The majority (73%) of UK estate agents believe that the reputation of the industry would be improved if mandatory licensing was introduced, research from estate agent Nested has found.
Nearly a third (30%) strongly agree, while just 15% either somewhat or strongly disagreed.
Alice Bullard, managing director at Nested, the modern estate agent, said: “The topic of mandatory licensing has been a hot one for some years now and while it’s fair to say that the industry has largely moved beyond its traditionally poor reputation, there have still been some recent examples of big industry names operating by their own rule book.
“Regardless of your opinion, the setting and maintenance of a certain set of rules and standards can only be a positive step towards improving the industry for both the customer and workforce alike. It’s high time the sector evolved in this respect.”
When asked if they think such licensing should be overseen by a new regulatory body, or an existing entity such as PropertyMark or the RICS, three quarters (76%) said they would like to see a new entity trusted with the task.
The vast majority (97%) reckon that estate agents who flaunt the rules and give the sector a bad name should be expelled from operating within the industry.
