An agency with a spectacular history has expanded its operations after acquiring the lettings portfolio of a rival.

Andy Campbell, who owns Belvoir Moray and Belvoir Inverness, has added 80 managed properties from Homes Sweet Home Estate Agents in Inverness. The move comes after Home Sweet Home decided to focus more on its sales division.

Franchisee Campbell says: “The Belvoir Inverness office is fully managed by my son, Steven, and we decided that acquisition was the quickest way to increase our portfolio. The new properties will be absorbed into the Belvoir Inverness office and managed by our existing team. We have a team of eleven people across the two offices, and many of the staff have been with me for years, including office manager Lynn Roger, who has worked here for over 20 years. Without such a great team it would not be possible to do this job.

Andy Campbell became Belvoir’s first franchisee in 1996 after retiring from the RAF and says: “I initially worked from a spare room in my own home, with only a chair, a desk, computer and a filing cabinet! The business soon got too big for this, so I found an office in a nearby town and then bought out a small company in Elgin, took on a staff member, and the business took off. I bought our existing premises in 2006 and today we’re one of the biggest agents in Moray.

“Being part of the Belvoir franchise has given me the support and back up of a national organisation, together with the freedom of being self-employed. The acquisition team at central office are very helpful when it comes to helping franchisees to grow their business, and it’s good to have their support. It is also great to be working with my son and daughter, and I am looking forward to what the future brings.”