With International Women’s Day approaching, it’s encouraging to see the progress that women are continuing to make in leadership roles across UK business and within the UK property sector, in particular.
Recent figures show that representation of women in leadership positions within the FTSE 100 has risen from 32.5% in 2021 to 37.1% in 2025, an increase of 4.6%. What makes that progress even more notable is that the total number of leadership roles across these companies has actually declined by over 8% during the same period.
Across the wider FTSE 350, women now occupy around 1,262 board positions, accounting for roughly 43% of all board seats. That places the UK ahead of several major global economies including the United States, Germany, Japan, Canada and Australia. Perhaps most encouragingly, much of this progress has been achieved without mandatory quotas, unlike some European markets.
Investment into female-founded businesses is also moving in the right direction. Capital invested into female founded and co-founded companies in the UK has grown by around 1.6% annually, which is another positive signal that confidence in female leadership is strengthening.
Encouragingly, progress is also being seen within the property sector itself. Research from Real Estate Balance estimates that women now hold around 25–30% of board positions across the industry and 20%-30% of senior leadership roles, reflecting a gradual but meaningful shift towards greater female representation in senior decision-making roles.
However, despite this progress, there still don’t appear to be significantly more female-led businesses within the property sector today than there were when I first started out nearly four decades ago – or at least not as many as there should be.
This is particularly surprising when you consider the fantastic work organisations such as Women in Estate Agency are doing to promote equality, raise awareness and create opportunities for learning and professional development across the industry.
Our company has always been an all-female business, and whilst today there are some brilliant role models across the sector, including the likes of Verona Frankish and our own Roma Sharma, the industry still often feels like the male-dominated landscape it was almost 40 years ago.
Yet it has never stopped me or my team from building the trusted reputation that Rushbrook & Rathbone enjoys today and that’s because property management has always relied on professionalism, communication, organisation and good judgement – qualities that have nothing to do with gender and everything to do with how you run a business.
Looking back over the past four decades in the industry, I thought I would share ten observations from my own experience.
Ten observations from nearly four decades in property
- Most agents now run lettings businesses as well as sales
When I first started out, many estate agents focused almost entirely on sales. Today most agencies operate lettings divisions as well. However, the two markets are very different. Selling a property is a bit like a successful date, whereas letting and managing a property is more like a marriage. It requires long-term trust between all parties.
- The internet has changed how landlords view the sector
The sheer amount of information now available online has encouraged many landlords to believe they no longer need specialist support. In reality, the opposite is often true. Proper, professional and transparent advice has never been more valuable given the continuously changing face of the lettings sector and its regulatory requirements.
- The tenancy landscape often feels like it’s coming full circle
Over the years we have seen numerous legislative changes, and in some ways it feels as though the sector is gradually reverting back towards the assured tenancy framework, albeit with a few modern adjustments.
- The personal touch has become less common
Property management has always been a people business, but the emphasis on building relationships between landlords, tenants and managing agents has diminished in many areas of the industry.
- Many landlords underestimate the importance of maintaining their property
One of the most common mistakes I still see is landlords failing to maintain their property to a high standard. When those homes eventually come onto the market, they often appear as ‘doer-uppers’ and achieve far less than they would have done if they had been properly maintained throughout their tenancies.
- Some landlords still see tenants as the enemy
Successful tenancies rely on cooperation and mutual respect, yet it’s surprising how often landlords still approach the relationship from a position of mistrust.
- Maintenance decisions used to be made much faster
When I first started out it was normal for agents to hold a maintenance float equivalent to between three quarters and a full month’s rent. We could spend up to £200 on urgent repairs without referring back to the landlord, which would be the equivalent of around £870 today. Very few landlords would allow that level of autonomy now, and this can sometimes delay important works.
- The rental market itself has changed significantly
In the early days many rental properties were owned by expatriates working abroad for a few years and letting out their homes temporarily. Today the market is far more investment-led.
- Referencing used to look beyond simply the ability to pay
Tenant referencing once focused as much on the individual’s lifestyle and suitability as their financial position. While financial checks are important, understanding the person behind the application still matters.
- A rental property may be an investment, but it is also someone’s home
One thing that has never changed is the need for landlords to recognise that whilst a property may form part of their investment portfolio, it is ultimately someone’s home and should be treated with that consideration.
Nearly four decades after founding Rushbrook & Rathbone, one thing I have learned is that whilst the industry continues to evolve, many of the fundamentals remain unchanged. Property management is still about trust, relationships and professional judgement.
The landscape may look very different to when I first started out in 1988, but the importance of doing the job properly, treating people fairly and protecting the value of the homes we manage remains exactly the same.
Sarah Rushbrook is the founder of property management specialist Rushbrook & Rathbone.