To read some of the headlines in the trade press (guilty as charged) you’d be forgiven for thinking that there was a dark cloud hanging over the Private Rented Sector at the moment.

There are stories of landlords leaving in their droves, hounded out by high mortgage rates, hikes in taxation, pro-tenant legislation, mandatory energy efficiency costs, hefty fines for non-compliance and an epidemic of local authority licensing schemes.

In short, a catalogue of doom and gloom for landlords and a generous selection of reasons not to get into the lettings business these days.

Given all that, you might also be forgiven for thinking that an equally deep depression has descended upon letting agents – after all, they depend on landlords for their livelihoods.

So, when I was invited to a gathering of hundreds of letting agents last week, I didn’t exactly know what to expect but I was fairly sure the mood would be sombre at best.

Mentally prepared to lend a sympathetic ear while adopting an understanding tone, I boldly ventured forth to the Marriott Hotel at Heathrow, at 09.00am last Thursday morning, checked the events board, followed the signs and entered the conference room.

The music was blaring, the people were on their feet, punching the air with enthusiasm – spellbound.

I must have come in the wrong door, I thought to myself. The letting agents conference must be down the corridor.

But no.

This was a conference, Agent Rainmaker-style. This was #ARLive 2024 and this was a happening thing!

More reminiscent of a MAGA Rally (without the caps) or a star-studded Democrats Convention – this was motivated, this was energetic, this was LOUD!

Even more than that, everybody seemed to be excited. Excited about their business, the opportunities for growth, the potential for higher profits.

There is a popular misconception abroad that the British are reserved, they don’t show enough emotion and they never, ever, like to talk about money.

Agent Rainmaker herself, Sally Lawson, will tell anyone who wants to listen that she’s helped agents to add more than £78m in additional revenue to their businesses and she’s happy about it!

When it comes to marketing, no-one puts Sally in a corner. And when she talks, agents listen – not least because they’ve paid for the privilege.

Running an agency should be about profit not process, she says. Enjoyment, not endurance.

The delivery might be a bit American in style, so what? Wouldn’t you want to take a lesson in business from the largest economy in the world?

What is undeniably brilliant is that Agent Rainmaker gets people thinking about the possibilities for their businesses, gets them energized, gets them believing in a sector that the nay-sayers have written off.

We could all do with that level of positivity – it’s infectious, it makes things happen, makes you think anything is possible.

Hamburger, anyone?

Until next time,

N