"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 low-cost, low-commitment operators to enter the industry, which isn’t a bad thing"
- Colby Short - GetAgent
Research from GetAgent.co.uk shows that 65% of estate agents back the Government’s proposed introduction of mandatory qualifications for property professionals. The findings come after last week’s announcement of reforms to the home buying and selling process, which include greater material information requirements, digital property logbooks, and binding contracts between buyers and sellers.
The survey, commissioned by GetAgent, reveals that while support for qualifications is strong, most current agents began their careers without them. Some 72% of respondents said they held no formal qualifications when first entering the industry, with only 5% holding three or more.
When asked about the importance of formal qualifications for professionalism, 65% of agents said they are either “very” or “somewhat” necessary. Meanwhile, 72% believe mandatory qualifications would improve public trust in the profession, with 37% expecting a “significant” uplift in reputation.
However, the research also highlights potential challenges. Around 64% of agents expressed concern that the time and cost required to achieve mandatory qualifications could deter new entrants, potentially worsening recruitment difficulties already faced by many agencies.
Beyond qualifications, agents identified other reforms likely to affect their day-to-day operations. Standardised data sharing between agents, conveyancers, and lenders was cited by 33%, while binding contracts between buyers and sellers were noted by 31%. Confidence in the overall success of the reforms was mixed, with 21% believing the changes will “greatly” improve transaction times and reduce fall-throughs, and 42% expecting only a moderate impact. Overall, 53% of agents think the reforms will benefit the sector in the long term.
“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,” said Colby Short, co-founder and CEO of GetAgent.
“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 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.”
