A growing agency has appointed a new lettings team and is aiming to compete with its successful residential sales division.

Heywoods, the largest independent estate agency in Newcastle under Lyme, has made four appointments – all of whom have worked together previously.

Laura Aspinall has been installed as head of lettings and she has put together a team of former colleagues.

Emily Brindley will work as a valuer, while property managers Amanda Walmsley and Declan Roberts will be responsible for property maintenance.

“Heywoods sells more houses than everyone else put together in Newcastle, and I want us to let more houses than everyone else in the area,” says Aspinall.

“This team have all worked together before and are focused on and committed to building up the lettings side of the Heywoods business.”

Aspinall says the freedom provided by working for an independent agency appeals to her and her team.

“If we have an idea, we can run with it and don’t have to wait weeks or months for a decision from people who don’t understand the local requirements.”

She says they are all ‘enjoying the autonomy of independent estate agency’.

Heywoods managing director Chris Stops has confirmed that the company has made a ‘significant’ investment in bringing the new team together.