‘Exhausted and understaffed’: Estate agents warn of a staffing crisis as burnout surges across the industry

According to Alto’s research, six in ten now report burnout inside their teams, with 44% calling it an “ongoing problem” and 15% saying it has become a major issue impacting performance.

The situation is even worse for mid-sized agencies, where one in three say recruitment and retention is one of their biggest challenges, as they struggle to retain staff.  

Industry leaders warn that agencies in 2026 are drained, overstretched and short-staffed, with many teams already “running on fumes” before the next wave of compliance, admin work and economic pressure lands this year. 

“Agents are tired, and that’s understandable”, said Riccardo Iannucci-Dawson, CEO of Alto. “The workload is relentless, the paperwork keeps rising, and teams are being hit from every direction.” 

“Mid-sized agencies are in the toughest spot of all. They have enough volume to generate real pressure, but not enough staff to absorb it. Unless they modernise quickly, many will reach breaking point.”

Alto’s research shows why staff are struggling. Agents cite rising admin, heavy compliance demands and constant task-switching as key drains on time and morale. 

Many say a typical day is now dominated by repeated data entry, chasing paperwork, and managing compliance tasks.

Alto says this pressure is exactly why agencies are now turning to AI-driven tools at record speed. 

Iannucci-Dawson added: “AI is the pressure valve this industry desperately needs. The real shift we’re seeing is that AI is starting to manage work, not just data. It can spot what matters, guide agents through complex tasks, and keep processes moving automatically in the background. 

“The agencies using it to eliminate repetitive tasks and keep deals moving are the ones who’ll cut burnout and keep their best people. Agencies using AI won’t just work faster; they’ll deliver a better experience for buyers, sellers, landlords and tenants. 

That’s exactly why we’re investing in embedded AI throughout Alto - to strip out the grind, take the stress out of compliance, save hours every week, and give agents more time to do the work they’re brilliant at and enjoy the most, like focusing on clients and relationships, not admin.”

Alto’s report warns that the sector cannot afford to treat burnout as a “nice-to-sort” issue. With a tightening labour market and more experienced negotiators leaving the industry, agencies risk a staffing crunch just as competition, regulation and customer expectations intensify.

“When the people load is this heavy, technology stops being optional”, adds Iannucci-Dawson. “The firms that take the pressure off their teams will be the ones that are thriving this time next year.”

The Alto 2026 Agency Trends Report explores how different agency types are preparing for the year ahead, the pressures reshaping the market, and where technology and automation could provide a competitive edge.

The full report is available to download for free and offers a detailed look at the challenges and opportunities facing agents as the sector heads into a pivotal year.

Alto supports more than 33,000 UK estate and letting agents with its cloud-based CRM that streamlines operations, automates compliance, and powers growth across sales, lettings and property management.