Property Recruitment Insights - May 2025

Market Snapshot – What’s Driving Recruitment Right Now

The residential sales and lettings sector remains highly active across the Midlands and South Central UK. This demand is fuelling an equally busy recruitment landscape.

• Job vacancies in estate agency and related roles are up around 30% compared to last year
  
• Increased hiring activity driven by branch expansions, staff turnover, and growing client demand
  
• Strongest movements in Birmingham, Leicester, Nottingham, Oxford, and Reading

In Demand: The Roles Agencies Are Competing For

Agencies are hiring across a broad spectrum of roles, with pressure highest on experienced revenue-generating staff.

• Sales and Lettings Negotiators – Essential for managing client pipelines and closing deals

• Valuers / Listers – Critical for winning instructions in competitive markets

• Branch Managers – Especially in areas planning growth or needing operational improvements

• Property Managers and Administrators – Rising compliance and transaction volumes require organised back-office support



Skills Shortages: The Challenge Behind Every Vacancy

• Despite more candidates entering the market, skilled professionals remain in short supply.

• High demand for agents with five or more years’ experience and strong fee-writing ability

• Increasing preference for candidates confident with CRM systems, digital marketing, and virtual tools

• Property managers with up-to-date legal and compliance knowledge are hard to find



Regional Insights: Midlands vs South Central

Midlands:

Agencies are adding headcount to keep up with high enquiry levels. Birmingham, Leicester, and Nottingham are especially busy. University towns also driving demand in lettings.

South Central:

Agencies taking a selective approach, focusing on experienced professionals. High-value markets like Oxford and Reading need senior valuers with strong track records.



Salaries Are Climbing: Candidates Know Their Value

• The market favours jobseekers, and salary expectations are rising accordingly.

• Candidates are seeking 10–15% increases on previous packages

• Sales negotiator base salaries up from £22,000 to £26,000 in some regions

• Branch manager roles often include added perks: bonuses, car schemes, extra holiday

• Use of sign-on and retention bonuses is growing, especially in competitive areas



Market Outlook – May to Mid-June 2025

Sales:

• Buyer interest expected to remain steady as mortgage rates ease

• The base rate may drop below 4.25%, increasing buyer confidence

• Modest house price growth and shorter time-on-market likely

Lettings:

• Ongoing supply shortage keeps demand high

• Rent levels remain elevated, with some increases still occurring

• Multiple applicants per listing continue to be the norm

Your Hiring Strategy Matters – Partner with Windmill9 Consulting

Windmill9 Consulting works exclusively within estate agency and lettings recruitment. We understand the unique demands of your market and can help you:

• Recruit experienced valuers, negotiators, managers, and support staff

• Reduce time-to-hire by targeting candidates with the right cultural and commercial fit

• Stay competitive with salary benchmarks, hiring trends, and retention strategies

If your team is not ready for peak summer activity, now is the time to act.

👉 Contact Us Today!

• 📞 Call: 0116 232 5181
• 📧 Email: contact@windmill9.uk
• 💻 Website: www.windmill9.uk 
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