Lettings industry seniors call for mandatory qualifications for all staff

Zoopla's Lettings Advisory board, which includes many high-profile people from the industry, wants to level the playing field for both agents and tenants.

zoopla letter lettings

A group of the letting industry’s most senior figures have written to the Government urging ministers to both back mandatory training for those working within the sector and introducing minimum compulsory standards for privately rented homes.

The group, which meets under the auspices of Zoopla as its Lettings Industry board, includes Connells lettings chief Kevin Day, Martin & Co senior Eric Walker, LSL’s Lettings Director, John Paul from the Castledene Group and Propertymark as well as Ben Beadle, chief executive of the NRLA.

Nicola Thivessen,
Nicola Thivessen,

Industry figure Kristjan Byfield, who is both a tech entrepreneur and lettings agency owner, is also on the board which is chaired by KFH senior Nicola Thivessen (pictured).

She says: “We are encouraged to see that improving the PRS remains a core priority of the new Government.

“Particularly the introduction of a new database that, with the correct implementation, is an opportunity to create transparency of property safety and drive rogue landlords from the sector.

Prioritise

The Board remains keen to see the introduction of mandatory qualifications for those operating in the PRS and we encourage the Government to review and prioritise this in future legislation, to ensure a minimum standard of knowledge and support for tenants.”

In their letter the group says the playing field needs to levelled up between qualified and trained letting agents and property managers – and those who are not.

“Anyone can let property and there is no specific requirement that must first be met to carry out this role,” the letter days.

“This creates risk for the private rented sector, as the level of knowledge across operators varies significantly, without an expected standard of qualification or training.”

Backing the Government’s ‘property portal’, the letter also says: “The Board supports the introduction of a private rented property database (PRPD) which is proposed in the Renters’ Rights Bill.

“It’s important this is designed with the input of industry so that it delivers its intended purposes and links to the ambition for a decent homes standard for private rented homes.

“All privately rented properties should achieve a decent standard certification, recorded via PRPD and with key information displayed on all property marketing, as part of material information.”


2 Comments

  1. I doubt any business owning letting agent would disagree that qualified staff are always a benefit to any company. However, that comes with considerable expense, cost of training, materials, lost time, exams and why should the staff use their own time for revision without reward, so financial incentives should be factored in.
    All this really is positive and I don’t disagree for a moment, but how can the company owner pay for all of that without it coming directly from profit? Add costs to your fees I hear you say – stock is low and landlords know it so fees have to be sharp to win business at present. The Zoopla board are indeed well intentioned but should be acutely aware of the current rental market and the challenges for agents.

    1. Very valid points David. Agents already investing in training, might see what that training entails change a bit to meet standards but I would not expect training demands to exceed what they already are. Also, obtaining formal qualifications will become essential, leading to people entering our industry with a far greater level of technical knowledge- so LESS trianing will actually be required as you will just need to maintain their knowledge and learn about changes- rather than having to teach staff everything.
      Also, in theory, by mandating training and qualifications, the cost of obtaining those should come down (on a rates basis).
      This isn’t adding something new, it’s formalising what every quality agent already does and eliminating the rogue and uneducated element who usually drive down fees and are the primary cause for disrepute of agency and the PRS as a whole.
      If there’s one thing the Zoopla LAB understands, its the challenges faced by agents big and small.

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