Mystery surrounds whether there have been redundancies at Knight Frank.

However, the company which has LLP status has clarified that two of its most high-profile agents have retired, and that both retirements are unconnected with jobs “attrition” that could be reasonably expected of a firm the size of Knight Frank.

Richard Cutt and Tim Wright, who founded the prime central London team at Knight Frank, are said to have decided to retire.

The pair have pulled off some of the very biggest residential deals in the UK.

A statement issued through Knight Frank said the pair were seeking “new challenges” within the wider residential property market after 20 and 13 years at Knight Frank respectively.

One of the departing Knight Frank partners made clear in the same statement that he is looking to leave estate agency altogether.

Wright said: “I have loved my time at Knight Frank but after 35 years in the estate agency business it is time for a complete change.”

Cutt said in the same statement: “I have been proud to be part of the global success story of Knight Frank for the past 20 years. However, I have now decided that the time has come to explore new opportunities in the prime London property market and dedicate more time to my family and our fight against rare diseases.’’

Andrew Hay, Knight Frank global head of residential, said in the same statement: “Both are widely known and respected throughout the prime central London market and are frequently at the heart of many of the largest residential transactions in the capital. We wish them both well for the future.”

EYE asked Knight Frank for further information.

A spokesperson said: “The announcement regarding two partners retiring from the partnership is unrelated to anything else. However, there is always going to be a certain level of attrition in a business of our scale.”

Pressed further on whether there have been any actual redundancies, and if so how many and where, the spokesperson last night told us: “I have no further information for you.”