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

Estate Agent Talk

Buying Alone? What Solo Buyers Need to Know Before Making an Offer on a House

Figures show that solo buyers accounted for 36.9% of Barclays’ mortgage completions in June 2026, as more people chose to step onto the property ladder without a partner beside them. Choosing independence over waiting for a joint purchase has doubled over the last 50+ years, with solo first-time buyers doubling from 15% before 1980 to…
Read More →
Estate Agent Talk

How to Make a New-Build Living Room Feel Less Like a Show Home

An empty new-build living room can be surprisingly difficult to furnish. The walls are freshly painted, the sockets are in place, and there is nothing to remove before decorating begins. Yet once the sofa arrives, the room can still feel unsettled: too bare in some places, awkwardly crowded in others. The answer rarely involves buying…
Read More →
Breaking News

Mortgage Borrowing Dip

Key points: Net borrowing of mortgage debt by individuals decreased to £3.9 billion in September, from £4.2 billion in August, below the previous 6-month average of £4.9 billion. Net mortgage approvals for house purchases decreased to 53,400 in September, below an average of around 58,800 over the previous 6-months. Approvals for remortgaging increased to 42,600…
Read More →
Breaking News

Autumn Budget 2026: Property industry reaction

Following today’s Autumn Budget, reaction from property industry experts on six key areas for the property market. First-time buyer support: The £4.7bn Your First Home equity loan scheme, supporting 70,000 buyers, alongside the introduction of a new First Time Buyer ISA. Inflation and borrowing costs: The extension of the fuel duty freeze, household energy support…
Read More →
Breaking News

Can you legally BAN Halloween Trick or Treaters?

People who dread the annual knock of trick-or-treaters may have more power to keep Halloween callers away than they realise. As millions of children prepare to take to the streets on October 31, a property law expert has explained what homeowners can do if they do not want strangers walking up their path or knocking…
Read More →
Estate Agent Talk

What the sector need to do differently to give first time buyers a chance

By Peter Hawley, Director, SOWN (part of LRG) The mortgage and property sector needs to stop assuming that younger buyers are either ready to buy outright or not ready at all. For many, the reality is somewhere in between. They may have stable employment, a deposit and a strong desire to own, but still find…
Read More →