The Property Franchise Group (TPFG), which owns brands including Martin & Co and EweMove, is to help its franchisees hunt for more acquisitions this year.

The firm said it assisted its franchisees in acquiring 2,012 managed properties last year and aims to surpass this figure in 2018.

Chief executive Ian Wilson said: “We are off to a flying start with three portfolio acquisitions completed already, all of them are goodwill deals which ‘bolt on’ tenanted managed portfolio to existing businesses, and improve bottom line profits.”

Whitegates in Halifax bolted on a managed portfolio, while Martin & Co Southend completed on the acquisition of Fox Estate Agents in Rochford, Essex.

CJ Hole in Cheltenham completed on the acquisition of Rent Cheltenham on February 2, adding 63 managed properties

Meanwhile, TPFG franchisee Tony Linberg, who acquired Global Estates of Southchurch in Southend last year, aims to grow the 700 properties he manages to 1,000 through a mixture of organic growth and acquisitions, Wilson said.

Sharon Titchmarsh, of brokers Watson Stanley, acting as acquisition consultant for TPFG, said: “These latest transactions are strong evidence that the sales market for managed lettings portfolios is active, and showcases the appetite that the group’s franchisees have to agree further deals.

“We are continuing to assist the Group with acquiring further businesses as there is funding available to the franchisees to be able to do this.”

Other brands in the TPFG stable include Ellis & Co and Parkers.

Separately, Chris Webb, formerly of Countrywide, has joined EweMove to take on the role of performance director, in support of its franchisees.

His role will be to help EweMove’s franchisees, of which there are more than 100, to grow their businesses, as well as to help set up and develop new additions to the network.

Webb said: “What especially drew me to the brand was its effectiveness in bringing together the very best aspects of traditional and online estate agency.

“Having come from a very traditional background, I’m looking forward to further establishing EweMove as a serious alternative, and the go-to estate agency.”