140-year-old agency snapped up by even older rival

There’s been yet another acquisition of an independent agency.

Leeds-based property company, Adair Paxton, has snapped up longstanding Rothwell estate agent, William Denton and Son, which was founded more than 140 years ago. 

The deal will add more than 200 managed properties, located throughout Leeds and West Yorkshire, to Adair Paxton’s rental portfolio, which will now be managed by the firm’s Horsforth and Leeds city centre offices.

Guy Roberts, an Adair Paxton director who heads up the company’s residential lettings division, says: “William Denton and Son has an excellent reputation, built up over many years, and managed a significant number of properties, which made this a strategic and sought-after acquisition.

“The portfolio includes a large number of regulated tenancies, which are long-term agreements between tenants and private landlords, and as one of only a few companies in Leeds with expertise in this area, the portfolio was a good fit that complements our lettings division.”

Paul Simpson - who joined the William Denton business 45 years ago and became a partner in 1984 - says: “We have built up and run a successful business and we carefully considered who we would sell the business to as we planned for retirement.

“Although there was a lot of interest, Adair Paxton has a long history in Leeds and an expert team operating across all areas of the lettings spectrum, which gave us the confidence that they would maintain the high standards of service and professionalism that our landlords and tenants have come to expect.”

Adair Paxton was founded in 1859 and offers residential and commercial property services, with particular specialisms in property and block management as well as sales and lettings.

This is the second acquisition for the company’s residential lettings division in recent years after the company bought boutique estate agency firm, Hudson Moody Wass, which specialised in Leeds city centre rentals, at the end of 2019.