The majority of UK estate agents believe that the reputation of the industry would be improved if mandatory licensing was to be introduced, according to new research.
The survey of 262 UK estate agents, commissioned by Nested, asked if they agree that the reputation of the estate agency industry would be improved if mandatory licensing for agents were to be introduced.
Some 73% of respondents agreed, with 30% of those strongly agreeing, while just 15% either somewhat, or strongly disagreed.
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, 76% stated they would like to see a new entity trusted with the task.
A notable 97% also believed that estate agents who flaunt the rules and give the sector a bad name should be expelled from operating within the industry.
Alice Bullard, MD at Nested, commented: “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.”
