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The head of not-for-profit accreditation scheme for lettings and management agents Safeagent
Isobel Thomson’s comments are in support of Baroness Fox of Buckley who recently said that estate agents’ degrees are not necessary. She made the comments about university estate agency degree courses during a Lords debate after it was announced that the UK’s first ever residential estate agency degree course is to launch this September.
The new degree, which is to be offered by the Royal Agricultural University (RAU), offers would-be estate agents the chance to obtain a foundation degree to help them develop the skills and attributes they need to succeed in the industry.
The course will cover property valuations, marketing, law and professional sales practice, as well as more ‘hands on’ modules such as surveying, inspecting and measurement.
Thomson said: “Agents do not need degrees to perform their roles. They do need professional development, of course, with recognised industry qualifications so that consumers can be reassured they are receiving a certain level of service.
“We feel strongly that agency is a people business requiring strong interpersonal skills, local community knowledge and professional competency. A combination of these is what makes a good agent, not whether they studied three years for a degree at university.”
It was recently proposed by Labour that estate agents would have to go back to school and achieve minimum level of qualifications as part of its plans to drive cowboy operators out of the housing market.
Labour’s shadow housing minister Matthew Pennycook tabled an amendment in January to incoming housing reforms which would require all estate agents to have at least one A-level and all directors of estate agencies to have an undergraduate degree.
Although the proposed changed have failed to gain support from the majority of MPs In the House of Commons, it does offer an early indication of Labour’s position when it comes to improving standards in the estate agency sector.
Propertymark has long been calling for “a properly regulated industry” where agents can be “trusted and respected” by consumers.
Similar rules are already in place in Scotland, while more stringent requirements are in place for estate agents in many other countries.
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