Industry Interview: Jack Barnett Director, Rent North East

December 1, 2016

Do you feel that more should be done to regulate the lettings industry and help improve the reputation of it? Many suffer from a few rogue traders it would seem.

Absolutely. Landlords and tenants don’t feel that they have a clear idea of what they should be entitled to. Regulating the industryÿcould serve to bring the trust back by giving consumers clarity in their expectations. I do feel that agents should be consulted when new regulation is considered, to avoid creating a difficult climate for the many smaller players, which would ultimately effect the consumers.

How important is it to stay ahead with marketing innovation and property technology both for finding new clients and managing client property?

Imperative. Clever use of technology helps us to automate a lot of the work that required hours of an agents time just a few years ago. These savings are passed on to our clients, and also helps to prevent costly errors in the management processes. We have worked closely with proptech companies including FixFlo and ExpertAgent, and have actually built bespoke automations with the FixFlo dev team which help us to keep tenants in the loop about repairs that they have requested.

International landlords are particularly effected by communication challenges caused by time zone differences, and our web based software allowing landlords to approve/decline maintenance requests online, and view/download statements online is very popular with landlords living all over the world, including South America, Dubai, China, Israel, France, and Germany.

Our landlords want us to be focused on increasing their bottom line. Deploying technology throughout our processes allow us to keep tenants happier, obtain quicker and more cost effective work quotations, provide a more transparent service, and use new and faster methods of communication. All of which allow us to save time, keep tenants for longer, save money on maintenance, and work on optimising our clients asset. I could spend hours showing you how software also saves time and streamlines processes in our business…

The proptech scene is very exciting right now. I predict that in 5-10 years, many tech savvy landlords will be using software to manage and let their properties, with no agent involvement at all. The market for agents will slowly move into portfolio management, with more focus on maximising client returns. Agents must consider that the need for their services may be massivelyÿdecreased in 5 to 10 years, and certainly in the longer term.

In a short summary, what makes a good Letting Agent and Letting Agency?

A great agent must constantly be thinking of ways to increase his clients bottom line. This must be approached holistically, and with in depth knowledge of all factors. A great agency will support and encourage effective team members, and will have a low staff turnover to allow for a consistent approach and result.

Jack Barnett Director, Rent North East

EAN Content

Content shared by this account is either news shared free by third parties or sponsored (paid for) content from third parties. Please be advised that links to third party websites are not endorsed by Estate Agent Networking - Please do your own research before committing to any third party business promoted on our website. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

You May Also Enjoy

Breaking News

UK Construction Sector Activity Remains Stagnant

Glenigan’s data shows construction sector performance is depressed in a tough socio-economic landscape The value of underlying (under £100 million) work starting on-site during the three months to the end of July declined 11% and fell 29% below last year’s levels. Residential construction starts fell sharply, declining 25% against the preceding three months and dropping…
Read More →
Estate Agent Talk

Seven fire safety myths every business should avoid

Fire safety is one of those responsibilities that often doesn’t receive the attention it deserves – until something goes wrong, that is. For many businesses, compliance has fallen into the trap of being a tick-box exercise that’s centred around annual inspections, manual training exercises, and having the right paperwork in place. And although these are…
Read More →
Breaking News

Suzy Lamplugh’s legacy underlines the need to always make lone-worker safety a priority

More than 40 years after estate agent Suzy Lamplugh disappeared while attending a work appointment, her legacy remains a powerful reminder that personal safety must be central to workplace practices. On 28 July 1986, 25-year-old Suzy Lamplugh left her London office for an appointment and never returned. Her disappearance led her parents, Diana and Paul…
Read More →
Breaking News

Prime London sellers return to market

The latest analysis from Beham and Reeves has found that the number of homes listed for sale at £2m or above across Prime Central London increased during the second quarter of 2026, although performance continues to vary considerably between the capital’s most prestigious neighbourhoods.   Benham and Reeves analysed current Prime Central London property listings…
Read More →
Estate Agent Talk

What to know when buying land

The closure of UK Land & Farms (UKLAF) has left a significant gap in the UK’s specialist land market with buyers and sellers now forced to adapt after 18 years of relying on UKLAF as the cornerstone of the industry. As interest in land continues to grow, the company says the closure also serves as…
Read More →
Letting Agent Talk

Tenant demand strong, landlord supply shrinking

New RICS data shows tenant demand at its strongest in over a year – while landlord supply keeps shrinking. That’s not bad luck. It’s a trust problem, and it’s fixable. “These numbers should be good news for landlords. Demand is the strongest it’s been in over a year. Instead, they are deciding to head for…
Read More →