Waterfords won the title of national medium estate agency of the year at Tuesday night’s Negotiator awards.

The win is a significant triumph for the agent, which has branches in the borders of Hampshire, Surrey and Berkshire – and shows real fighting spirit.

Last year, the agency was named in a high-profile ‘cartel’ case. The Competition and Markets Authority penalised three agents in Fleet, Hampshire, including Waterfords and Countrywide brand Hamptons, plus an agency membership group, and a Trinity Mirror local newspaper publisher, claiming they had all breached competition law.

Waterfords has never once complained, explained or sought to put its point of view, but has simply got on with the job of selling and renting homes while also engaging with local good causes – and in the process, rebuilding a strong local reputation.

On Tuesday, Waterfords beat other, more seasoned, award winners – Pygott & Crone, and Thomas Morris – into respective second and third places.

In the large estate agency category, Ryder & Dutton beat both Andrews and Marsh & Parsons.

In the small estate agency of the year category, Brock Taylor won, followed by Adam Hayes and Anthony Pepe.

It was a triumphant night for two-branch Adam Hayes, which also won national small lettings agency of the year and London’s best agency, beating off serious competition.

The title of medium lettings agency of the year went to Breckson & Breckson, and the gold for large letting agent went to Portico.

The best online agent was named as HouseSimple.

A popular winner of the lifetime achievement award was industry trainer and former ARLA president Frances Burkinshaw.

Our congratulations to all.