If Agents Didn’t Earn Commission, Would the Public Finally Trust Them?

In this fiery final episode with Rowan Waller, Ben Madden tackles one of the most uncomfortable questions in UKestate agency: what if agents weren’t paid like businesses at all? Rowan suggests that the industry’s biggest conflicts of interest come from its commercial nature, the constant pressure to list, sell, and profit, often at the consumer’s expense. Together they unpack how over-valuing, long contracts,and conditional selling all stem from agents chasing targets rather than serving clients. It’s a rare, honest look at how commercial realities shapebehaviour, pricing, and trust.The pair debate whether removing long-term contracts or even separating valuations from marketing could finally restore transparency and rebuild public confidence in estate agency. From Purplebricks’ flawed upfront model to Scotland’s more regulated system, they explore what would really happen if agents had to tell the truth about pricing, and risklosing clients within a week. Unfiltered, thoughtful, and properly provocative,this episode is essential listening for anyone serious about raising standards in the property industry.