INTERVIEW
NAEA bashing –
Popular sport or justified criticism? Editor, Sheila Manchester discusses with
CEO Peter Bolton King and ARLA Operations Manager Ian Potter. I
n a booming market, we’re all happy; a good flow of work, reasonable/brilliant profits, a busy life, yes, but in a good way. In recession, it’s different. We look for someone to blame, we call for action by others, complain about our lives and livelihoods. For those in estate agency, this recession has had a very serious
effect and the grumbles have ranged from “someone should do something” to “abolish the NAEA!” The NAEA and ARLA are prime targets, with disaffected
members sending emails and letters, posts on blogs and tweets. about licensing, restructuring, fees and client money protection. So how extensive is this discontent and how does a membership organisation respond?
Peter Bolton King: “Many of these issues are down to communication, we think we tell members many things, we send many messages, newsletters, maybe they don’t always see them. We, like all organisations, have to work to improve our communication. “Recently, we sent an important email message
about EPCs, which was only read by 37 per cent of our membership, which I am told is a good percentage, but for something important it was not good enough. “We know that we need to interact more with
members through Social Media and in other ways. We are looking at all these challenges and always appreciate feedback. Interestingly, when I talk to members about their perceived issues, usually, after discussion, they understand our situation and what we are here for.”
THE ISSUES Branch Restructuring PBK: “A small number of vociferous branches have been against branch restructuring, but let’s be frank, restructuring is necessary. 92 per cent of members never go to branch meetings but the NAEA make a per capita allowance of £5.50 per member whether they go or not! The branches build up financial reserves that just sit there – and that can’t be right. It’s time to change; the rationale for establishing branches, back in the 1960s, was for members to meet colleagues, today’s young agents simply don’t want that”. “Let’s create fewer regions, where members who want to can attend meetings.
14 JUNE 2011 PROPERTYdrum
We’re not proposing a blanket shutdown, if a branch is successful with its meetings – 20+ people attending and receiving proper CPD – we continue to fund the meetings. Almost all the branches agree, it is just a minority who resist any change. “NAEA younger members don’t perceive the value. One said
“Thanks Peter, it was interesting but we won’t come to another meeting to listen to fuddy duddies giving us their opinions.” They get their info in different ways – they get news in weekly emails, from PROPERTYdrum, Jungledrums and twitter etc.”
In what way is ARLA different? Ian Potter: “ARLA is different, the members need regular legal updates; cases where judges have made unusual decisions – every court case directly affects letting agents. There’s tenancy deposit legislation, which caused significant confusion, they’re always having to learn new skills. “Legal issues in sales are limited, usually, to conveyancing
or valuation; in lettings there is HMO planning, safety issues, deposits, notices, renewals, rents, so much for the agents to
know and impart to their clients. ARLA has 6000 members and a large percentage regularly attend regional meetings and find them useful.”
“Membership is plummeting!” PBK: “NAEA membership has dropped – but not plummeted. It’s dropped by less than the percentage that have gone out of business. Some NAEA resignations are accounted for by members who were mainly doing lettings who have gone over to ARLA. Those who say we are down and out are being ridiculous, it is still growing – over 13000 individual members across the four associations.”
“What happened to Ruth Lilley?” Ruth Lilley, Head of Business Development at NFoPP, unexpectedly resigned in April.
PBK: “Ruth decided when she became Head
of Business Development, that we needed departmental heads that would report to her. We appointed several staff to lead the
PETER BOLTON KING CEO NATIONAL FEDERATION OF PROPERTY PROFESSIONALS
departments, and now all the staff manage their sections. Ruth did a great deal for us but she took voluntary redundancy for personal reasons and we don’t need to replace her”.
EXCLUSIVE Industry Interview
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