Propertymark has steadfastly argued that without basic entry standards for practicing agents, customers may end up working with someone who lacks knowledge about the intricacies of property transactions and is unaware of their own business risks.
The professional body is once again urging the government to make it mandatory for agents to be properly trained and adhere to certain competence levels. Propertymark sees this as crucial for improving service quality and eliminating unethical practices in the industry.
The organization believes the government should take this opportunity to put into effect the 2019 Regulation of Property Agents (RoPA) recommendations, creating qualifications for residential letting agents in England.
Henry Griffith, a spokesperson for Propertymark, commented: “Mr. Gove [the housing secretary] needs to take action if he is serious about elevating standards across the entire housing sector. He can start by protecting private tenants as well as social ones by implementing the reforms suggested by the Regulation of Property Agents Working Group back in 2019. This will help to ensure that anyone dealing with housing law is properly qualified.”
Propertymark is advocating for an equal standard of qualification requirements in both the social and private rented sectors.
In early 2023, the UK government mandated that social housing managers become professionally qualified as part of an initiative to enhance standards and ensure resident safety. The details of these new requirements were presented in a public consultation that concluded in April 2024.
This move is a reaction to incidents like the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire and the 2020 death of Awaab Ishak. Michael Gove is considering using his legal powers to improve conditions within social housing.
The organization provided feedback this month on a consultation that proposed to set new standards and qualifications for upper-management roles, and also introduce a new Competence and Conduct Standard for all staff. This new standard sets forth that employees must develop skills and knowledge to meet evolving criteria.
However, Propertymark points out that there is currently no legal requirement for private sector letting or management agents in England, or estate agents across the UK, to hold any qualifications. As a result, individuals can become agents without specific training or understanding of the housing sector, and often, there are only minor consequences for providing subpar services.
Therefore, Propertymark asserts that if Gove sees the value in professional qualifications and the need for high standards in social housing, similar measures should be introduced to the private rented sector. It would ensure that those servicing tenants acquire additional training and qualifications, leading to better service through a gradual improvement process.
Propertymark supports the 2019 recommendations by Lord Best’s Regulation of Property Agents Working Group. They agree all agents should be licensed, follow a Code of Practice, and possess at least a Level 3 qualification. Timothy Douglas of Propertymark expressed these positions at a House of Lords committee meeting on March 5, 2024.
Agents in various fields such as lettings, sales, and auctions can obtain qualifications through Propertymark’s independent awarding organization – Propertymark Qualifications. This body is recognized by various regulatory agencies and offers qualifications that are integrated into national frameworks.
The benefits of having compulsory qualifications in Scotland serve as evidence for these recommendations. Since Scotland implemented such requirements for letting agents, there has been a noticeable boost in professional standards. Propertymark suggests Gove consider Scotland’s success as he develops qualification guidelines for the social housing sector in England.