Martin & Co, which has a base in Newport, is now part of one of the biggest property businesses in the UK.

An additional 89 offices have joined the Martin & Co group of companies, creating a lettings and estate agency chain of 283 offices stretching from Dover to Aberdeen, with 46 offices in London alone.

The group now manages 43,000 tenanted properties.

As part of the transaction, which was announced on the London Stock Exchange on October 31, Martin & Co will in future be offering ‘whole of market’ mortgage advice through an agreement with Legal & General.

Neil Williams, Martin & Co Newport director, said: “It’s great to be part of a success story. Earlier this year we surveyed our landlord clients and 94 per cent said they would be happy to recommend our service. Now we are adding another 89 offices to the Martin & Co Group, you could say that even other lettings and estate agents want to get in on the act.”

This transaction was made possible through the company’s conversion to plc status in 2013, allowing them to approach a company of the stature of Legal & General and purchase its entire UK property franchise business.

The group will now consist of five brands including Martin & Co and to manage the network it has appointed Michael Stoop, as group managing director. Michael serves on the boards of both The Property Ombudsman, which provides members of the public with redress if they feel they have received poor service, and the charity Agents Giving.

With the addition of these brands, Martin & Co is further investing in its staff training programmes and technology to make the experience of letting or selling one that its clients will happily recommend. The group now has a 2,000 strong team.