Will Taylor, who has run the Martin & Co franchise in Huddersfield since 2009, has bought independent estate and lettings agency ADM Residential. It is his fourth acquisition, and it brings another local portfolio into a franchised branch that he started with one member of staff and that now employs 12 people.
Martin & Co is a residential lettings and sales brand operated through franchised branches. In 2014, when it was still listed as MartinCo plc, the company described itself as one of the largest UK franchise opportunities in property, with 192 of its 193 offices franchised. The deal announced on 14 October 2026 follows a pattern common in the property franchise sector, where established franchisees grow by buying independent agencies in their own territory and absorbing their landlords and stock.
ADM Residential joins the Huddersfield branch
The acquisition of ADM Residential brings the independent agency’s portfolio into the Huddersfield operation, combining the two businesses’ stock, local knowledge and contacts. The price and the size of the portfolio acquired have not been disclosed. The branch’s priority is continuity for ADM Residential’s landlords, vendors, tenants and buyers, who now have access to the larger Martin & Co team.
“As we have a strong team of 12 staff members, ADM landlords, vendors, tenants and customers will always be able to speak to someone about any queries they have,” said Will Taylor, franchise owner of Martin & Co Huddersfield.
From two people in 2009 to a team of 12
Taylor took on the Huddersfield franchise in 2009 and built the branch from scratch with one other member of staff. Seventeen years later it runs a residential sales and lettings business with 12 staff, and acquisitions have become a regular part of its growth: ADM Residential is the fourth independent agency it has bought.
The earlier three deals were not detailed in the 14 October announcement. The branch says the enlarged portfolio gives it more contacts to match landlords with tenants and buyers with properties more quickly.
Integration as a repeatable process
Bringing in a fourth business has given the branch a working integration method. Lisa Hollings, operations manager at Martin & Co Huddersfield, leads that work. “Every acquisition brings its own challenges, but having a clear plan and making sure the team is aligned from the outset makes a huge difference,” she said. “Our priority throughout the integration of ADM Residential has been to make the transition as seamless as possible, while ensuring the team has everything they need to continue delivering the level of service we pride ourselves on.”
A growth route for established franchisees
For a lettings franchise, a managed portfolio produces recurring monthly fees, which is why franchisees in the sector often grow by buying rent rolls rather than opening new branches, the pattern behind most of the property franchises in the UK.
The Huddersfield deal also comes as the private rented sector adjusts to new rules in England, including the Renters’ Rights Act and the government’s confirmation in September 2026 that managing agents will be regulated. Further acquisitions by the branch have not been announced.
