National property auctioneer Auction House has been named national Residential Auctioneer of the Year by leading industry publication The Negotiator. The brand also picked up a gold award for Best Franchise or Network Group of the Year for 2015 at the same event.

The awards were presented by impressionist, comic, actor and writer Alistair McGowan, at a glittering ceremony at London’s Park Lane Hilton last Tuesday night (3/11).

Responding to the awards, Founding Director Roger Lake said: “I liken the Negotiator Awards to the Oscars; they are eagerly awaited and the winners have all delivered standout performances.

“We already knew that Auction House was the UK’s top property auctioneer in terms of number of lots sold. To have our national success confirmed by the industry is a huge accolade. As both awards have been granted to the entire Auction House Group, it does enormous credit to the hard-working staff operating our 40 auction rooms across the country.”

News of the awards came as the latest figures for Auction House sales in October were confirmed. The group successfully sold 391 lots from 548 offered at a success rate of 71%, with over £56m raised (£56,407,000).

Cumulative results for the first ten months of 2015 sit at 2,750 lots sold at a success rate for the year of 75.9%, raising in excess of £360m (£363,201,708) – a figure which is over 10% ahead of last year.

Roger Lake added: “Success rates in October were variable around the country which is a reflection of higher vendor expectations and the entry of some more challenging lots. None the less, for those lots which are keenly guided, the prices being achieved under the hammer are often well beyond expectations. “Right now, there is a new urgency being shown by sellers who want to see their lots sold before winter sets in, and more tenanted investments coming to market prior to the onset of the new tax rules on mortgage payments.”​