About Us

Property Management and Chartered Surveying Since 1896

B Bailey Property Management Ltd has been looking after residential and commercial property throughout London and the South East for over 125 years.

Founded in Cranbrook Road, Ilford in 1896, we remain part of the local community to this day. Few property firms can trace their history back over 125 years and fewer still have continued to serve clients from the same road throughout that period.

Today, our core business is the management of blocks of flats, commercial property, residential portfolios and mixed-use developments. We act for resident management companies, right to manage companies, freeholders, investors, developers and private landlords, providing practical advice and hands-on management tailored to each client’s requirements.

Unlike many managing agents, we are also Chartered Surveyors regulated by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). This allows us to deal with building defects, major works, leasehold matters, service charge issues, valuations and landlord and tenant disputes in-house, without the need to continually refer matters to external consultants.

Whether you own a single property or an extensive portfolio, you can be confident that your property is being looked after by an experienced team with a proven track record stretching back more than a century.

125+

Years of Experience

500+

Properties Managed

100%

Independent Family Firm

RICS Regulated

Today

What sets B Bailey apart

Practical property management backed by Chartered Surveyor expertise — still independent, still local.

Management & surveying together

Block, commercial and residential management with in-house RICS advice on defects, major works, valuations and leasehold issues — so you are not continually referred elsewhere.

Family firm, not a call centre

Four generations of stewardship on Cranbrook Road. You deal with experienced people who know your buildings and answer to clients, not corporate targets.

London & the South East

Deep local knowledge with portfolio reach — for freeholders, RMCs, RTMs, investors, developers and private landlords across the region.

Our heritage

A Family Business
Since 1896

Few property firms can trace their history back over 125 years. Fewer still have remained under the stewardship of the same family for over a century.

1896

The foundation

Ben Bailey establishes the practice on Cranbrook Road, building a reputation for professionalism and integrity as Ilford expands.

1929

The Gunby chapter

Edwin H. Gunby, with the firm since 1904, acquires the business and continues to grow the practice through challenging decades.

1949

Service & succession

Ben Gunby joins after Royal Navy service and guides the firm through post-war redevelopment across Ilford and beyond.

1993–today

Specialist surveying

Peter Gunby FRICS becomes Principal, evolving the firm into specialist Chartered Surveyors and Property Managers — still independent, still local.

The full family story

From Ben Bailey’s founding of the practice to Peter Gunby FRICS today — four generations on Cranbrook Road.

B Bailey was founded in 1896 by Ben Bailey, a prominent property professional whose experience extended from major London developments to the rapid expansion of Ilford at the turn of the twentieth century. Born in Dublin in 1857, Ben Bailey established a reputation for professionalism, integrity and public service which continues to influence the firm today.

At a time when Ilford was transforming from a rural community into one of Essex’s most important towns, Ben Bailey was closely involved with many of the developments which shaped the area. His work extended beyond Essex and included involvement in major London property interests, including the celebrated Hotel Cecil development in Westminster, one of the most prestigious building projects of its era.

Alongside his professional work, Ben Bailey played a significant role in local civic life, serving as Chairman of Ilford Urban Council, President of Ilford Football Club and Chairman of the Ilford Emergency Hospital, the forerunner to King George Hospital. He was instrumental in many aspects of Ilford’s growth during the late Victorian and Edwardian periods and was widely respected throughout the community.

Following Ben Bailey’s death in 1929, the business was acquired by Edwin H. Gunby, who had joined the firm in 1904 and risen through the ranks to become its manager. Edwin had served with the Royal Horse Artillery during the South African War and later saw action during the First World War, where he was wounded at the Battle of the Somme. Returning to civilian life, he continued to expand the practice and became involved in a number of significant land transactions, including land acquisitions for the Ford Motor Company at Dagenham.

In 1949 Edwin’s son, Ben Gunby, joined the practice following distinguished service with the Royal Navy during the Second World War, including service on the Atlantic and Malta convoys. Under his leadership the firm played an active role in the post-war redevelopment of Ilford and the surrounding area. During this period the practice expanded its surveying and property management activities and established the foundations of the modern business.

The current Managing Director, Peter Gunby FRICS, became Principal of the practice in 1993. Under Peter’s leadership the business evolved from a traditional estate agency practice into a specialist firm of Chartered Surveyors and Property Managers. Today the company manages residential and commercial property throughout London and the South East, whilst retaining the personal service and professional standards upon which the practice was built.

For more than 125 years, Bailey’s has remained part of the Cranbrook Road community. Whilst the practice has occupied several offices over the years, including rebuilding following the loss of its original premises during the Second World War, the firm continues to operate from Cranbrook Road to this day.

From our offices in Cranbrook Road, Ilford, we continue a tradition of property management and professional advice which has now spanned four generations and more than 125 years.

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