How, why and when did you get into lettings?
I started my property career in commercial and I also have a marketing background. However, I was offered an opportunity to work in residential lettings in central London back in the early ’80s and I took what could have been a risk, but I never looked back. I completed additional training at Chesterton Humberts before founding Fitz-Gibbon in 1988.
When and why did you join ARLA?
I joined ARLA in 1989, and have been an active member ever since. As I was setting up my own business, I felt it incredibly important to start off with the highest professional standards. Being an ARLA member gave me access to a fantastic network and also helped build the reputation of my business by association.
What does it mean to you to be President?
It means a huge amount to me. I firmly believe in ARLA’s principles and I feel it is an organisation in fantastic health. Our membership is still growing fast and I’m looking forward to working hard to ensure that upward trend continues.
What do you hope to achieve during your year?
Communication is hugely important for an organisation like ours and I want everyone to know the ARLA name, as well as understanding the quality of service that our exceptional members provide.
Awareness of the association is of paramount importance and I want to push out the positive messages that ARLA offers. Licensing will be addressed and there will be changes for the benefit of existing and new members.
Do you think ARLA does a good job for its members?
ARLA does a sterling job for its members, but there is always more we can do. There are so many membership benefits out there, and we need our agents to be our best ambassadors. The logo and associated materials are there to be used, and I have already started speaking to our members at meetings around the country about the benefits ARLA can bring.
Do you think ARLA will at some point break away from NFoPP and return to being a self-contained body?
I can’t see that happening. At the most recent AGM, amendments were made to the Memorandum and Articles of Association acknowledging the strength of ARLA within the NFoPP Group.
What is your view on letting agency fees?
Fees are an emotive issue, and a topic that is very much in the news at the moment. While it’s possible that some of the tenant concern is justified, ARLA does not exist to dictate fee levels to members. What I would say is that transparency must be the key with fees, and tenants should always be able to find out exactly what they are being charged for.
The argument that fees should be abolished doesn’t take into account the potential impact this could have on the sector. The charges are made for valid reasons: the process of setting up a tenancy involves a considerable amount of work and to do it properly there is a cost associated with this. It is reasonable surely that the cost of this be shared fairly between the landlord and the tenant.
What is your view on licensing?
There has been much work carried out on licensing this year; it is important we get it right before going to the market. So, watch this space for some positive developments in the near future.
Can you tell us a bit about your own business? Is it a member of SAFEagent?
I set up Fitz-Gibbon in 1988 and we cover a huge area of south and south-west London. The agency currently operates out of three offices in St Margarets, Richmond and Chiswick. We focus exclusively on lettings, including to the corporate market and the private rental sector, and we even managed some Olympic lets last year. Our agency is a member of SAFEAgent.
What is it like working with your husband? (!)
It has its challenges, but ultimately we work really well as a team. We definitely work to our strengths and have well defined areas that we focus on within the business. Between us, we manage to have a fairly UK-wide view of the lettings industry, with interests in Manchester and on the south coast, which is definitely a plus point for our clients.
Can you tell us a bit about your life outside work?
With three children and a dog, family life is busy! Despite my hectic work schedule, spending time with my family is always a priority. My husband and I are big music fans, in particular classical and jazz music. I also enjoy spending time at the coast whenever there’s a quiet moment. In more active pursuits I love skiing with the family, and in 2009 I completed a swim around a number of Croatian islands. This year we are sailing in Croatia.
Finally, how is your health at the moment?
It’s a big topic, and thanks for asking. The challenge is always there, but I feel that I’m tackling it head-on at the moment. My charity, Chordoma UK, was set up to raise funds for this rare condition and increase awareness. There’s a lot happening at the moment with events around the UK and I hope that more people understand the condition as a result of our work.
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