Two-thirds of estate agents support the government’s proposed introduction of mandatory qualifications for professionals in the sector, new research has found.
The findings come in the wake of recently announced reforms to the home buying and selling process, which include enhanced material information requirements, the rollout of digital property logbooks, and legally binding contracts between buyers and sellers.
Despite widespread support, the survey – commissioned by GetAgent – shows that most agents began their careers without formal training. According to the data, 72% of respondents said they entered the profession without any qualifications, and only 5% reported holding three or more.
When asked about the role of qualifications in improving professionalism, 65% said they are either “very” or “somewhat” necessary. Additionally, 72% believe mandatory qualifications could help increase public trust, while 37% expect a notable improvement in the industry’s reputation.
However, concerns remain about the potential impact on recruitment. Nearly two-thirds (64%) said the time and cost associated with obtaining qualifications could discourage new entrants, potentially worsening existing hiring challenges.
Beyond qualifications, agents highlighted standardised data sharing between parties (33%) and binding contracts (31%) as the changes most likely to affect their day-to-day work. However, only 21% believe the reforms will significantly improve transaction times or reduce fall-through rates, while 42% expect only moderate improvements.
In total, just over half (53%) of those surveyed said they believe the wider reforms will benefit the industry in the long term.
Colby Short, Co-founder and CEO of GetAgent, commented: “At GetAgent, we see every day that not all agents are the same. The best agents work incredibly hard, care about their clients, and deliver great results – and it’s good to see many of them backing higher professional standards.
“Mandatory qualifications will help lift the baseline and give sellers more confidence in who they’re dealing with. They’ll also make it harder for some of the low-cost, low-commitment operators to enter the industry, which isn’t a bad thing if it helps protect the fee levels of those investing in their ability to do a good job and provide a great service.
“That said, qualifications alone won’t be what sets the best agents apart. The real difference still comes down to attitude, effort, and experience.
“If higher standards lead to better service and stronger trust, then good agents should be able to charge a fairer fee for the value they provide. The key is keeping the balance right – raising the barrier to entry without losing the entrepreneurial spirit that makes agency such a dynamic business. Get that right, and everyone wins: agents, sellers, and the industry as a whole.”
