Charlie Mullins built a business fixing other people’s problems, but the real puzzle was the high-stakes financial deal that took Pimlico Plumbers out of his hands. As of 2025, the company he founded is no longer his, having been absorbed into a vast network of franchises backed by private equity.

Founded: 1979 | Revenue (2015): £20 million | Headquarters: London, UK | Founder: Charlie Mullins | Status: Operational as of 2025 | Employees (approx.): 300+

Company Facts

  • Founded 1979 by Charlie Mullins
  • Revenue reached £20 million in 2015, per Wikipedia summary
  • Based in London, UK

Founder Snapshot

  • Charlie Mullins, age approx. 70
  • Net worth estimated at £70 million, per Express report
  • Children: 5

Recent Events

  • Sold 90% stake in September 2021, per BBC News
  • Buyer was US home-services group Neighborly
  • Still operating as a leading brand under Neighborly

Current Ownership

  • Owner as of 2025: Toscafund Asset Management / Penta Capital
  • Registration: 02012715 (Companies House)
  • Known for: 24/7 plumbing, heating, electrical, building

Key Facts

Full Name Pimlico Plumbers Limited
Registration 02012715 (Companies House)
Owner (as of 2025) Toscafund Asset Management / Penta Capital
Known For 24/7 plumbing, heating, electrical, building
Instagram Followers 12,000+

The deal that defined the modern Pimlico Plumbers was not a simple sale. It was a complex transaction that involved a global franchisor, a private-equity backer, and a founder willing to bet on a larger corporate structure.

The purchase was led by Neighborly, a massive franchise platform, in a move that took the London-based independent operation into the hands of an international brand-holder. This wasn’t just any acquisition; it was a strategic alignment of a high-end service brand with a global network, and it changed the ownership structure entirely.

How Much Did Charlie Sell Pimlico Plumbing For?

Sale price details

The sale was reported to be worth between £125 million and £145 million, according to BBC News. Bloomberg reported at the end of 2021 that Charlie Mullins sold Pimlico Plumbers to KKR for £140 million. Mullins sold a 90% stake in Pimlico Plumbers in September 2021, as confirmed by BBC News.

The implication: The deal value placed Pimlico Plumbers among the most significant UK home-services transactions, but the founder’s personal proceeds were less than the headline figure because he retained a stake.

Buyer and transaction date

The critical shift occurred in September 2021, when Neighborly, a global franchisor of home-services brands, announced it had acquired Pimlico Plumbers. The deal was backed by Toscafund, a major investor, and involved the creation of a holding company. According to a report by Oaklins, the business advisory firm involved in the transaction, this was a moment of “perfect alignment” for the UK’s largest independent home-services company and the global franchisor.

“It was the right time to step back and let new leadership take over.” — Charlie Mullins, in press interview

Following the acquisition, Mullins remained involved for a period to ensure a smooth transition. A private-equity industry profile on Preqin, a private-markets data platform, identified the current investor as Dwyer Group, Inc., a Neighborly-related corporate name, and confirmed the acquisition date.

The sale meant Pimlico Plumbers, once a symbol of a British success story, became a small part of a much larger, privately-owned conglomerate whose ultimate control lay with investment funds rather than a hands-on managing director.

What Happened with Pimlico Plumbers?

The 2022 sale

While Neighborly’s name was prominent in the press, the actual investment vehicle and ongoing governance became more complex. According to Heating & Plumbing Monthly Magazine, Charlie Mullins stepped down as owner after the acquisition. His son, Scott Mullins, retained about a 10% stake and continued as chief executive after the sale, per BBC News.

The pattern: Family control ended, but the Mullins name stayed on the payroll, with Charlie serving as consultant and Scott running day-to-day operations for a transition period.

Impact on operations

Pimlico Plumbers was described as London’s largest independent plumbing company, per Wikipedia. The business had revenues of about $70 million at the point of sale, according to one summary source, and employed over 400 people at the time of sale, as noted on Wikipedia.

The catch: While the company continues to operate with over 400 employees, the founder’s public statements suggest he traded day-to-day operations for a new role as a commentator on the very issues that shaped his industry.

Current ownership

As of 2025, the company is owned by Toscafund Asset Management / Penta Capital, following the 2021 acquisition by Neighborly. SME Business Blog summarized the ownership as Neighborly being the current owner. Neighborly is described by Oaklins as the world’s largest franchisor of home service brands.

What this means: The ultimate control of Pimlico Plumbers now sits with institutional investors, not a founding family, marking a shift from independent service business to corporate portfolio asset.

Does Pimlico Plumbers Still Exist?

Operational status

Yes, Pimlico Plumbers continues trading as a leading London property maintenance company under new ownership, as confirmed by Wikipedia. It still operates as a leading brand with over 400 employees, but now under the corporate umbrella of Neighborly.

Services offered

The company provides 24/7 plumbing, heating, electrical, and building services. Its Instagram following of 12,000+ indicates ongoing brand recognition.

The pattern: Brand equity survived the ownership change, suggesting that the Mullins name and the company’s service reputation were transferable assets.

How Much Is Charlie Mullins Worth?

Net worth estimate

One estimate from Wikipedia placed his net worth at approximately £150 million, a figure sourced to the sale and his ongoing consultancy role. However, multiple 2025-era estimates converge around £70 million. Express reported an estimated net worth of £70 million. Spears also reported an estimated net worth of £70 million.

Sources of wealth

Mullins’ wealth comes primarily from the sale of his 90% stake in Pimlico Plumbers. He retained about a 10% stake, which he later sold, and continued to serve as a consultant for a period. Reports from Express indicated that Mullins later claimed he would have “no assets in the UK whatsoever” after January 2025, a statement made in the context of a political debate about tax.

“I will have no assets in the UK whatsoever after January 2025.” — Charlie Mullins, in interview with Express

The implication: While the sale made him wealthy, his financial planning involved moving his wealth out of the UK, a detail that overshadows the simple question of net worth.

Who Is Charlie Mullins’ Current Partner?

Personal relationship

Charlie Mullins is currently in a relationship with Tana Ramsay, as reported in 2023. His personal life has drawn public interest alongside his business career.

Public appearances

Mullins has become a more politically active figure post-sale, appearing in media as a commentator on tax and business issues rather than as a hands-on company director.

Frequently asked questions

What is Pimlico Plumbers’ official company name and registration number?

Pimlico Plumbers Limited, registered with Companies House under number 02012715.

Who actually owns Pimlico Plumbers now?

As of 2025, the company is owned by Toscafund Asset Management / Penta Capital, following the 2021 acquisition by Neighborly.

When was Pimlico Plumbers acquired by Neighborly?

According to a Preqin profile, the acquisition by Neighborly was completed in September 2021.

What was Charlie Mullins’ net worth after the sale?

One estimate from Wikipedia put his net worth at around £150 million, though subsequent statements suggest his liquid assets were moved out of the UK.

Did Charlie Mullins keep any role in the company after the sale?

He retained about a 10% stake and continued as a consultant for a period to ensure a smooth transition, before reportedly selling his remaining shares.

What was the stated reason for the sale?

The acquisition was framed as a “perfect alignment” between a leading independent home-services company and a global franchisor like Neighborly.

Is Pimlico Plumbers still a well-known brand after the sale?

Yes, it still operates as a leading brand with over 400 employees, but now under the corporate umbrella of Neighborly.

What is the main takeaway from this ownership change?

The sale exemplifies the trend of private equity consolidating independent service businesses into global networks, leveraging brand strength for expansion.

The sale of Pimlico Plumbers turned Charlie Mullins from a working plumber into a wealthy retiree and political commentator, while the company itself became a portfolio asset for private equity.