Simon Leadbetter

Will politics and taxation have a greater impact on estate agency than artificial intelligence over the next five years?

That question will take centre stage at the Voice of the Agent 2026 conference in Oxford on Friday 20 November.

The event will bring together around 30 speakers at the University of Oxford’s Examination Schools. It will also feature previously unpublished findings from four years of industry research.

The research examines agency performance, spending, technology, consumer behaviour and regulation. It also considers what separates growing businesses from those struggling to expand.

Industry figures clash over politics and AI

A central debate will ask whether politics, housing and taxation will influence the property market more than technology and automation.

Russell Quirk, Kate Faulkner OBE and Michael Dent will argue for the importance of political and economic factors.

Meanwhile, Rajeev Nayyar, Mark Burgess and Victoria Lambden will make the case for technology, AI and PropTech.

Each speaker will have five minutes to present their argument. Delegates will then vote on the motion.

Unpublished research under scrutiny

The conference will also examine findings gathered between 2023 and 2026.

Simon Leadbetter, Christopher Watkin, Simon Gates and Victoria Lambden will present research on the state of estate agency.

The findings cover sales, lettings, marketing, portals, recruitment, pay and mental health. They also examine housing policy and the transaction process.

An editorial panel featuring Jo Bourne, Danielle Nash, Clare Yates and Christopher Watkin will discuss the implications.

Kristjan Byfield will explore the industry’s use of AI. Meanwhile, a separate panel will examine the challenges facing property transactions.

Technology spending and consumer attitudes

The afternoon programme will feature presentations from Dave Officer, Oyin Bamgbose of Street Group and Mark Burgess of Iceberg.

Will Ullstein of YouGov and Andrew Tindall of System1 will also speak.

Topics include consumer attitudes, advertising effectiveness and emerging industry trends.

In addition, a panel chaired by Jo Bourne will examine the technology agents purchase and its practical value.

David Mintz will host the conference.

Simon Leadbetter, founder of We Are Unchained and The Voice of the Agent, said: “Agents hear plenty of confident predictions. Confidence is rarely in short supply. Evidence is.

“We have four years of research and some findings we have never published. We will put them in front of people who run businesses and know the market, and let them challenge what the numbers mean.

“The morning deals with what agents control inside their businesses. The debate covers the forces outside their control. Delegates should leave knowing where to spend, what to question and what to do on Monday.”

Conference details

The Voice of the Agent 2026 conference takes place on Friday 20 November at Examination Schools, Oxford.

Registration opens at 8.15am, with a drinks reception scheduled for 5pm.

In-person tickets cost £199. Alternatively, agencies can purchase a £299 livestream ticket covering their entire office.

Further details and tickets are available via TicketSource.