Fast-growing national chain snaps up three independent agencies

The highest profile agency in the big-spending Lomond Group has sealed a trio of deals in the first week of April alone.

Linley & Simpson has almost doubled the number of homes managed by its new Holmfirth branch, after completing agreements with two property specialists in the eastern Pennine corridor. It has also clinched a third in the neighbouring district of Wakefield.

Specifically, it has taken over the Huddersfield and Holmfirth rental portfolio of Lancasters Property Services, a family-run business founded more than 225 years ago. The latter will continue to offer a lettings service through its Penistone and Barnsley offices.

It has also acquired the lettings arm of Holroyd & Co, an independent agency based at Milnsbridge in south Huddersfield, following the retirement of its manager.

And it has bought the Pontefract portfolio of Boultons, and merging it within its existing Wakefield branch, following Boultons’ decision to focus its sales and letting business on the Huddersfield area.

The deals with Lancasters and Holroyd & Co sees around 360 properties transferred into Linley & Simpson’s new Holmfirth branch – taking its total portfolio to 750.

Having joined forces with Edinburgh-based Lomond Capital at the turn of the year, Linley & Simpson is now part of the Lomond Group of residential letting and sales agencies across England and Scotland.

“Since the start of the pandemic just over a year ago, we have averaged around one acquisition a month as the market consolidates and we step up our planned programme of Yorkshire expansion” says Linley & Simpson chairman Will Linley. 

“With this latest injection of properties, we now manage over 13,000 homes throughout North, West and South Yorkshire as well as in Hull and the East Riding of Yorkshire.

“Our Holmfirth branch is the newest in our 23 office network, and equips us with a strategic platform for further growth at speed and at scale across Kirklees.”

He adds: “We are now eyeing other acquisition opportunities to expand our lettings footprint throughout this new heartland, but also into neighbouring in-demand districts.

“These acquisitions, coupled with the opening of our brand new office, signals our confidence in this up-and-coming part of West Yorkshire, and its appeal as a much sought-after place to live, work, holiday and study.”