The results of a recent poll on self-employed agents has been revealed, with nearly a third believing the employment status will account for a fifth of the profession in the next five years.

The survey was held by the Federation of Independent Agents (FIA). 

Of 159 voters, 25 (16%) felt that the share would reach 1-5%, 37 (23%) said 5-10%, 49 (31%) thought it could reach between 10-20%, while 48 (30%) went for a huge 20%+ prediction.

“The self employed model has gained traction in the last couple of years with the likes of EXP leading the way, and although the current market share of the sector remains low at around 1-2%, there certainly seems to be some upward trajectory,” said Graham Lock, chief executive of the FIA.

Not everybody believes the self-employed model will achieve lasting growth, however. For example, independent agency owner Charles Stoten commented: “I believe that much like the online estate agency model, the self-employed model will hit its saturation and fall back slightly. Traditional agents will break from the traditions that the self-employed model challenges. 

“For example, looking at how fellow members of the FIA are harnessing modern tech to improve communication, expand their service offering and improve the quality of their advertising shows that forward-thinking estate agents will harness the opportunity to enhance the traditional estate agency offering. There is certainly room for both models.”