About Us

Torquay Estate Agents specialising in property in the heart of the English Riviera. Established by John and Eve Lake in 1978 our company has grown to become one of Torbay’s most respected and leading independent estate agents, priding ourselves on our professional approach, extensive local knowledge and an unrivalled service to our clients. Our dedicated team are one of the few agents selling property throughout the whole market, from coastal cottages to luxury homes, small flats to prestigious penthouses. We specialise in a specific area of the beautiful South Devon coastline stretching from Torbay to Teignmouth and the rural villages just inland.

With over 30 years of experience, we have developed an extensive knowledge of the local property market enabling us to offer a wide-ranging service that is both friendly and professional as befits our reputation. We are committed to providing all our customers with individual tailored advice using the wealth of experience offered by our qualified and dedicated sales team. We hold all the traditional values you would expect from a well-established firm combined with the latest innovations and technology, we offer a modern quality approach.

We are proud members of the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) and The Property Ombudsman who are recognised as the leading industry bodies and reinforces our commitment to providing the highest level of service.

From the 1st of September 2011 John Lake Estate Agents will undertake its business as an English Limited Liability Partnership (LLP), whose members have limited liability.
While the business and assets of the firm will be transferred to the new LLP (John Lake Estate Agents LLP) this change of structure will not affect the nature of the service we provide or the identity of the people providing it.
The practical effect of the change is simply that, from the time of conversion, the client relationship will be with the new limited liability partnership. The partnership known as John Lake Estate Agents will stop taking on new business on 31 August 2011 and the new LLP will be responsible to clients for all new and current work rather than the partners of the previous partnership. If you have any questions about this change, please speak to your usual contact.
John Lake Estate Agents LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales (LLP Number OC365430) whose registered office is at The Old Town Hall, Manor Road, St Marychurch, Torquay, TQ1 3JS. The word 'Partner' means a member of John Lake Estate Agents LLP or someone with equivalent standing.

Meet the team:

	John Lake - Managing Partner
	FNAEA FNAVA
	Having being brought up in Devon's Exe Valley, John entered the profession in 1968 as an articled pupil with a large firm of auctioneers and valuers in Bristol where he progressed to establish a new office in Bath for the company before returning to Devon with his family in 1974. After furthering his career for four years with a local independent firm in Torquay, John started his own partnership in 1978 and is still very much at the forefront of the business today. He is a Fellow of both the National Association of Estate Agents and National Association of Valuers and Auctioneers.
	Email: john@johnlake.co.uk Tel: 01803 328899

	Neil Bartlett - Partner
	FNAEA CPEA
	Neil Joined the firm in 1998 as an apprentice following work experience and his professional attitude and hard work soon elevated him through the ranks, becoming a Partner in September 2011. Throughout his time with the company he has gained his Certificate of Practice in Residential Estate Agency and NVQ levels II & III whilst also achieving the highly regarded Fellowship of the National Association of Estate Agents when he was 25, the youngest eligible age. Neil has also passed the Technical Award in Residential Lettings & Property Management. A proud Torquay boy born and bred, Neil has extensive knowledge of the areas we cover and a true passion for the profession.
	Email: neil@johnlake.co.uk Tel: 01803 328899

	Eve Lake - Partner

	Eve formed the company with her husband John and as a team, gradually built up the business which moved to larger premises in St Marychurch in 1999. These offices now form our commercial department following our move to the Old Town Hall in 2006. Eve plays an important role in the general smooth running of the firm, mainly dealing with the administrative side of the business and is a vital cog in the John Lake wheel, enforcing the family ethos and traditional values our clients have come to love about our company.
	Email: eve@johnlake.co.uk Tel: 01803 328899

	James Bovey - Office Manager
	MNAEA
	James joined the firm in 2002 as a trainee and has been an integral part of our team since (apart from a short spell with a large indpendent agent in Berkshire) and was promoted to office manager in 2010. He is a true Torquinian born and raised with a comprehensive understanding of the local property market. James reinforces his commitment to high standards within our industry being a member of the National Association of Estate Agents and was one of the first group of professionals to pass the NAEA Technical Award in Residential Estate Agency as well as gaining his NVQ levels II and III.
	Email: james@johnlake.co.uk Tel: 01803 328899

	Susan Pitman - Negotiator

	Susan is our newest member of the team joining us in 2009 following a lengthy term with an established rural firm specialising in country homes, farms and equestrian properties. Her enthusiasm is infectious and makes her a popular member of the team with clients and purchasers alike. A local girl, Susan has a wealth of knowledge about Devon property and has a wonderful understanding of matching the right people with their perfect home.
	Email: susan@johnlake.co.uk Tel: 01803 328899

	Carolyn Axtell - Administator

	Carolyn joined the firm in 2001 and is the linchpin of the company, solely office based and has a relentless task making sure the rest of the team are working efficiently. Usually the first port of call when contacting our office, Carolyn deals with all the office administration from appointment booking to creating brochures and marketing material which without these instrumental components none of the team could conduct their jobs professionally.
	Email: property@johnlake.co.uk Tel: 01803 328899

	Lynne Dodson - Negotiator

	Lynne is an experienced negotiator who joined the the company in 2005 to provide us with valuable part time and weekend cover. John & Eve Lake were impressed with Lynne's professional and personal approach when selling their son and daughter-in-law their first home whilst employed by a rival corporate agency. They did not hesitate to invite Lynne to join the firm when made aware she was seeking a job move and she immediately established herself as a repected member of the John Lake family.
	Email: property@johnlake.co.uk Tel: 01803 328899