ESTATE agency chain Foxtons is being primed for a £400 million stock market flotation as its private equity owners seek to cash in on the surging London property market.

BC Partners, which bought the chain in 2007 for about £375 million just before the market crashed, is understood to have appointed investment banks to advise on a flotation, which could come within months.

The chain of about 40 offices in and around the capital, which started life as a single branch in 1981, has grown since its buyout by adding about 20 offices.

London-based BC Partners is understood to have lined up Credit Suisse, Numis Securities and Canaccord Genuity to advise on the stock market flotation.

Founder Jon Hunt sold the firm in May 2007.