Ellie Rees, founder and new business director at ethical estate agency Brickworks has won the backing of Propertymark seniors and a host of industry leaders in her campaign to stamp out sexism and the use of ‘Dear Sirs…’ as default language between solicitors and estate agents.

Rees (main picture) says that after running London-based Brickworks with a majority female team for nearly a decade, she still experiences almost-daily instances of sexism.

DEAR SIRS

“One piece of architecture holding this together is the use of ‘Dear Sirs…’ as default language between solicitors and estate agents,” she says. “It’s hard to believe that this is so visible yet has remained unchallenged for so long.”

Rees, who’s open letter to the property industry can be seen HERE, has won plaudits and backing for her endeavour from numerous industry leaders.

She adds: “For me, those who dismiss or politely decline standing with us are nailing their colours to the mast as much as those who do.”

Rees highlights five examples originally cited in Harvard Business Review’s “How to Make Your Organisation’s Language More Inclusive” and made them relatable to estate agency.

NEUTRAL

The removal of non-neutral terms and gender-based jargon; creating an always updated list of words that are discouraged within your organisation; offering accessible tips that can be put into immediate action; choosing visible company ambassadors to support inclusive language initiatives and sharing knowledge with your peers are Harvard’s five basic tips which Rees wants the industry to embrace.

This out-moded language has no place in contemporary estate agency.”

In the letter Rees says: “We are campaigning to eradicate the use of non-inclusive language in the workplace. As part of that initiative, we are approaching estate agency leaders, as well as recruiters, solicitors and surveyors, asking them to stop using the salutation ‘Dear Sirs’. And to make it company policy. This out-moded language has no place in contemporary estate agency.”

Join the “Dear Sirs…” campaign and sign the pledge HERE.