Plans to raise public confidence in estate agents

Asset Skills welcomes Sir Bryan Carsberg's review

Jul 2008

Asset Skills is supporting calls for the Government to implement minimum qualifications for estate agents.

It follows publication of a report by Sir Bryan Carsberg which made a number of recommendations to help lift public confidence in estate agents.

"We fully endorse the Carsberg proposals and believe they will steer the sector in the right direction," said Richard Beamish, Chief Executive of Asset Skills.

The report recommended all estate agents, letting agents and those involved in Block Management should obtain a basic qualification that demonstrates their knowledge of the law, similar to the ones run by the National Federation of Property Professionals (NFOPP).

"This will impact heavily on the cowboy operators who, though in the minority, tarnish the rest of the industry with a bad image," said Beamish.

Supporting minimum standards

As the Sector Skills Council for property services, Asset Skills works with employers and professional associations to try and identify solutions to key industry concerns.

It carried out an in-depth piece of research on the state of the property industry's skills needs called the Sector Skills Agreement (SSA). This identified a call from agents for minimum standards for the industry, sentiments echoed in the Carsberg report.

"Ensuring all employees have a nationally recognised qualification based on sound occupational standards will go a long way to restoring public perceptions of the industry," said Richard Beamish.

Carsberg recommends "grandfathering experienced practitioners" to account for their levels of industry knowledge.

However, all new recruits who have to give important advice to customers would be required to achieve an industry qualification to practice, and this would be a move Asset Skills welcomes.