Letting & Estate Agent Podcast

Maxine Fothergill is the MD of Amax Estates & Property Services Gravesend, Past President ARLA PropertyMark, Columnist for Property Investor News and published book author of “How to Become a Successful Property Investor”. She dropped by the WatkinSofa in the late Autumn of 2024 to chat all things property and why agents should use Christopher Watkin.

Enforcement Against Letting Agents Is Getting Tougher! Are You Ready for 2025? The property market is about to face even stricter enforcement against letting agents, and 2025 is when it all ramps up. The upcoming Renters' Rights Bill promises tougher regulations, and Des Taylor, an expert at Landlord Licensing and Defence, is here to shed light on what that means for letting agents like you. With changes that could impact everything from tenancy agreements to property standards, the stakes are higher than ever. Des explains how the growing enforcement is linked to the Housing and Planning Act 2016 and why the Renters' Rights Bill is set to make things even tougher for agents who aren’t fully compliant. The risk of penalties is on the rise, and many agents are unaware of the complexities in tenancy terminations or re-letting restrictions. Des shares his expert advice on what letting agents should be doing now to avoid the pitfalls, including why outsourcing certain tasks is crucial to staying compliant. As enforcement becomes more aggressive, it’s clear that only agents who are fully up to speed on these regulations will thrive. Listen now to find out how to safeguard your business and stay ahead of the curve in 2025 and beyond. Comment below on how are you preparing for these changes?

UK PROPERTY MARKET WEEKLY UPDATE Welcome to the 13th UK Property Market Stats Show of 2025, your go to weekly TV show on the UK Property Market on YouTube This week, I’m joined by Steph Walker as we delve into the key property market headlines for 13th week of 2025 ending on the 6th April 2025. The YouTube Show https://youtu.be/65AxlI_snzM ✴️ UK Property Market Highlights this week . ✅ Listings (New Properties on the Market) 41.3k new listings this week (last week 39.7k) That’s 7% higher than Week 13 of 2024 YTD and 10% higher YTD compared to 2017/18/19. ✅ Price Reductions (% of Resi Stock) 26.6k Price Reductions this week - meaning an approx run rate of 1 in 7.46 of Resi Sales stock per month is being reduced (which represents 13.4%). For comparison, 12.1% average in 2024, though the long-term 5-year average is 10.6%. ✅ Total Gross Sales (Agreed Sales) 27.6k UK homes sold STC this week, down slightly from last weeks near 3 year record breaking week of 28k. That’s 13% higher YTD compared to 2024 and 23% higher than 2017/18/19 YTD levels. ✅ Sell-Through Rate (Monthly in Arrears) March’s sale run rate of 16.3% of Resi stock sold stc (ie 16.3% of Estate Agents properties on the market went sale agreed). 2024 monthly average: 15.3%. Long-term 8-year average: 17.9%. ✅ Sale Fall-Throughs 6,563 Sale fall-thrus last week from Resi Sale Sales Pipeline of 467,414 homes sale agreed (sold stc). Another method is that week’s sale fall thrus as a % of gross sales that week. This week, that is 23.7% (last week 22.5%). Just above the 7-year average of 24.2%, yet well below the 40%+ levels post-Truss Budget (Autumn 2022). Last month, as a whole, 5.75% of sales in the UK agents pipelines fell thru. For comparison, 2024 average: 5.36%. ✅ Net Sales (Gross sales for the week less Sale Fall Thrus for the week) 21k net sales this week (21.7k last week), compared 2025 weekly average of 20.1k. 2025 YTD is 10% higher than compared to 2024 YTD and 16.6% higher than YTD 2017/18/19. Local Focus this week - Macclesfield Graphs https://we.tl/t-PDFqWgZ1bR

Ben Marley, a very well known figure in the UK Estate & Letting Agency community with senior roles at FixFlo and most recently at the ESTAS, has decided to start his own business at GeoCale, a service that helps Estate Agents rank highly on Google when homeowners search for Estate Agents. He dropped by the WatkinSofa in the Autumn of 2024. In this episode, Ben talks about what the biggest threat to high street Estate Agency is.

Ian Harris is the NAEA Propertymark Vice President and the Regional Sales and Marketing Manager for Watsons Residential Sales in Norfolk. In the winter of 2024, he dropped by the WatkinSofa to chat all things Estate Agency and the 3 things that haven't changed in the last 40 years within the industry.

Why Hyper local is the Ultimate Strategy for Estate Agents – Especially for the Self-Employed! If you're an estate agent looking to make a name for yourself in today's competitive market, the hyper local approach might be exactly what you need. Join me, Christopher Watkin, and Steph Walker, co-founder of The Agency UK, as we dive into why focusing on a small, well-defined geographical area can be the key to your success—whether you're self-employed or running a small independent agency. In this episode, we'll cover: - Why hyper local is the best strategy for estate agents, particularly for self-employed professionals. - How to focus on smaller, more manageable areas like housing estates or villages, instead of going after a massive patch. - Social media tips to help you become the local hero—using Facebook groups, Nextdoor, and video content to build trust and visibility. - Smart ways to use data from sites like Home.co.uk to keep your audience engaged and informed. Steph shares her invaluable insights on how a focused approach can lead to greater success, giving you more control over your time and business. Want to learn how to stand out in your community? Listen to this episode now, and discover how to build strong local connections that’ll set you apart from the competition.

Struggling with "mum guilt" in estate agency? In this insightful video, Jayne Twiddle—former National Ops Director at Hunters and now a mentor with TAUK, York—opens up about her own experience balancing a successful career and motherhood. From being a single parent while climbing the ranks to advice on how women (and men) can better share the load at work and at home. Jayne’s story offers valuable lessons for estate agents looking to thrive without sacrificing their personal lives. Watch now to hear Jayne’s insights on the topic!

Maxine Fothergill is the MD of Amax Estates & Property Services Gravesend, Past President ARLA PropertyMark, Columnist for Property Investor News and published book author of “How to Become a Successful Property Investor”. She dropped by the WatkinSofa in the late Autumn of 2024 to chat about why it is important for women in the industry to come together to use WIEA.

Ben Marley, a very well known figure in the UK Estate & Letting Agency community with senior roles at FixFlo and most recently at the ESTAS, has decided to start his own business at GeoCale, a service that helps Estate Agents rank highly on Google when homeowners search for Estate Agents. He dropped by the WatkinSofa in the Autumn of 2024. In this episode, Ben talks about Independent vs Corporate Estate Agency.

How Letting Agents Should Prepare for the Renters’ Rights Bill. The Renters’ Rights Bill is on the horizon, and it’s about to bring sweeping changes to the UK property market. For letting agents, it’s crucial to start preparing now, because the impact on enforcement, penalties, and dispute resolution will be massive. In this episode, Des Taylor, an expert in landlord licensing and defence, breaks down exactly why letting agents need to be on top of their game before these new rules come into play. As Des explains, local housing authorities will soon have more power than ever to impose financial penalties, and you could find yourself at the mercy of hefty fines if you’re not careful. Letting agents will need to make sure they have their paperwork in order, that all tenancies are compliant, and that regular inspections are up to scratch, especially since the new bill will tighten up the rules around property management. With tenants increasingly turning to 'no-win-no-fee' lawyers for issues like disrepair and deposit disputes, having a solid strategy for resolving issues without going to court is key. Plus, Des warns that even seemingly simple services like tenant find or rent collection could leave you exposed to investigation if the local authority starts digging into your files. This is the time to take action, stay ahead of the curve, and make sure you’re fully prepared. Listen now to get the expert insights you need to protect your business and stay compliant. Hit play, and let us know your thoughts in the comments below!