By A leading property investment educator is calling for more regulation across the sector, as property prices continue to rise throughout the UK.
With recent reports suggesting house prices have jumped as much as £100,000 in some areas over the last year, while others point to a 7.6% increase in January 2022 compared to the previous year, Asset Academy, which helps introduce people to the property market through training and education, is pushing the need for greater regulation – especially amongst fellow property educators.
Alongside enhanced regulatory measures, the brand is urging a push for greater awareness amongst the public about what to look out for when seeking to enter the property market.
Commenting, Anton Lane, Managing Director at Asset Academy, said:
“Property prices have been surging over the past couple of years.
Much of that can be attributed to Government measures to avoid pandemic stagnation in the market, however, even without those measures in place property prices are continuing to rise.”
He continued:
“For prospective investors, it’s clear property offers a tremendous return, which makes it an attractive option.
But the reality is, property can be a tricky market to navigate even for experienced investors, let alone those looking to take their first steps in it.
It’s no surprise then, that many turn to online guidance, which can often lead them down a path that puts them at risk of falling under the influence of unscrupulous operators.”
Anton explained:
“Social media is awash with people offering advice on how to succeed in the property market.
But many of those are not only unqualified, but also, all too often, effectively rogue traders. The property sector is frequently portrayed in a bad light by the work of amoral landlords and unethical investors, and with rogue educators at work too, it’s important that we, as operators within the sector, do more to offer reassurance that we’re legitimate and that our offering is above board.”
He added:
“We’re calling for both more regulation across the sector and increased awareness of what to look out for when exploring the property market.”
Last year, Asset Academy welcomed the formation of the Property Education Accreditation Scheme (PEAS) – an initiative that seeks to offer greater transparency across the property education sector, as well as greater protection for consumers and enhanced credibility for the educators involved in the scheme.
A self-regulatory measure, PEAS is a voluntary accreditation, meaning it’s not enforced by law, but with a robust and transparent application process it presents a healthy balance between cooperation and enforcement, while serving to offer a level of reassurance to consumers.
Anton continued:
“PEAS is one initiative that helps those considering moving into property determine who is a genuine operator, committed to doing things in the right way.
It’s not a fool proof measure at this stage, but it’s a step in the right direction and we’re encouraging more operators to take similar steps.
At Asset Academy, our training and educational courses follow best practice throughout, with 95% of our staff former graduates of our programmes – something that underlines both their effectiveness and legitimacy.
The more we do to establish trust and transparency as a sector, the better for all as it will serve to either bring rogue operators and educators into line or essentially force them out.”
Asset Academy is an established property investment education business that seeks to educate and support anyone with serious interest in building a property investment portfolio.
Its team includes television presenter Martin Roberts, as well as Olympians Steve Backley and Roger Black who deliver motivational talks on its behalf, while ex-footballer Robbie Fowler, a successful property investor, is also a backer.
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