Letting & Estate Agent Podcast

Should referral fees in estate agency be banned? Property expert Jason Bull tackles this hot topic, arguing they damage trust, ethics, and the market itself. He exposes how some agents prioritise profit over clients, with negotiators charging “what they can get away with.” Many firms even rely on these fees to stay afloat. Are they sustainable, or a ticking time bomb? Tune in to hear why reform might be overdue, and share your take: should referral fees stay or go?

With the Renters’ Rights Bill dominating the headlines, many in the UK property industry are wondering if the government is missing the point. In this interview, Nicol Nightingale, former letting agent, regional rep and now asset manager, explains why bringing in yet more legislation could do more harm than good. Nicol argues that without first regulating property agents through ROPA, the Renters’ Rights Bill risks piling pressure on an already stretched system without actually protecting tenants. She highlights the worrying reality of unqualified agents and self managing landlords drafting legally binding tenancy agreements with no formal training. Rather than political posturing, what the sector really needs is investment in proper qualifications, stronger enforcement of existing laws, and a serious move towards professionalising the industry. Listen to the full interview to hear why Nicol believes change is needed!

When Suppliers Bully Estate Agents: What’s Really Happening in UK Property Tech? In this interview, Rupert Collingwood, a no nonsense estate agency broker, pulls no punches about how some prop tech suppliers are squeezing estate agents and letting agents across the UK. Are your tech providers truly supporting your business, or just treating you like another number on their ledger? Rupert explains how many tech solutions are created for problems estate agents don’t actually have, yet come with ever increasing fees and complicated contracts. He highlights the frustration agents face when suppliers keep raising costs regardless of the value delivered, and when product changes create extra headaches and expenses. The conversation also dives into why estate agents aren’t standing up for themselves enough, allowing this “bullying” behaviour to continue unchecked. If you’ve ever felt pressured or left behind by your tech suppliers, this episode is worth the listen. Tune in, share your thoughts, and let’s start holding suppliers to account.

Grow Your Estate Agency with Authentic Content – Insights from Adam Day. Want to raise your agency’s profile and attract more clients? Adam Day, UK supremo of eXp, reveals how over 700 estate agents have used authentic storytelling, personal video, and targeted direct mail to win business without expensive campaigns. Hear why local content like “Street of the Week” builds trust, how stepping outside your comfort zone fuels growth, and why creativity is the ultimate game changer in today’s property market.

Why are so many estate agents poor at marketing themselves? In this episode, Andrew Seldon, Managing Director of Belvoir, shares the truth behind why even experienced agents struggle to stand out. From one-person outfits to big corporates, glossy brochures and property listings simply aren’t enough. Andrew reveals why most social media falls flat, how to turn local knowledge into compelling content, and what really builds trust with sellers and landlords. Tune in and discover how your agency can win more instructions.

UK PROPERTY MARKET WEEKLY UPDATE — Week 34, 2025 Welcome to the 34th UK Property Market Stats Show of 2025 — your go-to weekly YouTube ‘TV Programme’ on the UK property market. This week, I’m joined by Steph Vass, the co-Founder & boss of TAUK, as we unpack the key headlines from the 34th week of 2025, ending Sunday, 31st August 2025 ▶️ Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/6JNiBEhq0Ig 🔍 Key Market Stats – Week 34 of 2025 ✅ Listings (New to Market) 29.1k new listings this week (Down as expected from 33.4k last week as it was August Bank Holiday). 2025 weekly average : 36.2k YTD listings are 2.7% higher than 2024 YTD and 7.2% above the 2017–19 YTD average (1.23m YTD vs 1.2m in 2024 YTD) ✅ Price Reductions 17.5k reductions this week (down from 20.3k last week - again Bank Holiday). That’s still only 1 in 7 homes for the month of August on the market being reduced monthly (14.1%) For context: • 14.1% in July, 14% in June & 13.4% in May • 12.1% average in 2024 • Long-term 5-year average: 10.6% ✅ Sales Agreed 21.3k homes sold STC this week (down from last week at 25.3k - again Bank Holiday) 2025 weekly average : 26.2k YTD agreed sales: • 6.1% up on 2024 (893k vs 842k) • 13% up on pre-Covid average of 788k (2017–19) ✅ Sell-Through Rate (July, in arrears) 15.4% of properties on agent’s books went SSTC in July. (August figures to follow next week) Up from 15.3% in June. 16.1% in May 2024 monthly average: 15.3% 8-year overall average: 17.9% ✅ Sale Fall-Throughs 5,149 fall-throughs last week (from a 512k SSTC pipeline (units)). Weekly average for 2025: 6,206 Fall-thru rate as percentage of gross sales: 24.1% (up from 24.3% last week). The 9 year long-term average of 24.2% (post-Truss chaos saw that at levels of 40%+) ✅ Net Sales 16.2k net sales this week (Down from 19.1k last week - again Bank Holiday) Weekly average for 2025: 20k YTD Net Sales: • 682k in 2025 which is 5% ahead of 2024 YTD figure of 649k and 9.8% up on 2017–19 YTD (621k) ✅ % Chance the Home will Sell (month in arrears) July stats showed 50.9% of UK Homes that left the estate agents books in exchanged & completed contracts (ie the agent got paid and the home moved on completion), the remaining 49.1% left Estate Agent books, unsold and homeowner staying in their home. August figures to follow by mid September onwards Comparison Jun - 51.3% May - 51.7% April - 53.2% NB - this July stat will change throughout August as more data comes through. ✅ Stock Levels (For Sale and Sales Pipeline) - 1st of the Month 763k homes on the market at the start of 1st August - 6.7% higher than 1st August 2024 (715k). 512k homes in Estate Agents sales pipelines on 1st August - 4% higher than than 1st August 2024 ✅ House Prices (measured by £/sq.ft) £344.78/sqft on Sales Agreed in July 2025 - 1.97% higher than July 2024 and 3.85% higher than July 2022. ✅ Rental Stats (in arrears) July 2025 with an average rent of £1,876 pcm (July ’24 - £1,863 pcm) (YTD 2025 average is £1767 pcm). ✅ Local Focus: Stoke-on-Trent Graphs for downloading https://we.tl/t-cCMlgulyvf

Lonely at the Top? This One’s for You! Running an estate agency can be isolating and overwhelming. In this episode, industry veteran Jason Bull shares real world advice from decades in both traditional and self employed models. From spotting future branch managers to building smarter growth strategies, Jason offers practical tips for small and mid-sized agencies. Whether you're leading a branch or scaling up, don’t go it alone. Tune in, take notes, and join the conversation with fellow property professionals.

Can anyone really beat eXp UK? This week we’re joined by Adam Day, the man behind the momentum. As the founding force of the UK’s biggest self-employed estate agency, Adam reveals why eXp has become so hard to rival and what it would take to catch up. From explosive growth and agent loyalty to culture, support and mindset, this is a rare inside look at the company reshaping the property market. Tune in now, you won’t want to miss it.

Are Untrained Letting Agents Damaging Our Industry? Too many letting agents are being “trained” by people who don’t really know what they’re doing, and it’s causing real problems. In this interview, Nicol Nightingale, former Propertymark regional exec and now an asset manager in Leicester, shares her first hand experiences of unqualified agents passing on bad habits and misinformation. With over 170 pieces of legislation to navigate, the property industry isn’t one where you can just pick things up as you go along. Nicol explains how even basic legal checks like Right to Rent are being mishandled, not out of laziness, but because no one ever showed agents the correct way to do it. She makes a strong case for mandatory qualifications and proper regulation, arguing that without it, the gap between good agents and bad ones will only get wider. Listen now, then jump into the comments, do you agree with Nicol? Is it time for real change?

Should You Split Your Estate Agency Fee? Expert Advice from Rupert Collingwood In today’s fiercely competitive UK property market, the question of whether to split your estate agency fee has never been more relevant. Rupert Collingwood, an experienced London broker, explains why charging the right fee and working collaboratively with other agents might be the best way to stand out from the crowd. Over the last two decades, average fees have dropped from 1.6% to around 1%, largely due to commoditisation and the dominance of portals, which have made most agents’ services feel almost identical. Rupert argues that by charging a proper, fair fee, agents can afford to share commissions and work together for the benefit of vendors and buyers alike. He highlights how collaboration can improve the customer experience and build trust, especially when agents put aside ego and focus on what really matters, getting the best outcome for clients. Ready to rethink your approach and discover how cooperation could transform your agency? Listen now, and share your thoughts below!