A YORK-based estate agent looking to expand its network to more than 500 offices in five years time has acquired another business.

Hunters will today welcome Norfolk-based Kudos Residential to its network, with the addition of seven new branches across the country, which will be rebranded under the Hunters name.

Glynis Frew, Managing Director of Hunters Property Group, said: “This is another exciting milestone for Hunters. As we continue to widen our reach, we are delighted to have Kudos Residential on-board and look forward to what promises to be a very successful future working together under the Hunters umbrella. This compliments our branch opening in Bungay, Suffolk in October 2014 – which saw us break into the East Anglian market for the very first time.”

The move marks an entry into new territory for Hunters and brings the number of independently owned branches to more than 150 nationwide.

Hunters, which opened its first branch 22 years ago in York, has a network made up of mainly franchised offices, and now has branches nationwide in cities across the UK including London, Exeter, Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester, Middlesbrough and Liverpool.

Hunters also has an office in Alicante, Spain.

Last year the Hunters network grew by 37 new locations with the aim of expanding to over 500 offices in five years’ time.

Chris Starkings, director of Kudos Residential, said: "Through the opening of new offices and the acquisition of other local estate agents, we have grown organically to become Norfolk’s largest independent agent.

"It is unusual to see a business of Hunters size, which is so service driven and we wanted to partner with someone who had the same values as ourselves."