One of the country's biggest estate agency chains, Connells, has launched a recruitment drive after announcing plans to open 44 new lettings operations across the UK.



Connells chief executive Stuart Flavell said the lettings network had already expanded by 100% last year.



He said: “The expansion of our lettings network was a major growth area for Connells in 2011 and this it set to continue.



“Our planned openings in 2012 will almost triple the number of lettings divisions which Connells currently has and open up our expertise to a greater number of local landlords and tenants.”

 

Locations for the new offices include key openings in Birmingham and Bristol. Other new Connells lettings operations will be added to existing sales operations in locations including Southampton, Bournemouth, Basingstoke, Watford, Welwyn Garden City, Redhill, Crawley, Worcester, Exeter, Rugby and Coventry.

 

Connells, which currently has some 487 branches and recently acquired Burchell Edwards in the midlands, is looking to recruit experienced lettings professionals including area managers and branch staff.



It is owned by the Skipton Building Society.



Traditionally, mortgage providers with estate agency links have had little interest in lettings, but more recently have had to acknowledge that agencies need both lettings and sales in their armoury.



Countrywide, which runs the largest mortgage broking network in the UK, announced in 2010 that it would be investing £5m on expanding its lettings business and it has since been on an acquisitions spree.