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LINLEY & SIMPSON LAUNCHES FLAGSHIP WAKEFIELD OFFICE

WAKEFIELD'S newest residential letting specialists, Linley & Simpson, is launching its flagship office with an exclusive opening offer.

The first 100 landlords who place new properties with its branch in Northgate will pay no rental management fees for the first three months. There is also a 'Let Only' offer available to landlords - £199 plus VAT.

Linley & Simpson is Yorkshire's biggest agency dedicated solely to residential letting and its arrival in Wakefield £ increasing its network of Yorkshire branches to seven - offers landlords and property investors an extra dimension.

Not only can they draw upon Linley & Simpson's specialist skills and unrivalled knowledge of the letting market for the first time in the city, they can also access a greater pool of potential tenants throughout the group and its presence throughout Yorkshire.

The privately-run company has its roots very firmly in Yorkshire and has three sister branches in Leeds £ the city centre, Horsforth and Oakwood £ as well as offices in York, Harrogate and Wetherby.

The Wakefield office will be managed by Ross Harding, who is returning to his home city after working for Linley & Simpson in Leeds. He will be supported by an experienced team that includes Claire Frusher, with long-standing knowledge of the Wakefield letting market, and Lindsay Roscoe, who is transferring from Linley & Simpson in Leeds.

Ross said: "On the back of increased demand for rental property across the whole network of offices, Linley & Simpson has just experienced the busiest year in its 10-year history.

"We bring a wealth of expertise and a proven track record to Wakefield and surrounding districts. By closely linking the office to the rest of our network and our database, we can offer an extra dimension to the service we provide to all our clients.

"In particular, we want to link our presence in Leeds very firmly with our new Wakefield office, to cater for the increasing number of people who work in Leeds but who choose to live elsewhere.

"And Wakefield, with its rail and road links, is an ideal choice for them, especially when you consider the widening choice of properties that are now becoming available."

Specialising in the middle-to-upper end of the market £ offering homes with monthly rents between £400 and £4,000 £ Linley & Simpson has grown to become Yorkshire's number one dedicated letting agency since launch a decade ago.

It works closely with major relocation agencies and counts leading soccer players moving to clubs in Yorkshire, and TV stars working on location in the county, among its clients.

Since launch, the company has achieved 12,000 lets, increasing from 328 in its first year to a record-breaking 2,218 in the past 12 months; collected £78m in rents; made more than 172,000 individual payments to landlords; and carried out 56,000 accompanied viewings on behalf of clients.

Its dedication to customer service has led to it achieving the strict criteria required to secure accreditation to both the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA), and the National Approved Letting Scheme (NALS).

Linley & Simpson's new office can be found in a prime position on Northgate's corner with Providence Street, opposite the main Post Office. Further details can be accessed via the company's daily updated website, www.linleyandsimpson.co.uk, or by phoning 01924 375245.

LINLEY & SIMPSON EXPANDS IN YORK WITH JORDAN'S ACQUISITION

Linley & Simpson, Yorkshire's biggest residential letting specialists, has further expanded its York presence by acquiring the business of its next-door neighbour, Jordan's.

All properties on the books of Jordan's will transfer to the management of Linley & Simpson as part of the deal, which will see the pair's neighbouring offices on Micklegate merge into one flagship branch.

This is the second major acquisition in York by Linley and Simpson in the past four months - in December it took over one of the city's longest-standing and most successful agencies, Lawton Letting.

The latest acquisition of Jordan's cements Linley & Simpson's position as York's biggest residential letting specialists at a time when demand for rental property continues to grow.

The company has just successfully let two of the most prestigious properties in the district to come to the rental market - with monthly rents of £2,500 and £2,000 respectively.

The acquisition of Jordan's brings together two dedicated letting specialists, both of which joined the industry's elite by achieving accreditation to the regulatory body ARLA (the Association of Residential Letting Agents).

Linley & Simpson's York branch manager Kathryn Burton said: "The deal brings together two familiar names on letting boards across York and beyond.

"It offers landlords and property investors the opportunity of being able to access a greater pool of prospective tenants. Tenants also benefit by having a wider choice of properties to match their needs.

"By merging the two offices together, it also gives us a greater prominence on Micklegate and a bigger shop window to showcase the portfolio of properties available."

Linley & Simpson director, Will Linley, said: "Jordan's is a nationally known name that has played a key role in York's burgeoning letting market. We are delighted to have secured such a strong business to complement that of our own.

"The deal marks another important step in the company's growth and gives us a strong platform for further enhancing the high level of customer service and satisfaction that we strive to achieve.

"York is a first-rate city with first-rate properties-to-let and, with its excellent location, good schools and growing business stature, remains a magnet for many prospective tenants."

Linley & Simpson is an independent letting agency with an expanding network of six offices, including York, Wetherby, Harrogate and three in Leeds. Between them, they offer blanket coverage across the so-called 'golden triangle' of the most sought-after places in which to live.

Can't Sell It? Then Why Not Let It?

YORKSHIRE homeowners affected by the continuing slowdown in the house sales market are being urged to reap the benefits of letting their properties as part of a new campaign.

Letting specialists Linley & Simpson are launching their "Can't Sell? Why Not Let..?" initiative during February to help 'free up' the growing number of people who are struggling to find a buyer for their property.

With buyers reluctant to pay the full asking price, and others hanging fire to see what happens to house prices and interest rates, letting is attracting even greater interest. The new campaign aims to raise awareness of the opportunities it creates, as well as guide people through the process.

Director Nick Simpson said homeowners no longer had to put their lives on hold because they were unable to find a buyer for their property: "For the army of people who are caught up in the subdued residential sales market, renting out a property has great appeal.

"Not only does it often make sound financial sense, generating a significant monthly income, it can also make the difference between winning or losing the next dream home that someone has set their sights on."

Some homeowners think that they simply will not be able to raise two mortgages but many mortgage lenders now offer 'Let To Buy' mortgages, an alternative to the well-known 'Buy To Let' option. This allows you to borrow money to buy a new home to move into, while your existing residence is let out to tenants.

Many Linley & Simpson clients have taken this route in the past and have gone on to retain the investment property indefinitely as a part of their retirement plan.

Mr Simpson added: "The rental market is thriving more than ever across our network of six offices, stretching across Leeds, Harrogate, Wetherby and York. Increasingly, people are choosing to rent rather than buy due to the uncertainty in the sales market.

"Letting is a real alternative for many homeowners as it provides them with the financial freedom and ability to move home.

"By letting a property for just a few months or more until hopefully market conditions improve, a homeowner can net several thousands of pounds in rent.

"After this point, owners have the choice of continuing to sell their property in a more buoyant marketplace or even decide to become an investment landlord themselves. There is no shortage of options."

The Linley & Simpson campaign is also aimed at those people who have to sell their property, such as those who are moving jobs or settling down to a new life abroad, as well as investors.

Mr Simpson said: "An empty property is a waste of potential income and it is always preferable to have it occupied during the winter months."

For further details, or to book a free market appraisal, visit the Linley & Simpson contact page.

LINLEY & SIMPSON CELEBRATE 10TH BIRTHDAY

STAFF at residential letting specialists, Linley & Simpson, raised the roof at a party held to celebrate the company's 10th anniversary.

The milestone was reached as the agency's network of offices - Leeds city centre, Horsforth, Oakwood, Wetherby, Harrogate and York - posted its busiest ever year.

Drawing upon 20 years of expertise in residential letting between them, Will Linley and Nick Simpson launched their new venture in 1997 with just a single office and two staff.

It was at a time when Dolly the cloned sheep was being born; the Teletubbies were riding high in the charts; and The Full Monty was the cinema blockbuster.

Now Linley & Simpson has flourished to become the biggest dedicated letting agency in Yorkshire - offering blanket coverage across the county's so-called 'golden triangle' of the most sought-after areas in which to live.

Nick Simpson said: "Expanding our network of offices, and sharing databases, has played a key role in our continuing success. Landlords and property investors can take advantage of access to a greater pool of prospective tenants, while tenants benefit from having a bigger choice of properties to match their needs."

"Thanks to first-class staff, and the support of all our clients - many of whom have been part of the company since day one - the last 10 years have been memorable ones. We look forward to building on this platform over the next ten years."

During the decade of success, the company has achieved 12,000 lets, increasing from 328 in its first year to a record-breaking 2,218 in the past 12 months; collected £78m in rents; made more than 172,000 individual payments to landlords; and carried out 56,000 accompanied viewings on behalf of clients.

Staff were thanked at a special black tie dinner at Wood Hall Hotel, Linton. Nick added: "After the busiest year on record for Linley & Simpson, everyone was keen to celebrate. As well as being renowned for letting properties, we also showed how good we are at letting our hair down as well!"

City centre staff celebrate Linley & Simpson's 10th birthday - (from left) Will Linley, Alexandre Druet, Chris Thompson, Nick Simpson, Michael Moon and Claire Conlan.

Oakwood branch manager Nick Barrow and his team celebrate Linley & Simpson's 10th birthday.

Linley & Simpson's distinctive fleet of Minis, a common sight throughout Leeds.

“LINLEY & SIMPSON CELEBRATE DECADE OF SUCCESS WITH 12,000th LET”

YORKSHIRE residential letting agency Linley & Simpson celebrated its 10th anniversary in September by passing a key milestone - its 12,000th property rental.

Drawing upon 20 years of expertise in residential letting between them, Will Linley and Nick Simpson launched their new venture in 1997 with just a single office in Oakwood, Leeds, and two staff.

It was at a time when Dolly the cloned sheep was being born; the Teletubbies were riding high in the charts; and The Full Monty was the cinema blockbuster.

Now, a decade of success later, Linley & Simpson has flourished to become the biggest dedicated letting agency in Yorkshire, with a growing network of six offices and more than 50 staff.

With branches in prime locations in Harrogate, Wetherby, York and three more in Leeds (Horsforth, Oakwood and the city centre), Linley & Simpson offers blanket coverage across the Yorkshire property market's so-called 'golden triangle' of the most sought-after areas in which to live.

Director Nick Simpson said: "Expanding our network of offices, and sharing databases, has played a key role in our continuing success. Landlords and property investors can take advantage of access to a greater pool of prospective tenants, while tenants benefit from having a bigger choice of properties to match their needs."

"Thanks to a first-class staff, and the support of all our clients - many of whom have been part of the company since day one - the last 10 years have been memorable ones. We look forward to building on this platform over the next ten years."

Director Will Linley said: "The year-on-year increase in lets underlines how the Yorkshire property market has developed over the decade. From 328 lets in our launch year, we achieved over 2,200 lets in the last 12 months - our busiest yet.

"And with a number of record months already in 2008, there are clear signs that the residential letting market remains healthy."

Linley & Simpson works closely with major relocation agencies and counts leading soccer players moving to clubs in Yorkshire, and TV stars working on location in the county, among its clients

Specialising in the middle-to-upper end of the rental property market, the agency's growth has been sustained thanks to its commitment to customer service - with a determination to offer landlords and tenants alike a professional, high-quality and tailored service.

This approach has been endorsed at the highest level by the industry, which has awarded Linley & Simpson accreditation to both the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA) and the National Approved Letting Scheme (NALS) after meeting strict quality standards. It is also one of just 25 agencies, out of a national total of over 6,000, to be awarded principal account status with specialist insurers HomeLet, enabling it to offer its clients unbeatable buildings and contents insurance deals

Joining the industry's elite comes at a critical time as the industry witnesses the biggest shake-up to the way that deposits are managed.

Under the changes, landlords are no longer able to legally retain a tenant's rental deposit in their own personal or business account. Instead the money has to be lodged with an approved scheme, such as the one operated by an accredited letting agent.

Factfile: Linley & Simpson's decade of success

• The company's expansion drive has seen it grow from a single office in Oakwood, Leeds, to a network of seven branches
• Staff numbers have risen to 52 - from a starting line-up of just two
• It has achieved 12,000 lets - increasing from 328 in its first year to a record-breaking 2,218 in the most recent 12 months.
• A staggering £78m has been collected in rents
• It has made more than 172,000 individual payments to landlords
• Its team of staff have carried out 56,000 accompanied viewings on behalf of clients
• The highest monthly rental achieved for a property is £3,500
• A host of celebrity tenants over the years has included Sir Ian McKellan; Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Dominic Matteo and Emmerdale's Lisa Riley.
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