Fourth acquisition since lockdown for ever-hungry agency group

The hyper-active Linley & Simpson agency group has announced its fourth acquisition since the lifting of the national lockdown.

The Yorkshire-focussed company has bought the lettings arm of independent agency Simon Blyth.

The acquisition, for an undisclosed sum, is the 15th in 27 months for Linley & Simpson using support from private equity investor LDC.

The deal sees some 400 properties across the eastern Pennines and South Yorkshire moving to Linley & Simpson's rental portfolio, taking it to 10,500 homes. There’s also a new branch office for the firm as part of the deal, at Holmfirth near Huddersfield.

Simon Blyth lettings director David Sanderson and his lettings staff are part of the acquisition, leaving the remaining Simon Blyth offices to handle only residential sales and commercial property. 

Will Linley, chief executive of Linley & Simpson, says: "For more than 30 years, the name of Simon Blyth has been a byword for all things property in these parts of Yorkshire.

"Extending our network in this way represents a perfect geographical fit. It enables us to reach into whole new swathes of Yorkshire – both in town centres and in the country, and featuring some real up-and-coming places.

"It equips us with the best possible platform on which to build further at pace and scale, through both acquisition and organic growth."

LDC spokesman Gareth Marshall adds: "It's been another remarkable few months for Linley & Simpson. This latest acquisition underlines its position as one of the fastest growing letting agencies in the UK.”