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The Voice of the Agent Part Three from We Are Unchained has been released issuing a damning verdict on Britain’s economic drift, political fatigue, housing policy chaos and patchwork regulation one year into the new Labour government.
The research, capturing the views of over 400 frontline practitioners, reveals an industry neither collapsing nor soaring, but holding its breath.
Just a fifth – 21% – of agents expect economic conditions to improve in the next year, with nearly half bracing for deterioration. Confidence in government economic management is close to non-existent, as 64% believe that current plans will worsen the situation.
In the realm of politics, the picture is equally stark. Support for the Conservatives has halved since 2024, while Reform UK now claims pole position among agents. Labour, despite forming the current government, inspires even less confidence, with fewer than 6% of agents willing to back it. The traditional blue base, it seems, has splintered, less from ideological zeal than from raw frustration.
Housing emerges as the keystone of this disillusionment. Agents described housing policy as a parlour game of targets and soundbites, rather than a serious attempt to solve structural shortages. Planning reform is mocked as theatre, with a growing professional chorus demanding practical, evidence-led solutions that prioritise building, not political posturing.
Regulation, meanwhile, is no longer seen as the enemy. Agents are actively demanding clear, credible standards, calling time on the sector’s ‘cowboy’ stereotype. The current alphabet soup of memberships and toothless oversight is viewed as a liability, both for public trust and for the profession’s standing.
Amidst this weary chorus of frustration, there is nonetheless a note of resolve. Agents are no longer waiting to be rescued. They are investing in efficiency, credibility, and a professionalism born of commitment rather than compliance.
Simon Leadbetter, founder of We Are Unchained, commented: “This is an industry tired of being everyone’s punchline. Our findings show that estate and letting agents want a housing market that works, a government that listens, and a regulatory framework that means something. They are not asking for sympathy; they are asking for substance.”
The final instalment of the four-part 2025 report will be published later this year, turning the lens towards consumers themselves.
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