Estate Agents the Fourth Least Trusted Profession

Estate agents are still the fourth least trusted profession in the UK, according to a joint report from Mumsnet and Ipsos MORI.

The annual Veracity Index, which reveals which jobs and professions are most trusted by the public, found that just 30% of adults trust estate agents to tell the truth. Only journalists, Government ministers and politicians fared worse.

The 2016 report found that nurses are the most trusted professionals in the UK, with 93% saying they trust them to tell the truth, with doctors close behind, at 91%.

Public trust in politicians has slipped considerably, by six percentage points, since this time last year, and are now trusted to tell the truth by just 15% of Britons.

The Founder and CEO of online estate agent eMoov.co.uk, Russell Quirk, comments on the results: “It’s good to see a poll where estate agents aren’t quite dragging their knuckles in last place where trust and truthfulness are concerned. Coincidence perhaps that they should rise through the ranks a tad, just as the online sector starts to strengthen its grip on the property industry.

“Although, that said, the public will always treat any news source and politician with a certain degree of scepticism, so beating both journalists and politicians to the punch isn’t quite the gold star of approval it might seem.”

He adds: “Interesting that estate agents should still be viewed as almost half as truthful as lawyers and three times less credible than nurses. It’s clear that estate agency still has a way to go until the industry is perceived with such integrity as hairdressers.”

Landlords, do you trust estate agents when it comes to buying and selling properties? If not, are you more inclined to trust an online alternative?

As letting agent fees for tenants are in the process of being scrapped, landlords may find that using an online service is more cost effective.