'A lasting legacy': Estate agency pioneer to retire after more than 50 years
Estate agency pioneer John Halman retires after 50 years shaping homes across Cheshire, the High Peak and South Manchester, but will stay on as brand ambassador.
By Chester Standard
John Halman, who founded Gascoigne Halman in Wilmslow in 1990, is stepping back after more than five decades in the estate agency industry.
A well-known figure in Cheshire’s property sector is retiring after more than 50 years in estate agency.
John Halman, chairman and founder of Gascoigne Halman, will step back from his role at the end of June after a career that helped shape the housing market across Cheshire, South Manchester and the High Peak.
Gascoigne Halman was founded in Wilmslow in 1990 and has grown from its early beginnings into a regional estate agency with 23 branches.
The company now operates across a wide patch of the North West, covering house sales, lettings, property management, mortgages and related services.
Mr Halman said founding the business and watching it grow had been an “extraordinary privilege”. He said he was proud of the company that had been built, but even more proud of the people he had worked with and supported during their careers.
He said the property industry had changed significantly over the years, particularly through technology, but added that strong estate agency still depends on people, service and trust.
Although he is retiring as chairman, Mr Halman is expected to remain involved with the business in an ambassador and advisory role.
For Cheshire’s property market, his retirement marks the end of a significant chapter. Gascoigne Halman has become one of the best-known agency names in the region, with offices serving towns and villages across Cheshire and neighbouring areas.
The business has also been closely linked with the area’s changing housing market over the past three decades, from family homes and village properties to larger moves driven by schools, commuting routes and lifestyle changes.
Mr Halman’s career has also been recognised within the wider estate agency industry. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2024 Best Estate Agency Awards.
In a message shared publicly, he said great estate agency is built on great people and outstanding customer service.
He added that he was leaving the company in capable hands and thanked colleagues, clients and industry friends who had been part of the journey.
Gascoigne Halman said the business would continue to serve buyers, sellers, landlords and tenants across Cheshire, South Manchester and the High Peak.