An Edinburgh property solicitor has topped the ESPC rankings for an unprecedented 11th consecutive year.

Warners Solicitors and Estate Agents, which has held the number one ranking in the Edinburgh Solicitors Property Centre (ESPC) every year since 1998 despite fierce competition from rivals, revealed that it sold 560 properties in 2009 with a total sales value in excess of £100 million.

The figures represent more sales than any other solicitor-estate agent in the Capital in 2009. Warners also led the ESPC rankings for the total number of properties listed last year –the 11th year running that it has held this position.

Scott Brown, Estate Agency Partner at the firm that has four property shops throughout Edinburgh and the Lothians, said he was delighted to have hit the top spot once again, and added that the sales figures were especially pleasing considering the torrid conditions the property sector had faced in 2009.

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He said: "To be the top ESPC solicitor for an unprecedented 11th year in a row marks a real milestone for Warners. We are absolutely delighted and it is a testament to the hard work and dedication of all of our team in spite of some very tough market conditions.

"The past year has been particularly challenging for the property market, as house prices and sales volumes were considerably down on their peak figures from 2007. Mortgage lending has also been problematic, with many first time buyers unable to secure the necessary funds to buy their first home.

"However, despite these tough conditions, we have still experienced a reasonable level of activity in Edinburgh. Many people have still been looking to buy and sell properties in the city and this has been reflected in our sales figures."

The announcement comes just as the firm revealed new statistics for the start of 2010 showing that it sold a total of £15 million worth of properties during the first two months of the year – a rise of 50% on the same period last year.

The stats, which were collated from January 1 to March 5, revealed that Warners sold a total of 94 properties in two months – a rise of 52% compared to the 58 it sold in the same period in 2009.

The firm has also seen a significant rise in the number of properties being put up for sale – with 128 new homes going on the market in January and February, compared to just 72 at the start of 2009.

(GK)