Propertymark has issued a statement welcoming the founder of Hunters, Kevin Hollinrake, to his new role as shadow housing secretary.

Chief executive Nathan Emerson says: “We congratulate Kevin Hollinrake on his appointment as Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, especially at a time when the housing sector is about to see substantial evolution which will require industry wide collaboration, as well as strong cross-party consensus.

“These issues include planning reform, tax structure, regulations, and an urgent need to help inspire long term investment, all of which will form key pillars for the Shadow Minister to address.

“These continuous challenges require strong thinking, and Propertymark looks forward to working with Mr Hollinrake. He is a respected former agent whom we have worked with in the past to ensure progression and balance within the property sector.” 

Hollinrake started Hunters Estate Agents in 1992, co-founding the business with John Waterhouse. It was at one time one of the most successful and fastest-growing agencies in the UK, with over 200 branches nationwide including 30 in Greater London. More recently – after Hollinrake left the company to become an MP – it was snapped up by The Property Franchise Group. 

Hollinrake has been in the property industry for approaching four decades, joining Prudential in the 1980s: at the time it was the largest estate agency in Britain and he entered as a branch manager, initially in Haxby and later in Burnley, Lancashire.

“I discovered that it was a great business to be in, fast moving and challenging. It was inevitable that eventually I would want to be in the forefront of the industry” he says on his website.

On the founding of Hunters he adds: “It was a tough time to start. Two months after opening our doors, we were hit by Black Wednesday when in one day interest rates went from 10 per cent to 15 per cent. But we worked very hard and true to our name, hunted down every deal and we prayed that the market would improve. Eventually it did and we never looked back.”

Hollinrake was first elected in 2015.