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Ian Needleman
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my expertise in the industry

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Ian Needleman
I have written a rung to speak to Timothy Douglas numerous times , without reply , he is like a racing car with his foot down on the pedal trying to force thru more Regulation & Exams for a already over regulated Industry ! We are being constantly reminded and almost persecuted by our industry bodies that ROPA is round the corner and if we don't prepare and fall in line with the new regime, we will be forced to shut down our businesses because not having Level 3 or level 4 Certification. ROPA is mainly a money-making scheme for Propertymark and the companies that have a vested interest in the expensive courses. There is a possibility of the introduction of a Licence Fee, another hidden Tax! Propertymark have never asked members to my knowledge if we wish to see the implementation of Ropa. The industry is currently policed by the Property Ombudsman schemes, whom do an excellent job in rooting out bad practice within the industry. They implement heavy fines for wrongdoing and have the power to expel agents for bad practice. Propertymark constantly provide updates of regulatory requirements & there is also a Legal Helpline if support is needed, without having to put members through arduous studying or exams. Please tell me what qualifications an MP must hold such a privileged position ……None that I know of. I feel that they are trying to overregulate the smaller independent members to force them out the industry, and allow bigger players to swallow them up, which is currently happening. The only damage being done to the property market is by the MPs in the Houses of Parliament, they have created the situation of the shortage of homes and the difficulty for first time buyers to buy their first home. Rents continue to soar as the landlords are leaving the industry in their droves because of too much regulation to rent out their property. I suggest the two main parties bang their heads together start realising that they are the problem and not people within the industry and whom they seem to want to punish all the time. I feel I have been wasting my hard-earned money being a Member of Propertymark whom I joined and are supposed to represent all agents big or small, and I still kept my Membership.

From: Ian Needleman 05 March 2024 10:38 AM

Ian Needleman
I would like to point out that being a member of Propertymark, I am not in favour of Ropa. ROPA is mainly a money-making scheme for Propertymark and the companies that have a vested interest in the expensive courses. There is a possibility of the introduction of a Licence Fee, another hidden Government Tax!. Propertymark have never asked members to my knowledge if we wish to see the implementation of Ropa. Speaking regularly to several independent agents like me, they do not agree for more regulation in the already over regulated property industry. The former Housing Minister Rachel Maclean MP said: “There is a need for regulation of the property management sector! Please tell me what qualifications an MP has to hold such a privileged position ……None that I know of. Timothy Douglas, Head of Policy and Campaigns at Propertymark, also believes the need for regulation of property agents and the implementation of recommendations in Lord Best’s report. The industry is currently policed by the Property Ombudsman schemes, whom do an excellent job in rooting out bad practice within the industry. They implement heavy fines for wrongdoing and have the power to expel agents for bad practice. Propertymark constantly provide updates of regulatory requirements, without having to put members through arduous studying or exams. I joined Propertymark to assure the public, that they are dealing with an agent that carries out their business practice within regulatory guidelines of the membership however, I feel that they are trying to overregulate the smaller independent members to force them out the industry, and allow bigger players to swallow them up, which is currently happening.

From: Ian Needleman 19 January 2024 11:31 AM

Ian Needleman
I would like to point out that being a member of Propertymark, I am not in favour of Ropa. ROPA is mainly a money-making scheme for Propertymark and the companies that have a vested interest in the expensive courses. There is a possibility of the introduction of a Licence Fee, another hidden Government Tax!. Propertymark have never asked members to my knowledge if we wish to see the implementation of Ropa. Speaking regularly to several independent agents like me, they do not agree for more regulation in the already over regulated property industry. The former Housing Minister Rachel Maclean MP said: “There is a need for regulation of the property management sector! Please tell me what qualifications an MP has to hold such a privileged position ……None that I know of. Timothy Douglas, Head of Policy and Campaigns at Propertymark, also believes the need for regulation of property agents and the implementation of recommendations in Lord Best’s report. The industry is currently policed by the Property Ombudsman schemes, whom do an excellent job in rooting out bad practice within the industry. They implement heavy fines for wrongdoing and have the power to expel agents for bad practice. Propertymark constantly provide updates of regulatory requirements, without having to put members through arduous studying or exams. I joined Propertymark to assure the public, that they are dealing with an agent that carries out their business practice within regulatory guidelines of the membership however, I feel that they are trying to overregulate the smaller independent members to force them out the industry, and allow bigger players to swallow them up, which is currently happening.

From: Ian Needleman 22 December 2023 16:01 PM

Ian Needleman
Well said Stephen, Good and bad in all service industries ! Best to go by recommendation rarely lets you down ! Too Much regulation, I wrote to Lord Best recently as a established Agent in Mill Hill North West London, he failed to address most of my points in my email however, seems hell bent in bringing in this qualification standard, I am a Independent one man band agent, I hope giving a good service to the community, but now being 58 and having to do a lot more paperwork than ever before, now I will have to do both Level 3 as well as level 4 in both Sales and Lettings, when on earth will I find the time to do 4 disciplines on all theses modules....Good Luck with that one ! If I do not in the future carry out or pass the said exams, I am being threatened to leave the industry and retire ! , I for one cannot afford to retire and will fight tooth and nail to protect the business I worked hard for and built up , with no help for the Government I may add, which provides plenty of VAT and taxes, which they have earn't on the back of my business ! As a member of both ARLA, NAEA & Safeagent as well all bodies that will earn fortunes with the courses and studying that will need to take place for thousands of agents ! Lord Best may think everyone is the academic type, but not everyone sits comfortably doing exams, but does not make them a bad Sales/Letting Agent, we just apply ourselves in a different way than the more academic type....This is a peoples business and keeping up with the correct legislation and changes is all a agent needs to be aware of , not the stressful studying and exam route. Hope the Government don't make it to difficult for me to carry on and not being forced to retire by Lord Best whom gets plenty of Financial privilege sitting in The House Of Lords !

From: Ian Needleman 30 January 2020 11:27 AM

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