Agents back more regulation to remove rogue firms
Summary
A survey of 537 estate agents in England and Wales found strong support for tighter regulation of the estate agency sector, with 92% backing measures such as mandatory licensing and professional qualifications. Nearly half of respondents said rogue or substandard operators are a problem in their local market, with poor knowledge of property law and regulation cited as the leading concern.
Why it matters
For residential property surveyors, this points to continued pressure for higher professional standards and clearer regulatory expectations across the wider property market. It also highlights the reputational and transactional risks created by poor agency practice, which can affect sales progression and consumer confidence.
Key points
- 92% of surveyed estate agents support stronger regulation of the industry.
- 48% said rogue or substandard agencies are an issue in their local market.
- Poor knowledge of property law and regulation was identified as the main marker of a rogue agency.
- Agents favoured a legally enforceable code of conduct and minimum professional qualifications.
- Concerns about new regulation included higher costs, more administration and the risk of box-ticking compliance.
This is an RPSA summary of a publicly available article. The full content remains with the original publisher.
