Humberts is making a return to lettings three years after it sold that part of its operations and has recruited Suzanne Diamond to run the new business.

Her CV includes stints with Countrywide’s John D Wood brand and latterly with Surrey independent Curchods where she was group lettings director.

At John D Wood, she was branch manager of its branch in Weybridge, Surrey.

She was chosen to complete Countrywide’s senior management training programme and in 2013 was national runner-up at Countrywide’s annual awards for the office with the highest income growth.

Ian Westerling, managing director of Humberts, said: “We’re absolutely delighted that Suzanne has chosen to join Humberts at such an exciting time for the lettings side of our business.

“She comes with a wealth of experience and we’re very much looking forward to evolving the department over the coming months – both launching new offices and increasing our headcount.”

Humberts is in the process of looking at lettings branch openings outside London to complement its existing UK sales network of 23 offices. The firm will also be looking to acquire existing managed portfolios of lettings properties.

After Humberts rebranded following the demerger with Chestertons in 2014, it disposed of its entire lettings portfolio to Countrywide’s Hamptons International.

Critics deemed it odd timing, given that by then, most agents were busy building up their lettings operations.

However, Humberts’ then managing director Stephen Kendall said at the time: “The sale of our lettings and property management business to Hamptons International is a strategic move, enabling us to focus on the planned expansion of our core business streams, which are residential sales, rural and commercial agency, and professional services.”

The new lettings business will be under the Humberts brand.

Suzanne Diamond