More agents are leaving the traditional sector to work for online businesses, convinced that they are future-proofing their careers.

The claim has come from recruitment specialist Deverell Smith.

While the firm concentrates on the market within the M25, its comments could be seen to apply to a changing sector, where online agents are recruiting local representatives.

Deverell Smith also said that pay for estate agents working within the M25 has barely changed over the last 12 months, despite an initial rush to build teams and expand branches.

According to Deverell Smith, external economic, technological and political influences have had significant impact on the industry.

Hiring peaked last year and the firm says some estate agency employers are delaying their growth plans until the outcome of the EU referendum.

Deverell Smith reports that sales team retention levels suffered in central London, because agents preferred to chase better market activity in the capital’s outer zones.

Andrew Deverell-Smith, the firm’s CEO, said: “In the London market we witnessed a complete reversal on habitual job movements.

“Due to the deterioration of London’s prime market, sales professionals no longer aspire to work in the prime, central branches. Activity was instead chased out to zones 3 and 4 helping to bolster teams in areas such as Tooting, Wandsworth, Canary Wharf and Stratford with some of the capital’s top talent.”

The fastest growing area of recruitment was in online agencies.

Deverell-Smith said: “Online agencies, with their ambitious plans, had a significant impact and were the fastest growth area across the residential sector.

“Job seekers were actively seeking employment with online agencies because they felt they represented progressive and future-proofed career path.

“As a result, we saw some of the most sought-after candidates moving from traditional agency to online.”

Another trend Deverell Smith has seen has been the candidate shortages in letting managers and directors, caused partly by the flight to institutional private rented sector employers.

Deverell Smith expects a slow-down in hiring for the rest of this year across the estate agency sector.

The firm reports that average salaries in central London are £57,000 (lettings) and £78,000 (sales). In Greater London, the equivalents are £34,000 and £52,000.

Typical on target earnings in central London start at £25,000 for a trainee lettings negotiator and £34,000-£42,000 for a senior lettings negotiator.

A lettings manager could expect £45,000 to £87,000.

On target earnings in central London for sales people start at £25,000 for a trainee, and go up to £250,000 for a director or partner of multiple branches.

The full report, together with average pay within the M25, is here:

http://issuu.com/devsmith/docs/deverell_smith_salary_report_abae41abdf4004?e=9726407/36288346​