Leeds-based Adair Paxton has completed the acquisition of Rothwell estate agent, William Denton and Son.

William Denton and Son, founded more than 140 years ago, has been sold after its owners opted to retire.

Paul Simpson, who joined William Denton and Son 45 years ago and became a partner, alongside his wife Julia, in 1984, have both decided the time is right to step down from the business.

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.

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

Guy Roberts, a director at Adair Paxton who heads up the company’s residential lettings division, said: “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.”

This is the second acquisition for Adair Paxton’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.

Paul Simpson said: “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.”