Are Untrained Estate Agents Costing You Money in 2025?
Buying or selling a home is one of the biggest financial decisions you’ll ever make. Yet, in the UK, anyone can become an estate agent—with zero mandatory training. Shocking, right?
In a powerful new London Property Podcast episode, host Farnaz Fazaipour exposes this hidden risk. She reveals how untrained agents can cost buyers and sellers tens of thousands of pounds through poor advice, missed opportunities, and costly mistakes. This isn’t just an industry issue—it’s a consumer crisis. Here’s why it matters, and what we can do about it.
The Shocking Truth: No Training Required
In the UK, estate agency remains one of the few professions with no legal requirement for qualifications.
Current Reality: Anyone can set up as an estate agent tomorrow—no exams, no licensing, no mandatory CPD.
Global Comparison: Australia, Canada, and most US states require licensing and ongoing training. The UK? Nothing.
Consumer Risk: A 2024 survey showed 38% of sellers felt their agent lacked proper market knowledge.
Result? Overpriced listings, undervalued offers, and failed chains—all because of avoidable errors.
How Untrained Agents Cost You Real Money
Poor training isn’t just inconvenient. It hits your wallet—hard.
Overpricing Homes: Untrained agents often inflate asking prices to win listings. Result? Properties sit unsold for months, forcing 10–15% price drops.
Missing Buyer Potential: Many fail to qualify buyers properly. This leads to 25% of sales falling through after offer acceptance.
Negotiation Failures: Weak negotiators leave £15,000–£50,000 on the table in prime London postcodes.
Legal Oversights: Missed disclosures or incorrect paperwork cause delays—and sometimes lost sales.
One client story: A seller lost £87,000 because their agent didn’t understand leasehold ground rent doubling clauses.
The Solution: Time for Mandatory Training
The UK desperately needs reform. And the good news? Change is possible.
What’s Needed:
Minimum qualification (e.g., Level 3 in Estate Agency)
Compulsory annual CPD
National licensing system
Public register of qualified agents
Who’s Pushing for Change? Propertymark, NAEA, and consumer groups are leading the charge.
Consumer Power: The more we demand better standards, the faster change will come.
Success Story: Ireland introduced mandatory training in 2019. Within two years, consumer complaints dropped 42%.
How to Protect Yourself Right Now
While we wait for reform, here’s how to stay safe in 2025:
Ask the Right Questions:
“What qualifications do you hold?”
“How many sales have you completed in this area in the last 12 months?”
“Are you a member of Propertymark or The Property Ombudsman?”
Choose Trained Professionals: Look for agents with Propertymark Protected status or NAEA/RICS credentials.
Get a Second Opinion: Always verify pricing and strategy with a qualified expert.
Work with Trusted Partners: Firms like Property Wealth only connect you with vetted, highly trained professionals.
Pro Tip: Never sign with an agent who can’t clearly explain market data, negotiation strategy, and legal obligations.
Join the Movement for Change
This isn’t just about better service. It’s about fairness, transparency, and protecting your money.
The UK property market deserves professional standards. And together, we can make it happen.
What You Can Do Today:
Contact your MP and demand mandatory estate agent training
Support Propertymark’s #TrainProtectPerform campaign
Let’s raise our voices. Let’s demand better.
Protect Your Wealth with Property Wealth
At Property Wealth, we believe every client deserves a fully trained, ethical, and expert agent. That’s why we only work with the best in the industry—professionals who are qualified, experienced, and fully accountable.
Selling or buying in 2025? Don’t risk tens of thousands with an untrained agent.
Connect with us today — and work only with properly trained professionals who put your interests first.
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