nick goldsworth
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CIELA launch unlikely now as agents stay away
The Charter for Independent Estate and Letting Agents (CIELA) says it is unlikely to launch on October 1st as planned. The announcement comes after just 5% of agents who pre-registered with the organisation signed up to pay its pre-launch £35 a month memberships fee. CIELA, which revealed its plans begin a new mutual body for independent agents in January this year, says it has yet to attract enough paying members to be able to launch. “While we have received very strong vocal support, thousands of agents visiting our website and much encouragement from agents and suppliers we meet, this is not translating into membership sign-ups,” says CIELA founder Charles Wright. “Less than 5% of the hundreds of agents who pre-registered with us declaring their support when we first announced our intention to form have actually proceeded to join.” “It seems to be a case of chicken and egg. Everyone agrees the independent industry needs a collective voice to improve its national reputation, but hardly anyone seems willing to risk even £35 a month to support it. “The wait-and-see problem will cause CIELA to die before launch, unless it’s overcome. Everyone is waiting for everyone else to join first. Or, there…
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