‘Agents do not need degrees’ – safeagent comments

Safeagent, the UK’s largest not-for-profit accreditation scheme for lettings and management agents, has come out in support for Baroness Fox of Buckley who recently commented that estate agents’ degrees are not necessary. She made the comments about university real estate degree courses during a Lords debate.

Isobel Thomson, chief executive of safeagent, says: “Agents do not need degrees to perform their roles. They do need professional development, of course, with recognised industry qualifications so that consumers can be reassured they are receiving a certain level of service.

“We feel strongly that agency is a people business requiring strong interpersonal skills, local community knowledge and professional competency. A combination of these is what makes a good agent, not whether they studied three years for a degree at university.”