Lettings-only firm to branch into home sales after 16 years

After 16 years as a dedicated lettings agent, Yorkshire’s Linley & Simpson has announced it is going into sales.

The firm, which says the move has been prompted by Help to Buy, is following national lettings specialists Belvoir and Martin & Co which have also expanded into sales.

The firm will phase in a residential sales service across all ten of its branches within the next year following a trial in one of its offices.

It has recruited experienced chartered surveyor Mark Christopher as head of sales.

Founding director Will Linley said: “This breaks new ground for us and forms the biggest development and investment in our history.

“Under Mark’s leadership, this is a natural progression for the company and is one which will complement, rather than compete with, our lettings specialism. 

“Indeed, we remain committed to expanding our letting business through further acquisition.

“Our offices cover all the most popular places to live in Yorkshire and are well placed to take advantage of the rise in sales activity that we expect 2014 and beyond will bring.

“With returning customer confidence, increased buyer activity and initiatives such as the Help to Buy scheme, we believe now is the time to enter the sales marketplace.”

Linley & Simpson employs over 100 staff and has three offices in Leeds, plus others in Ilkley, Saltaire, Harrogate, York, Ripon, Wetherby and Wakefield.

Mark Christopher said: “We have been researching the potential of developing a residential sales niche for some time and have carried out a trial at our newly-opened branch in Saltaire in the Aire Valley, which we acquired with both a letting and sales specialism.

“We are determined to build on the success of this pilot and are confident that the strength of the Linley & Simpson brand, coupled with the pool of talent we are recruiting into the new department, will quickly establish us in the Yorkshire residential sales market.

“For the first time, it also enables us to meet the needs of the growing number of landlords and private customers who are asking us to deal with their property sales.”