One of the country’s fastest expanding agents has made its ninth acquisition in 18 months.

Linley & Simpson, which operates 17 branches across West and North Yorkshire, has bought the lettings arm of Beercocks in Hull, and says it is now looking for more acquisitions.

The latest deal heralds Linley & Simpson’s expansion into Humberside for the first time, and adds almost 500 properties to the firm’s portfolio, which now stands at 8,700 homes.

The Beercocks network of nine offices will stay in their existing ownership and now focus exclusively on sales.

Recent acquisitions by ambitious Linley & Simpson have included Morgans and Dale Eddison.

Will Linley, co-founder of Linley & Simpson, said: “While ours may be a new name for Hull and its surrounding communities, our pedigree in residential lettings spans more than 22 years.

“To have acquired the lettings arm of a market-leading agency of Beercocks’ calibre provides us with the best possible launchpad on which to build.

“We are thrilled to launch in Hull at a time when its appeal for landlords and tenants is growing – last year it was named as the third most improved UK city as a place to live and work. It has long been a strategic target for expansion.

“Its population is at its highest for more than two decades, with the number of people in their mid-20s to mid-30s – an age group particularly attracted to the advantages of renting – the fastest-growing trend.

“Already we are eyeing further acquisition opportunities in the area. That underlines the confidence we have in investing in its future, and consolidating and widening our presence across the district.”

Beercocks’ origins date to the turn of the millennium when it launched as Beercock, Wiles & Wick. Its current managing director, Bob Beercock, said the agency would now concentrate its skills on residential sales across its heartland of Hull, Beverley, the East Riding of Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire.

Linley & Simpson and Beercocks will be working in close collaboration, with Linley & Simpson operating from within Beercocks’ main Hull office for the time being, before launching its own branded branch in new premises in the new year.

It is retaining all of Beercocks’ front line lettings staff.

Linley & Simpson was founded in 1997 with two branches, and now employs a team of 260. As well as lettings, it offers sales and runs a land and new homes department.