Insights

Here’s a stat that might surprise you: in the UK, Estate Agents don’t need any formal qualification or licence to sell a home.

That’s right. No exam. No certification. Nothing to prove they understand the laws or responsibilities involved in handling what’s often the biggest transaction of someone’s life.

Now compare that to countries like the US, South Africa, Australia or New Zealand, where you can’t legally operate as an Estate Agent without passing a licensing exam. These systems ensure agents understand contracts, compliance, and consumer protection before they’re allowed near a deal.

So why is the UK still lagging?

At Collins Property Recruitment, we believe the lack of minimum standards is hurting the industry. The result? Agents who don’t know the law, poor advice being handed out, and an overall lack of trust in the profession. And that’s bad news for the many brilliant agents out there doing great work, because the public often can’t tell the difference.

If surveyors and solicitors need credentials to practise, why should Estate Agents be any different?

We also think it’s time to introduce a licensing body, not just to improve knowledge and professionalism, but to bring transparency. We’ve seen too many candidates embellish their CVs or bend the truth on dates. And when reference checks are avoided, usually because the details wouldn’t hold up, it becomes almost impossible to verify their track record.

Imagine if every agent had a licence number that tracked their work history, just like a DVLA record for drivers. One quick check, and an employer could see a verified list of job titles, employers, and dates. Clean, fair, and objective.

Raising the bar isn’t about gatekeeping, it’s about building trust. For clients. For employers. For the industry as a whole.

And it’s long overdue.

Let’s talk standards. Whether you're a client looking for qualified, trustworthy talent or a candidate who stands by their experience, we’d love to hear from you.

Email us at info@collinspropertyrecruitment.com or give us a call on 020 7435 0309.

Collins Property Recruitment is a business with a purpose: to enable talent and businesses to meet and do great things together. We make this happen through an unrivalled network, a values-led, consultative approach and a hard-earned reputation as the go-to recruiter in property.