Last week, we had the pleasure of attending the Propertymark One conference at ExCel London on 13th June – a key industry event organised by the team at Propertymark, the leading professional body for the property sector. Bringing together professionals from all corners of the property industry, the event offered an inspiring blend of market insights, technological innovation, and peer-to-peer learning. As recent founders of a new letting agency, we walked away not just with a notebook full of ideas, but with a renewed sense of purpose and excitement in how we can best serve our landlords and tenants.
Here are my top three takeaways from the day.
1. The rental market remains buoyant – even amidst economic uncertainty.
Despite ongoing macroeconomic headwinds – rising interest rates, inflationary pressures, and continued political uncertainty – the rental market remains strong with sustained demand for rental properties across the UK. With mortgage affordability still challenging for many would-be buyers, more people are turning to the private rented sector (PRS) for long-term housing solutions.
What’s remarkable is how resilient this sector has proven to be. Yes, regulatory reforms like the Renters Rights Bill and tightening compliance standards are changing how we operate. But fundamentally, demand continues to outstrip supply in many areas (including our own), driving competitive rents and offering landlords a solid return on investment.
As letting agents, we believe our job is to help our landlord clients not just survive in this environment, but thrive. That means staying ahead of legislation, providing realistic and fair valuations, ensuring transparent and efficient processes, and positioning available properties in a way that appeals to today’s discerning and often more tech-savvy tenants.
2. PropTech is booming – and it’s changing the way we operate.
Technology was a major theme throughout the day, and it’s clear the property technology (‘PropTech’) sector is evolving at lightning speed. From AI-driven compliance tools to smart property management systems and cutting-edge marketing platforms, the way we work is being fundamentally reshaped.
Several exhibitors and speakers showcased tools designed to automate repetitive tasks, reduce administrative errors, and ensure regulatory compliance – particularly around safety checks, documentation, and deposit handling. Other platforms focused on elevating the tenant and landlord experience, with real-time communication tools, digital tenancy agreements, and 24/7 maintenance reporting.
As a new letting agent, we see the challenge of new technology as an incredible opportunity. The challenge lies in adapting quickly, retraining our team, and sometimes changing internal processes that have been in place for years. But the opportunity is enormous: embracing the right technology can help us reduce our overheads, boost client satisfaction, and make our agency truly scalable.
Propertymark One reinforced to us that this isn’t just a “nice-to-have” anymore. Tech-enabled letting agencies are becoming the new standard, and that’s why we have invested in some of the latest platforms which will enable us to deliver a better service for our clients in the future.
3. We must deliver more value to our Landlords.
Perhaps the most resonant message of the day was this: we as letting agents need to work harder – and smarter – for our clients. Landlords are now facing a more complex and regulated market, and are relying on us to help them navigate it successfully.
This means not only ensuring full legal compliance (which, let’s be honest, has become a moving target in recent years), but also delivering strategic advice on property investment, refurbishments, tenant demographics, and yield optimisation.
We see our role as being trusted advisors, providing better communication, clearer reporting, and tailored guidance based on local market trends. It also means going the extra mile when it comes to tenant selection, minimising voids, and marketing properties in the best way.
In a market where landlords are scrutinising their returns more carefully than ever, letting agents who consistently deliver added value will be the ones who retain clients for the long haul.
Final Thoughts
Propertymark One was a timely reminder that while the property sector is changing rapidly, it’s also full of opportunity. The fundamentals of great letting agency work remain the same: listen carefully, be responsive, act professionally, and always put the client’s best interests at the heart of what you do.
But in 2025, those fundamentals must be supported by smart technology, deeper knowledge of market dynamics, and a willingness to adapt to new demands. For me, this year’s event reinforced the point that letting agents can offer more value than ever – but only if we keep evolving.
To all the team at Propertymark and the incredible speakers and exhibitors – thank you for a fantastic event. Here’s to raising the bar together.
If you’re a landlord looking for proactive, tech-savvy, and client-focused support in today’s fast-moving rental market, we’d love to chat about how we can help you get the best return from your investment.
