AN independent Yorkshire estate agency has launched a new branch in one of the county’s up-and-coming market towns after acquiring a long-standing letting specialist.
Linley & Simpson has opened its doors on Robin Lane in Pudsey, between Leeds and Bradford, after purchasing the family-run firm of Flemings and its rental portfolio of more than 330 properties.
In addition to meeting the needs of tenants and landlords, it is adding a new dimension for home buyers and sellers in Pudsey by also extending its residential sales services to the branch.
The opening increases the number of offices in Linley & Simpson’s network across West and North Yorkshire to 16, and propels its own portfolio of managed rental homes to almost 7,000.
The purchase of Flemings – whose letting specialism in the Pudsey area dates back more than 50 years – is seen as a natural progression in Linley & Simpson’s continuing expansion.
“We are thrilled to bring our letting and sales expertise to Pudsey, and look forward to helping more and more people move home,” said Chief Executive of Linley & Simpson, Will Linley.
“For us, it is a bullseye location that’s a great geographical fit. It enables us to offer our services across the whole of North and West Leeds.
“It was a long courtship – we first approached Flemings eight years ago – yet we are delighted that when it was decided the time was right to sell, they still had our original letter close to hand.
“They said they only wanted to sell to the right company who would continue to take care of their valued clients – and, as a like-minded company, we aim to do just that.”
He added: “With its excellent transport links, good schools and a raft of new food and drink openings, Pudsey is very much an up-and-coming town that’s still growing in popularity as a place to live.”
“This represents our first acquisition of 2019 and we expect others to feature in the coming months. We have confidence in the potential of the Yorkshire market and an appetite to continue to invest in it.”
The vast majority of properties inherited from Flemings are located in Pudsey and its surrounding suburbs of Farsley, Stanningley, Bramley, and Tong.
There are around 40 homes in the Wakefield and Pontefract areas, and these will transfer seamlessly to Linley & Simpson’s branch at Northgate, Wakefield, to be managed more locally.
Linley & Simpson is retaining the home-grown expertise and local knowledge of the former Flemings team by employing all of its staff.
This marks the company’s ninth acquisition in just 12 months, as it accelerates its “buy and build” growth strategy in its Yorkshire heartland.
It also takes founders Will Linley and Nick Simpson back close to their business roots, having launched their agency 21 years ago with two inaugural branches, including one in neighbouring Horsforth.
Now it employs a team of more than 230 staff across a network of 16 High Street branches across West and North Yorkshire.
In addition to the new branch at Pudsey, it has offices in Leeds city centre, Horsforth, Roundhay, Chapel Allerton, Ilkley, Saltaire, Harrogate, Ripon, Wetherby, Wakefield and York.