The Viking Chats: Candid Conversations on Property, PropTech & Business

In this inspiring and refreshingly candid episode of The Viking Chats, Kristjan Byfield is joined by Matt Giggs - founder of The Giggs Group, industry coach, and one of the UK property sector’s most passionate advocates for purpose-driven business.

Matt’s journey from high-street negotiator to regional director to founding his own multi-branch agency group is not your typical “scale fast, sell hard” narrative. It’s a story of self-awareness, service and sustainable growth - built on values, not just valuation targets.

This episode dives deep into what it really means to grow a business in the property sector today - beyond the ego, the awards, and the obsession with volume. If you’re an agent, director, or supplier trying to navigate the pressures of scale without losing sight of your principles, this conversation will resonate hard.

💡 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ Why scaling isn’t just about size - it’s about substance
Matt unpacks how many agents chase growth for growth’s sake - and end up with broken culture, exhausted teams and poor service. He shares how The Giggs Group took a different path: focusing on quality of experience, clarity of vision, and people who care.

✅ The biggest blind spots in estate agency leadership
From underinvesting in people to ignoring the emotional toll of performance culture, Matt shares hard-earned insights into what trips up even the most ambitious business owners - and how to build resilience the right way.

✅ The power of language, honesty and accountability
Matt explains why how we speak as leaders shapes the culture we create - and how even subtle shifts in tone, transparency and expectations can unlock massive gains in team morale, performance and retention.

✅ How to attract (and keep) the right people
Forget hiring for “experience” - Matt talks about the importance of values-alignment, emotional intelligence and long-term development. He shares how his group nurtures talent in a way that builds real loyalty and consistency.

✅ Why community and customer experience still win
In an age of proptech platforms and lead generation noise, Matt believes the best agents are still those who show up, listen hard and deliver better. He explains how his team uses hyperlocal trust-building to win instructions without needing to race to the bottom on fees.

✅ Letting go of the need to be ‘liked’ as a leader
This one hits hard. Matt opens up about his own leadership journey - from people-pleasing to purpose-driven - and how embracing uncomfortable conversations has made him a better leader and human.

🧭 Why This Episode Matters

The UK estate and lettings landscape is noisy, fragmented and often driven by the wrong incentives. Awards, rankings and flashy marketing often mask deeper dysfunction: high turnover, low trust, and leadership burnout.

Matt Giggs offers a different path.

His approach is rooted in service, structure and self-awareness. He doesn’t pretend it’s easy - but he proves that doing things differently can lead to better business, stronger teams and a reputation that lasts.

Whether you’re managing a branch, launching your own agency, or leading a supplier business, Matt’s lessons on growth, courage and clarity will push you to think deeper and lead better.

🎧 Who Should Listen:

• Directors scaling multi-branch agencies
• New founders building culture from day one
• Team leaders navigating performance pressure
• Suppliers wanting deeper, values-aligned partnerships
• Anyone ready to redefine what agency success looks like in 2025

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In this episode of The Viking Chats, Kristjan Byfield sits down with the bold, brilliant and unmistakably real Angi Cooney - property industry veteran, cultural architect, former MD of C Residential, and a woman unafraid to speak her truth.

From building a beloved local agency brand from scratch to leading with compassion in a sector too often ruled by numbers, Angi has always done things differently. Now, having stepped away from the day-to-day of running a business, she’s reflecting on the highs, the lows, and the lessons - and sharing her views on what the lettings and estate agency world desperately needs to hear.

This episode is raw, insightful and full of truth bombs that will resonate with anyone who has worked in or around the property sector. Whether you’re a business owner, negotiator, property manager, or just trying to figure out how to survive and thrive in an evolving landscape - Angi’s voice is the voice you didn’t know you needed.

🎯 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ How Angi built one of the most respected independent agencies in her region
Angi shares how C Residential was born from a kitchen-table vision, grew through community connection and transparency, and became a local powerhouse by focusing on people, not just pipelines.

✅ The power (and pressure) of leading authentically
We explore how showing up as your full self as a leader builds trust, loyalty and results - but also brings challenges, especially in an industry still wrestling with ego, tradition and toxic behaviour.

✅ When it’s time to let go - and why that can be a power move
Angi talks candidly about the decision to step away from her agency, what it cost her emotionally, and how she’s now embracing a new chapter as a mentor, trainer and advocate for positive change.

✅ What today’s agencies get wrong about culture
From burnout to bullying, micromanagement to metrics obsession, Angi unpacks why many agencies still struggle to create workplaces where people genuinely want to stay - and what true culture-building actually looks like.

✅ Why fees and figures don’t define your business success
Angi makes a compelling case for purpose-led leadership - not as fluff, but as strategy. She explains how values like care, respect and fairness drive performance when they’re real (not just a poster on the wall).

✅ Her hopes for the next generation of property professionals
We dive into Angi’s passion for mentoring, her views on the skills that really matter, and why authenticity, emotional intelligence and resilience need to be core traits of tomorrow’s leaders.

💬 Why This Episode Matters

Lettings and estate agency are at a crossroads. There’s more regulation, more tech, more complexity - and yet too often, less humanity.

Angi Cooney stands for something different.

With years of lived experience, battle scars, big wins and bold choices, she’s a walking masterclass in leading with heart, operating with integrity, and being unafraid to say what needs to be said.

This episode isn’t about KPIs. It’s about what kind of leader you want to be, and what kind of business you want to build.

It’s for the owners questioning their next move.
 It’s for the managers trying to inspire.
 It’s for the rising stars looking for real role models.
 And it’s for anyone tired of the old playbook, ready to write a new one.

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In this vital and wide-ranging episode of The Viking Chats, Kristjan sits down with Nicola Thivessen, Chairperson on the Zoopla Lettings Advisory Board and one of the UK’s most respected voices on lettings regulation, compliance, and raising standards across the private rented sector (PRS).

With a career that spans frontline agency with some of the UK's biggest brands, Nicola brings a unique, full-spectrum view of how the lettings industry works - and where it’s currently failing to deliver for agents, landlords and tenants alike.

This isn’t just a discussion about rules and red tape. It’s a conversation about real-world reform, practical professionalism, and the need for sanity in an increasingly complex sector.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by legislation, frustrated by licensing, or simply tired of being reactive rather than strategic - this episode is your rallying cry.

🎯 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ The legislation overload - and why agents are struggling
Nicola breaks down the growing pressure agents face under the weight of regulation - from licensing schemes to safety requirements, compliance codes and more. She explains why the system isn’t working for anyone, and why standardisation and education are the key to survival.

✅ The truth about licensing - it’s inconsistent, ineffective, and often misunderstood
We get into the mess of property licensing: how it varies wildly across local authorities, why it creates barriers for good agents, and what needs to change. Nicola shares examples from the frontlines and explains what the industry can do to push for smarter, fairer systems.

✅ The importance of practical, proportionate reform
While change is necessary, Nicola makes it clear that reforms must be realistic. We talk about how unintended consequences (like pushing landlords out or reducing supply) can be avoided through better consultation, clearer guidance and joined-up thinking.

✅ How TLIC is changing the game
Nicola gives a behind-the-scenes look at her work at The Lettings Industry Council (TLIC) - a coalition of agents, suppliers, regulators and stakeholders working to raise standards across the PRS. Their proposals around universal property MOTs, simplified licensing and training pathways could be the future of functional lettings.

✅ Why professionalism must be proactive - not just reactive
Agents can no longer wait for reforms to ‘settle’. Nicola argues that letting businesses must take the lead in improving processes, training teams and embedding standards now - not just to stay compliant, but to stay competitive.

✅ CMP, PI, AML… and all the other acronyms you can’t ignore
We cover key areas of compliance that many agents still misunderstand or underinvest in - including Client Money Protection, Professional Indemnity, and Anti-Money Laundering responsibilities. Nicola offers clear, practical advice on how to get it right.

💬 Why This Episode Matters

The private rented sector is at a breaking point. Tenants are under pressure. Landlords are leaving. Agents are caught in the middle. And the only way through this? Better standards, clearer expectations, and genuine collaboration.

Nicola Thivessen is helping to lead that charge.

With a clear-eyed view of where the sector is now - and where it needs to go - Nicola offers practical hope and hard truths for agents who want to do things better. This episode isn’t just for compliance officers - it’s for anyone who believes letting agencies can (and should) be more respected, more strategic, and more sustainable.

👂 Who Should Tune In?

• Letting agents navigating increasing regulation
• Directors and branch managers building future-ready operations
• Property managers juggling compliance and client care
• Industry suppliers looking to alig

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In this game-changing episode of The Viking Chats, Kristjan Byfield sits down with Rebecca Nixon - PropTech growth specialist, strategic marketer, and host of The PropTech Growth Podcast - for a refreshingly honest conversation about what marketing really is, and what letting agents are getting wrong.

With years of experience helping PropTech founders, suppliers and property businesses align growth strategy with messaging, Rebecca offers clarity on a core truth: marketing isn’t an add-on - it’s the commercial engine of your business.

Together, Kristjan and Rebecca unpack the disconnect between what many agents think marketing is (“posting content”) and what it should be: a data-led, story-driven approach that connects with people on both an emotional and strategic level.

If you’re a letting agent, BTR operator, property supplier or growth leader who’s tired of doing “stuff” with no clear purpose or payoff - this one’s for you.

💡 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ Why most property marketing fails
Rebecca breaks down why generic content, weak messaging and surface-level “strategy” don’t deliver - and how to fix it by aligning brand, voice, and purpose.

✅ The role of empathy in strategy
Marketing that works makes people feel something. Rebecca explains why understanding your customer’s mindset and pain points is critical, and how emotional intelligence should underpin everything from brand tone to lead nurture.

✅ How to stop being reactive
Too many agents are stuck in a “do more, post more, hope for more” cycle. Rebecca introduces tools and frameworks - like 12-week planning - to shift from chaos to clarity.

✅ Culture and marketing are connected
Your team, tone and client experience are part of your marketing - whether you like it or not. Rebecca explains why aligning internal culture with external messaging is essential for long-term trust.

✅ Metrics that matter
Forget vanity. Rebecca shares what agents and suppliers should really be measuring - from conversion and engagement to message recall and brand equity.

📣 Why This Matters for Letting Agents, BTR & PBSA Operators

In a crowded, fast-moving market, standing out takes more than logos and listings. It takes strategy, substance, and storytelling.

Rebecca’s insights help letting agents, marketers, and industry leaders:

• Stop guessing and start planning
• Create content that actually converts
• Become the trusted voice their audience turns to
• Connect brand values to commercial results

This is marketing that doesn’t just look good - it works.

👂 Who Should Tune In?

• Letting agents aiming to grow smarter, not louder
• BTR and PBSA providers shaping premium customer journeys
• PropTech founders building scalable, human brands
• Suppliers and consultants ready to stand out and stay relevant
• Anyone ready to make marketing central to their growth plan

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In this powerful episode of The Viking Chat, Kristjan Byfield sits down with Carrie Alliston, Head of Partnerships at HomeLet and one of the UK property industry’s most respected voices on compliance, leadership and transformation. After decades of experience in agency - most recently as Group Lettings Director at Hunters - Carrie brings both operational depth and big-picture strategy to every conversation she joins.

This is not a surface-level industry chat. It’s a deep dive into the risks we ignore, the rules we misunderstand, and the relationships we take for granted - all from someone who has walked the walk and now helps agents talk it better.

Whether you're a branch manager, agency owner, compliance lead, or just someone trying to navigate an ever-shifting lettings landscape, this episode will leave you better informed, more inspired - and maybe a little bit more honest with yourself about where your business stands.

🎙️ What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ Why compliance isn’t a box to tick - it’s a business asset
Carrie unpacks the real commercial value of getting regulation right. It’s not about red tape - it’s about risk mitigation, business protection, and long-term trust. She explains why every agent, regardless of portfolio size, should see compliance as a differentiator, not a drag.

✅ What agents get wrong about reform
We tackle everything from Section 21 to pets, licensing to leaseholds - and Carrie shares where the biggest knowledge gaps are, and how agents can turn uncertainty into opportunity by engaging early, not reacting late.

✅ The danger of being ‘too busy to be better’
In a world of shrinking margins and staff burnout, Carrie makes the case that making time for training, processes and self-reflection isn’t a luxury - it’s leadership. Agencies that evolve are the ones that survive. Full stop.

✅ From valuer to industry leader: Carrie’s inside story
Carrie shares her career journey from local agency teams to strategic national roles - and the pivotal moments, mentors, and lessons that shaped her perspective. If you’re a woman in property or a team member wondering how to scale, this one’s for you.

✅ Why respect - for tenants, landlords and each other - must return to the industry
We talk about tone. About trust. About transparency. Carrie shares how poor communication and ego-driven culture still harm our sector - and what agents can do to rebuild credibility with the public.

✅ Where the PRS is heading next (and what agents should do about it)
Carrie gives her no-nonsense take on the trends, tech and training that will define the next decade in lettings - and what agents need to prioritise if they want to remain essential in the eyes of their clients.

💬 Why This Episode Matters

The private rented sector is evolving fast. Legislation is piling up. Public trust is volatile. Talent is harder to retain. And yet, so much of the conversation in agency circles is still focused on fees, portals and short-term wins.

Carrie Alliston cuts through that noise.

With practical insight, genuine empathy and a deep understanding of what’s really at stake - for landlords, tenants and agents alike - Carrie reminds us that the best agents aren’t just well-informed. They’re well-intentioned.

They care about doing things properly. They invest in getting better. They lead with consistency - not crisis.

This episode is a masterclass in what the future of agency leadership looks like: smart, strategic, human, and humble.

👂 Who Should Tune In?

• Lettings professionals seeking clarity on compliance and reform
• Branch managers and directors ready to step up their strategy
• Property managers feeling stretched but wanting to lead with integrity
• Anyone tired of shallow industry noise and hungry for grounded insight

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In this powerhouse episode of The Viking Chat, Kristjan Byfield sits down with one of the UK property sector’s most authentic and disruptive voices - Simon Gates, co-founder of Opening The Gates and a man who has made it his mission to rewire how estate and letting agents think, speak and serve.

This isn’t just another industry chat. It’s an unfiltered, high-energy deep dive into what’s broken, what’s exciting, and what’s next for the UK agency landscape - all through the lens of a man who’s spent the last 20+ years learning by doing, leading by example, and lifting others as he climbs.

From estate agency culture to personal branding, CPD to content creation, vendor communication to mental health, nothing’s off the table in this honest and often hilarious hour of real talk, hard truths, and big ideas.

🎧 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ Why trust is the only KPI that really matters
Simon breaks down why brand voice, tone and delivery beat logos and leaflet drops every time - and how agents can build real connection by being themselves, not sales machines.

✅ The problem with '80s estate agency in a TikTok world
We talk about the legacy problems in property: command-and-control leadership, “numbers over nuance” mindsets, and the chronic lack of investment in personal development. Spoiler: your people aren’t just tools - they’re your brand.

✅ Why CPD needs CPR
Simon’s take on continuing professional development is anything but corporate. It’s about real-world learning, daily discipline, and ditching the idea that compliance is a checkbox rather than a culture.

✅ LinkedIn is the new market appraisal
Simon shares how he turned casual posts into genuine business - not by pitching, but by positioning. If you’re not showing up online, in your voice, with real insight and vulnerability, you’re missing the biggest free tool in the modern agent’s arsenal.

✅ Mental health in agency: enough pretending
From burnout and breakdowns to personal boundaries and growth, Simon gets candid about the emotional toll of the job - and why vulnerability isn’t weakness. It’s leadership.

✅ The long game of letting (and why quick wins rarely stick)
We explore why patience, consistency and purpose-led strategy always outperform the agents chasing fast fees and short-term metrics - especially in lettings, where trust compounds over time.

🧠 Why This Episode Matters

The property industry is at a crossroads. Consumer expectations are rising. Talent is leaving. Fee pressure is up. And trust in the agency profession? Still not where it should be.

Simon Gates is part of the solution. Not because he’s reinventing agency, but because he’s helping people reconnect with why they got into it in the first place - and how to do it better, smarter, and more sustainably.

For letting agents and estate agents alike, this episode is a masterclass in modern relevance: the tools, tactics and truths that actually move the needle in a noisy, distracted, post-pandemic marketplace.

It’s also a reminder that being good at this job isn’t about saying the right thing. It’s about being the right person - for your clients, your team, and your future self.

💼 Who Should Tune In?

• Letting and estate agents looking to future-proof their personal brand
• Branch managers trying to inspire (not just instruct) their teams
• Agency owners who want to build legacy, not just listings
• Industry suppliers rethinking how to engage the sector meaningfully
• Anyone who believes the best agents are more than just dealmakers

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In this compelling episode of The Viking Chat, Kristjan Byfield sits down with Elaine Penhaul, founder of Lemon & Lime Interiors and author of Sell High, Sell Fast, for a conversation that bridges the gap between data, design, and delivery in the UK property sector.

Elaine is a leading voice in home staging, but her message isn’t about soft furnishings and fluff. It’s about strategy - the measurable, evidence-led kind that directly impacts how fast a property sells, who it attracts, and how well it performs in a crowded, emotionally charged market.

Whether you're working with prime homes, rental stock, BTR units, or PBSA developments, this episode is a masterclass in leveraging buyer psychology, spatial understanding, and visual impact to drive results - and why staging isn’t just for sales anymore.

🔎 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ Why home staging is still misunderstood - and still underused
Elaine dismantles the tired idea that staging is “dressing a room” with cushions and candles. Instead, she explains how it’s a commercial, data-led discipline designed to position a property at its highest value. It’s not about taste - it’s about targeting.

✅ The ‘Maths’ of Home: Why square metres aren’t all that matter
Too many agents and developers focus on space as a number - but buyers think in flow, in light, and in feeling. Elaine shares how she and her team use layout psychology and demographic analysis to help buyers imagine their lives in a space - and pay a premium for it.

✅ Why BTR and PBSA providers should care about presentation
Staging isn’t just for individual vendors. Elaine unpacks how large-scale operators can use interior strategy to reduce voids, attract the right tenant mix, and protect their brand positioning in a saturated rental market.

✅ From resistance to ROI: The data that proves staging works
We dive into Elaine’s measurable results - faster sales, higher offers, fewer price reductions - and why too many agents still leave money on the table by skipping presentation. Spoiler: it’s rarely the client saying no - it’s often the agent not even suggesting it.

✅ When taste gets in the way: Managing vendors who ‘just don’t see it’
Elaine shares her tried-and-tested approach for navigating difficult conversations, including how to reframe staging as a value-add rather than a criticism. It’s about respect, not redecoration.

✅ Why the first impression starts online - and what most agents get wrong
You’ve got seconds to grab attention. Elaine explains why bad photography, empty rooms, or misaligned furnishings sabotage listings long before the viewing, and how to avoid the most common visual mistakes.

💬 Why This Episode Is a Must-Listen

Whether you're an estate agent aiming to raise your game, a landlord wondering why your property isn’t getting traction, or a BTR provider juggling lease-ups and brand alignment - presentation matters.

And not in a vague, aesthetic way. In a measurable, commercial, margin-improving way.

Elaine Penhaul brings a unique blend of empathy, evidence, and enterprise to a subject too often dismissed as “nice to have.” With her team at Lemon & Lime Interiors, she’s shown time and again how staging isn’t a cost - it’s a strategy. And in the current market, that strategy could be the difference between a 4-week let and a 4-month void.

👂 Who Should Tune In?

• Estate agents seeking differentiation and higher fees
• BTR operators looking to reduce void periods and elevate UX
• Landlords wondering how to reposition tired stock
• Developers preparing homes for sale, showhomes or off-plan
• Property marketers obsessed with clicks, not just conversions
• Anyone who still thinks staging is just “styling”

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In this incendiary episode of The Viking Chats, Kristjan Byfield sits down with the remarkable Ellie Rees - co-founder of Brickworks, creator of the viral #DearSirs campaign, and one of the most fearless voices in the UK property industry.

What follows is less of an interview and more of a manifesto. A rallying cry. A challenge to the entire real estate sector to stop making excuses and start doing better - for clients, communities, women, and the wider world.

Ellie isn’t here to play nice. She’s here to call it out: the sexism, the stagnation, the superficiality. And she’s got the track record to back it up. From reimagining what an estate agency can look, sound and feel like, to launching a movement that’s shaking boardrooms across the UK, Ellie is reshaping the rules - and inviting the rest of us to do the same.

🎙️ In This Episode:

✅ The Origins of Brickworks: A Design-Led, Values-Driven Alternative
Ellie shares how a creative background, a passion for people, and a healthy dose of fury at industry clichés led to the creation of a brand that refuses to blend in. Discover how Brickworks has grown without compromising on integrity - and why that’s more commercially powerful than any cold call script.

✅ #DearSirs: The Campaign That Hit a Nerve
What started as an off-the-cuff social post turned into a viral movement, sparking thousands of comments, hundreds of testimonials, and real conversations at the top of major firms. Ellie talks about the personal stories behind the campaign, the resistance it triggered, and why it’s time for the property industry to face up to its deeply ingrained bias.

✅ Why Estate Agency Needs More Art, More Women, and More Outrage
From the design of your pitch pack to the language in your job ads, Ellie explains why aesthetic, ethics and equity aren’t afterthoughts - they’re essentials. This episode is a must-listen for agency leaders serious about building culture, not just cash flow.

✅ Toxic Cultures, Terrible Training, and the Problem with ‘Top Performers’
We tackle the elephant in the room: why so many estate agency environments reward bad behaviour and burn out brilliant people. Ellie and Kristjan share war stories, and explore how to flip the script.

✅ Reclaiming Value: Clients, Not Commissions
Ellie talks candidly about why Brickworks refuses to chase fees at any cost, why they never say “vendor” or “stock”, and how real human-centred service builds long-term brand loyalty in a transactional world.

💥 Why This Episode Matters

The UK property sector is long overdue a reckoning. For too long, the dominant narrative has been alpha-driven, male-dominated, and profit-obsessed. Ellie Rees is part of a growing wave of founders, leaders and disruptors who are proving that you can be principled and profitable - and that actually, the future depends on it.

Whether you’re an independent agent trying to define your brand, a corporate player thinking about legacy, or simply someone who believes property should be more inclusive, ethical and emotionally intelligent - this episode delivers fuel for the fire.

It’s not about “softening” estate agency. It’s about strengthening it with substance.

👀 Who Should Tune In?

• Estate agents and founders redefining agency culture
• Female leaders (and allies) navigating a male-skewed industry
• Marketing & brand directors looking to build trust, not just leads
• HR teams aiming to fix recruitment and retention with real values
• Anyone tired of “business as usual” in the PRS, BTR or sales world

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In this compelling episode of The Viking Chat, Kristjan Byfield welcomes industry powerhouse Julie Ford of Lettings Advice Service for a conversation that might just change the way you view rent arrears, evictions, and the entire tenant-landlord dynamic.

With over 30 years in housing, local authority liaison, tenant support, and compliance, Julie Ford brings a razor-sharp perspective on the biggest challenges facing the private rented sector (PRS)- from the staggering £1.7 billion rent arrears crisis to the looming impact of the Renters (Reform) Bill and a rapidly shifting social landscape.

Whether you're a high-street letting agent, a Build to Rent provider, or a property manager navigating the grey areas between compassion and compliance, this episode unpacks critical insights you can’t afford to ignore.

🔥 Key Topics We Dive Into:

✅ The £1.7 Billion Problem That Nobody's Solving
Why are rent arrears spiralling- and what’s the real human and financial cost to tenants, landlords, and the wider PRS? Julie reveals how a lack of awareness, access to funding, and siloed communication are fuelling a crisis that could be prevented.

✅ From Possession to Prevention: The Case for Grant-First Strategies
Julie breaks down how grants, support services, and better signposting could resolve arrears before they ever reach court- saving landlords money, sparing tenants trauma, and helping agents reduce conflict and workload.

✅ Renters (Reform) Bill & the End of Section 21: What Comes Next?
With Section 21 on the chopping block and Section 8 under revision, agents need to reimagine their processes. Julie discusses how reform must go hand-in-hand with better tribunal access, clearer evidential requirements, and meaningful funding.

✅ The Rise of the AI Tenant: Are You Ready for What’s Coming?
Julie raises a fascinating point about generational shifts: we’re raising tenants in an age of automation, where AI handles everything from groceries to gas bills. So why are rental arrears still handled with outdated methods and clunky systems?

✅ Why the PRS Needs a Cultural Shift- Not Just Legislative Reform
We talk about the human side of arrears- mental health, shame, domestic abuse, and poor literacy- and how lettings professionals can be better equipped to spot red flags early, intervene compassionately, and still protect landlord interests.

✅ The Role of Letting Agents in Futureproofing the PRS
From revising arrears letters to training staff in soft skills and financial signposting, Julie outlines practical steps that agencies can take today to build more sustainable, resilient tenancies- without compromising commercial performance.

💡 Why This Episode Matters

The lettings sector is at a crossroads. With rental demand high, tenant protections expanding, and eviction pathways narrowing, the old ways of doing things no longer work. Julie Ford’s experience across housing associations, government liaison, and tenancy support puts her in a unique position to connect the dots—and help our industry step up.

For letting agents, BTR operators, PBSA managers and landlord-focused suppliers, this episode is a masterclass in proactive problem-solving, policy awareness, and long-term thinking. It’s also a reminder that a better PRS isn’t just about better laws- it’s about better conversations.

🧠 Who Should Tune In?

• Lettings agents juggling arrears, renewals & reform
• BTR & PBSA providers seeking tenant-first strategies
• Property managers balancing commercial outcomes with social impact
• Suppliers, CRMs, and tech partners exploring meaningful innovation
• Anyone serious about building a more resilient, human-centred PRS

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In this eye-opening episode of The Viking Chat, Kristjan Byfield sits down with Steve Eakins from Lumon, one of the property industry's best-kept secrets. Whether you're in lettings, sales, property management, or Build to Rent, this is the episode you didn't know you needed — and one you’ll never forget.

With over two decades of experience in currency markets and international property transactions, Steve lifts the lid on a massive blind spot in UK estate agency: the power of currency exchange strategy. From boosting offer acceptances to saving sales that were about to collapse, Steve shares real-world examples that show how FX expertise can directly impact your pipeline, profits, and professional reputation.

🔥 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ Why more UK vendors are moving abroad than ever before — and what that means for agents
Steve reveals the real numbers behind the UK exodus, including how 300+ millionaires are leaving the UK each week. These aren't just headlines — they’re completions. And if you’re not asking the right questions, you're leaving serious revenue (and client value) on the table.

✅ How to help clients get more money from lower offers
Sounds impossible? It's not. Steve explains how shifts in currency exchange rates can turn a “lowball” offer into a better deal for vendors relocating overseas. Learn how to reframe value in today's price-sensitive market.

✅ How foreign exchange impacts both sides of the deal — buyers and sellers
Whether it’s a cash-rich buyer from the U.S. or a landlord repatriating funds from Europe, knowing the FX landscape can unlock better outcomes, smoother completions, and higher satisfaction. Steve breaks it down — simply and practically.

✅ Why lettings agents are missing a huge opportunity
Lettings agents — this one’s for you. Kristjan shares how The Depositary is now rethinking landlord comms after realizing just how many NRLs and foreign investors stand to benefit from strategic currency handling. Spoiler: it’s not just about sales — your landlords could be losing thousands a year.

✅ How proactive FX partnerships reduce fall-throughs and improve client trust
We talk forward contracts, market alerts, and the value of having a reliable, knowledgeable currency partner in your corner. It’s not about adding friction — it’s about removing uncertainty.

✅ How top agents are embedding FX into their MA, offer, and pipeline workflows
Steve walks through how smart agents are using currency conversations to build trust, differentiate their service, and close more transactions — often with happier clients and better outcomes.

💡 Why This Episode Matters

In a world of increasing international mobility, geopolitical shifts, and volatile markets, currency isn’t just a back-office detail — it’s a core part of modern property strategy. Yet most agents aren’t even asking the question. This episode will change that.

Whether you're dealing with overseas buyers, UK vendors moving abroad, or international landlords managing income streams, this conversation will open your eyes to a low-effort, high-impact way to add value, protect deals, and stand out on the high street.

This isn’t theory — it’s tried-and-tested insight from one of the biggest FX players in the property world, backed by real stories, stats, and serious savings.

🎧 Tune in now and start asking the questions that could save (or make) your next deal.

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