Sales at franchise group Winkworth shot up over 20% in the first six months of this year, the firm reported yesterday.

Sales were worth a total of £2.48m, compared with £2.07m in the same period last year.

Pre-tax profits were £803,785 – up from £594,633.

Winkworth, which also reported to its AIM shareholders the opening of four new offices, will be paying a 2.9p dividend.

CEO Dominic Agace said: “We are delighted to report a very strong set of numbers for the first half of 2014 as a result of continuing momentum in the residential sales market and further improvements in our rentals business.

“There are clear signs that Winkworth is gaining market share as we further improve customer service and expand in new markets within the London commuter zone.

“While the London property market has certainly undergone a change since the extreme levels witnessed in the early part of the year, we expect prices to remain on a sustainable long-term uptrend, slowing from the 15% annualised rate witnessed this year to around 5% in 2015, subject to some extent to the outcome of the general election in May.”

* The company earlier announced that is opening a new office in Salisbury, adding to its expanding number of offices outside London, which now totals 35.

The office will be owned and operated by Matthew Hallett, who has a wealth of property experience having worked in agency for nearly 30 years both in London and the country.

* A second franchising company, Century 21, has also announced the opening of another office – in Salford.

It will be run by Roger Claughton, who is already franchisee for Century 21 in Halifax.

His new office starts with a portfolio of 400 rental homes coming on stream early next year.