Cluttons, the property consultants, are poised to close their residential sales business in Kent with the loss of up to eight jobs.

The housing slump, which has already cost many estate agency jobs across the county, has made the global company review its south east operations.

Cluttons is a major player in commercial property and land development, and works with the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA), as well as Kent County Council and Locate in Kent on the annual Kent Property Market Report.

With the financial squeeze decimating house sales, it is understood Cluttons’ residential agency operations in Watling Street, Canterbury, and Albion Place, Maidstone, are to close, along with similar businesses across the south east. The company is retaining its London-based estate agency activities and its major presence in commercial property and development.

Several Kent-based staff have been through a consultation exercise and a number have already left the company. Others are expected to leave by the end of the month, (Jan) making a total of around eight jobs losses.

David Elliott, a partner at the Maidstone office, confirmed a staff consultation exercise was underway.

"It is a reflection of the economic situation," he said. "In common with other estate agencies, everyone is looking at their cost base. We are just reacting to the financial situation."

He added that Cluttons was completely committed to retaining a strong presence in the county. "We have very substantial clients like KCC and SEEDA, all of which will continue to be served. There will be a long-term presence in the county and the business will continue to run very well and very efficiently."

He said no final decisions had been made. "But it is under consideration as to how varous aspects of the business are going to be structured. It could potentially lead to a reduction in head count."

Speaking in October at the launch of the 2008 Kent Property Market Report, which Cluttons helped to produce, Mr Elliott told 200 business and civic chiefs: "We are in extremely difficult times and the market is in the process of adjusting to those conditions.

"But the county is very well placed to move forward as the economy recovers and current circumstances should not be allowed to affect the medium to long-term optimism about the county’s ability to provide high-quality developments."

Cluttons traces its roots back to 1765, when William Clutton took over his father-in-law’s surveying business in Sussex and began trading under his own name.

Today, it is a private, independent business, wholly owned by the partners. The firm became a Limited Liability Partnership in 2005 and now has more than 500 partners and staff. It runs 20 UK offices and five in the Middle East, with a presence in Russia, South Africa, Spain, Italy, Greece and the Caribbean.