Industry estate agency founder marks 50 years in property

One of the best-known estate agency senior in the UK is celebrating after marking 50 years working within the property industry.

71-year-old John Halman, who helped found Cheshire estate agency Gascoigne Halman in 1989, entered estate agency in 1973 and rose through the ranks of a local corporate before establishing his own firm.

Halman, who is also a Chartered Surveyor, sold the now 22-branch business to Connells in 2015 for an undisclosed sum and it now operates across south Manchester, north east Cheshire and the High Peak.

Despite the acquisition and the addition of Connells chief David Plumtree to the firm’s directors list, Halman has remained very much in charge since 2015, saying “when you name is above the door, you can never really walk away”.

Halman and his firm took OnTheMarket unsuccessfully to court in 2017 during which, while enduring several bruising and expensive legal battles, tried to claim that OTM’s ‘one other portal’ rule was anti-competitive.

Lifetime

Halman recently received a lifetime achievement award at an industry awards gathering.

Peter Higham (pictured), MD of Gascoigne Halman, says: “John is a hugely respected and admired member of the property community and it was superb to see his commitment to estate agency celebrated by the industry.

“His passion for property has never wavered and has seen Gascoigne Halman grow from a single office in Wilmslow in 1989 to 22 offices and over 200 staff today.

“His dedication to outstanding service and innovation is hugely inspirational to our team and has ensured Gascoigne Halman remains so successful.”

Halman has also taken a philanthropic approach to business which has seen Gascoigne Halman raise just short of £100,000 for charities over the years including the David Lewis Centre, The Christie Hospital, Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital Charity and three local hospices.