Two-thirds of agents back mandatory qualifications, despite most beginning their careers without them

65% of those surveyed said they support the Government’s proposal to introduce mandatory qualifications for property professionals. That’s despite the fact that 72% of respondents said they held no formal qualifications when first entering the industry, with just 5% holding three or more. 

When asked how necessary they believe formal qualifications are to maintain professionalism, 65% said they are either “very” or “somewhat” necessary. Meanwhile, 72% believe mandatory qualifications would improve public trust in the profession, with 37% expecting a “significant” uplift in reputation. 

However, the findings also highlight concerns about the unintended consequences of the move. Two-thirds (64%) of agents believe that the time and cost required to achieve mandatory qualifications could potentially deter new entrants from joining the industry, potentially worsening recruitment challenges already faced by many agencies. 

Beyond qualifications, agents identified “standardised data sharing between agents, conveyancers, and lenders” (33%) and “binding contracts between buyers and sellers” (31%) as the reforms most likely to impact their day-to-day operations. However, confidence in the overall success of the reforms remains mixed, with just 21% believing they will “greatly” improve transaction times and reduce fall-throughs, and 42% saying the impact will be only moderate. 

Overall, 53% of agents believe the reforms will benefit the sector in the long term. 

Colby Short, Co-founder and CEO of GetAgent, commented:
“At GetAgent, we see every day that not all agents are the same. The best agents work incredibly hard, care about their clients, and deliver great results – and it’s good to see many of them backing higher professional standards. 

Mandatory qualifications will help lift the baseline and give sellers more confidence in who they’re dealing with. They’ll also make it harder for some of the low-cost, low-commitment operators to enter the industry, which isn’t a bad thing if it helps protect the fee levels of those investing in their ability to do a good job and provide a great service.

That said, qualifications alone won’t be what sets the best agents apart. The real difference still comes down to attitude, effort, and experience. 

If higher standards lead to better service and stronger trust, then good agents should be able to charge a fairer fee for the value they provide. The key is keeping the balance right - raising the barrier to entry without losing the entrepreneurial spirit that makes agency such a dynamic business. Get that right, and everyone wins: agents, sellers, and the industry as a whole.” 

Data Tables and Sources
Survey of 599 estate agents in England conducted by ProperPR on behalf of GetAgent via consumer research platform  Find Out Now (7th October 2025).

View full data tables and sources online here.