonial content on the company’s own website rather than a large, independently verifiable review footprint. Those testimonials describe agreed prices, completion on the agreed day, flexibility around delayed completion, and straightforward communication. That suggests the company wants to position itself as a relationship-led local direct buyer. However, website testimonials do not prove that all future transactions will follow the same path. The stronger external evidence currently available is on redress and trade-body positioning rather than review volume.
- Speed of sale and fast initial response
- Professional and helpful staff
- No fees or hassle compared to traditional sale
What reviewers praise
- Offer below market value
- Limited review evidence
- Uncertainty over completion timeline
Common complaints
Complaints & Common Issues
The public-facing material gives a relatively seller-friendly impression on process control, because the site says the seller deals directly with the company, can choose the completion date, and will not face sudden deductions before completion. It also says all sales and legal costs are covered. That wording suggests a direct-buyer pitch rather than an obvious investor-matching arrangement. However, the contract mechanics are not well disclosed in the public material reviewed. I did not find accessible public terms explaining whether the company uses option agreements, exclusivity periods, assignment rights, reservation forms, withdrawal fees, or any restriction on marketing elsewhere. The FAQ also says the business has its own trusted solicitors who can work to its timelines; that may help speed things up, but sellers should still clarify whether using those solicitors is optional and whether independent legal advice is expected. Overall, the contract-risk profile is not clearly evidenced either way from public pages alone. Sellers should ask to see draft paperwork early and confirm whether there are any lock-ins, fees, or seller obligations that go beyond a straightforward purchase at the agreed price.
Customer Support
| Phone | Not published — see official website |
|---|---|
| Not published — contact via website form | |
| Response time | Within 24 hours |
Regulatory & Compliance
Company History & Timeline
- UnknownIncorporated: 5 November 2012
Ownership & Leadership
| Current directors | Geoffrey James Porton |
|---|---|
| Prior related entities | Yes Companies House shows previous company names: Francis HMO Management Limited and Francis HMO Limited. NAPB also links the business to the “Need A Fast Home Sale” identity. |
| Registered address | Barratts House, Kingsthorpe Road, Northampton, England, NN2 6EZ |
Fast home sale “TRADING AS FRANCIS GROUP” vs Alternatives
How Fast home sale “TRADING AS FRANCIS GROUP” compares with other independently profiled cash buyers on the terms sellers ask about most. Figures are drawn from each company's own Property Sale Watchdog profile and reflect the same assessment methodology.
| Factor | Fast home sale “TRADING AS FRANCIS GROUP” (this profile) | The Property Buying Company | Open Property Group | We Buy Any Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Typical offer | Unstated. The site says it can beat competitors and make good offers, but does not publi… | Typically 15%–35%+ below market (based on reviews) | Below market / variable. Review evidence includes sellers who explicitly accepted a lowe… | Commonly marketed as up to c.80–85% of market value; review evidence suggests some outco… |
| Typical timeline | Website says as little as 7 days; FAQ says often 2–3 days; sellers can also choose a lat… | Advertised fast (7–28 days); reviews suggest often longer or variable | Marketed as within 7 days, sometimes 24 hours or 6 weeks; review evidence ranges from un… | Headline claim: around 7 days or less / in a timeframe that suits the seller; review evi… |
| Legal fees | Unknown | Free | Free | Seller pays own |
| TPO member | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| NAPB member | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| PSW risk rating | Risk Unknown | Medium Risk | Medium Risk | High Risk |
All comparison companies are independently profiled on Property Sale Watchdog. Compare key terms, memberships and risk ratings before committing to any single buyer.
View The Property Buying Company profile → View Open Property Group profile → View We Buy Any Home profile →
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Fast completion possible — as little as 7 days stated
- No estate agent fees
- Member of both The Property Ombudsman (TPO) and the NAPB
- Buys properties in any condition
Cons
- Unstated. The site says it can beat competitors and make good offers, but does not publish a standard percentage discount range — below open-market value
- Price reduction risk cannot be ruled out
- Funding model requires independent verification
- Limited published completion rate data
Frequently Asked Questions
Fast home sale “TRADING AS FRANCIS GROUP” is registered at Companies House (number 8281372). TPO status: Yes. NAPB status: Yes. Sellers should verify proof of funds and the contracting entity before proceeding.
Fast home sale “TRADING AS FRANCIS GROUP” offers Unstated. The site says it can beat competitors and make good offers, but does not publish a standard percentage discount range. based on publicly available information. This reflects the trade-off for speed, certainty, and no selling fees. The actual figure will depend on property condition, location, and market conditions at the time of valuation.
Based on publicly available information, Fast home sale “TRADING AS FRANCIS GROUP” states typical completion is Website says as little as 7 days; FAQ says often 2–3 days; sellers can also choose a later completion date.. Actual timelines may vary depending on property type, legal complexity, and the route used.
Fast home sale “TRADING AS FRANCIS GROUP” TPO membership: Yes. NAPB membership: Yes. Both organisations require members to follow a code of practice and provide sellers with an independent redress route. Sellers should verify membership status directly with the relevant bodies.
Based on available information, Fast home sale “TRADING AS FRANCIS GROUP”‘s legal fee policy is: Unknown. Sellers should confirm this directly with the company and check whether any conditions apply to legal fee coverage.
The late price reduction pattern for Fast home sale “TRADING AS FRANCIS GROUP” is recorded as: Unknown. Sellers should ask the company to confirm the formal offer in writing, clarify what conditions could cause the price to change, and at what stage the offer becomes legally binding.
Fast home sale “TRADING AS FRANCIS GROUP” primarily buys residential properties in any condition across the UK. The company states it will consider properties regardless of condition. Sellers with unusual or commercial properties should confirm eligibility directly with the company.
Sellers should be more cautious if their main priority is achieving the highest possible open-market price, if they are uncomfortable with incomplete public contract disclosure, or if they want clear pre-transaction proof that a buyer is entirely self-funded with no lender involvement. The website uses strong “own money” and “no deductions” language, but Companies House shows a substantial secured…
Who This Suits & Who Should Be Cautious
May suit sellers who…
This structure may suit sellers who place a high value on speed, simplicity, and dealing directly with one buyer rather than marketing widely through an estate agent. Based on the company’s own positioning, it may be particularly relevant for homeowners whose sale has fallen through, people facing financial pressure, probate sellers, owners of poor-condition property, landlords disposing of rental stock, and sellers who want a flexible completion timetable. The site’s message is clearly built around convenience: no estate agent process, no seller fees, direct dealing, and the ability to complete quickly or at a later date chosen by the seller. That can be attractive where certainty is worth more than chasing full open-market value. It may also suit sellers who prefer a local operator with an established company history rather than a newly launched national lead-generation brand. Even so, suitability depends on accepting a likely below-market direct-buy price and on being comfortable after checking the deal-specific funding and contract terms.
Be cautious if you…
Sellers should be more cautious if their main priority is achieving the highest possible open-market price, if they are uncomfortable with incomplete public contract disclosure, or if they want clear pre-transaction proof that a buyer is entirely self-funded with no lender involvement. The website uses strong “own money” and “no deductions” language, but Companies House shows a substantial secured lending footprint, so anyone who wants maximum certainty should ask detailed, deal-specific questions rather than relying on headline marketing alone. Caution is also sensible where a seller wants to understand exactly how the price is calculated, when any survey or legal review happens, whether a preferred solicitor is effectively being steered, and whether any exclusivity, lock-in, or withdrawal terms sit in the paperwork even though they are not clearly disclosed on public pages. In short, this may be less suitable for sellers who need maximum transparency on contract mechanics before deciding whether to proceed.