Explosive allegations have been made in a book about corporate estate agency involving drugs, sex and bent deals.
No agency is named in the book, Sex, Drugs and Property, written by an estate agent who is only identified as Agent X.
He or she is someone said to be working on the front line of an estate agency that is not named.
The book is described as a collection of tales of sordid shenanigans in offices both during and after work, including drug use and trading sexual favours in exchange for pay rises.
It claims to lift the lid on sleazy goings-on that the world of corporate estate agency will not want anyone to know about. It warns customers that the book will tell them what really goes on in their house when the agents are left alone and what happens in their offices after dark.
The book alleges that the industry is plagued with liars, drug addicts and sex addicts. But the author also says that while agents are flawed as people, they are also hard-working, dedicated and humorous – although often ****** up.
The person who brought it to our attention on strict condition of anonymity says he happened to read the book after being sent it by a friend.
He told us he currently works for a large organisation in the estate agency world – and is convinced that not only do the allegations ring true but the people in the book are his own colleagues.
The book, available on Amazon, has an Afterword which says: “I have heard many a description or viewpoint on estate agency and agents alike, and to be honest, none of them are particularly flattering: “pond life” being one, a “necessary evil” being another.
“In fact, I believe had it not been for the 2008 recession and bankers coming out of that looking so bad, we would still be seen as the lowest of the low.
“Thank God for the banker and their billion pound bonuses.
“The last thing the industry needed in its fight to improve its image was a book like this one, written by an estate agent about the dodgy goings on behind the scenes.
“Though I go back to the first part of this hook, there is no way our industry is the only one where affairs happen, drugs are used and deals are not always above board.
“The company I worked for, I haven’t named once in this book.
“However, I am sure when I use the term ‘retail’, those in the industry will know exactly who I am talking about.
“Still, I won’t mention the name … I don’t want to be sued and they still employ me.”
The author says elsewhere: “Of course, if you read the industry press, it may be blindingly obvious which company I work for.”
And he or she continues: “The reason I hint at it now is to sum up my view on the industry I still work in, the industry that has treated me well and, in my opinion, is one that is needed.
“The property industry, estate agency, is a service industry. It is not retail. It is a service.”
The author continues: “When I started working for this large firm, it was an old-school estate agents … it was run by old school men who appointed slightly younger men than them into middle management, all of whom were tasked with the simple job of making as much money as possible and having a little bit of fun along the way.
“The middle management guys were given flashy cars and told to create exact replicas of themselves who could take over in years to come.
“A blind eye was turned to sexual harassment, drug use, drink driving, desks being used to get a ********…
“In my short term as a negotiator before going into management, I made the company just over £300,000 in two and a half years. No wonder they turned a blind eye to my affair. And that was just me.”
The author claims managers were surviving on a diet of Red Bull, vodka and coke.
The author also says they left the un-named company but then did what he or she had sworn they would never do, and went crawling back to the corporate world, the buzz, plaudits and long hours: “It is a drug, and I am addicted.
“I realise why estate agents are hated and are seen as a necessary evil. It is because they will do anything to get the job done.
“We are all sharks.”
The author also talks about colleagues who have left under a very dark cloud, with the standard announcement always suggesting that after many years of service [insert name] has gone off to pursue another venture.
Elsewhere the author alleges that cocaine use remains a major problem.
Does anyone at Countrywide have any jobs going?
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Unfortunately not, at the rate they are pulling out, but loved the comment!
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Did you really mean to say “they are pulling out” AgentV?…..I suspect not but lets give you the benefit of the doubt!
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I tried other phrases like withdrawing etc……didn’t seem to matter which way I looked at it!
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Best to try LSL…. ?
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The recruitment companies will love this. They’ll have new candidates queuing round the block to get into agency.
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I suspect Agent X is trying to make him/herself more Agent *** in the hope it sells a few books. The excerpts do seem a bit tame though…compared to some I can think of!!
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It’s a pity we can’t even rely upon the ‘Eye’ not to fall into the trap of advertorials, dressed up as ‘journalism’. If this book’s author (or even the person who purportedly brought the book to the Eye’s notice) can’t reveal its sources, then we should treat it as a piece of sensational fiction – written solely to sell books, but not to seriously ‘expose’ anything. I’m sure that there are addicts (both ‘drug’ and ‘sex’) in virtually every walk of life … Estate Agency will be no different. Call me naive, but, after 30 years of working in a number of different sized Agents’ offices, I’m hard pressed to think of a single tale of salaciousness/etc (!). I do recall, about 18 years ago, one negotiator was dismissed for certain undignified issues [lost driving licence, being one] relating to her alcohol problem, but, beyond that, my innumerable colleagues (many good fun over a pint/glass of wine) have all been as boring as me ! I suspect this fictitious book, whilst no doubt a good wheeze, is primarily just another piece of anti-Agent propaganda.
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I may be wrong Nix, but I’ve got a feeling you may work for Countrywide?
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Clearly, JPS04, I can only assume you work for Countrywide too … as you seem to immediately recognise my points of reference.
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after reading the article, I wish I did!
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Lighten up Nix,
Its a bit of fun on a Thursday morning. If you are a regular reader of EYE you know they are firmly on the side of High Street agency. Certainly not looking to ru our industry down.
Anyway why are you not in your morning meeting? 5,1,1 pledged today? 😉
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I’ve not read the book, but when I worked in London …………………!
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Borezone All our yesterdays ! My first entree into the property world was for a small firm of West End mostly commercial estate agents and surveyors many moons ago My rent was 70 % of my income !
Canvassing and getting boards up was the be all and end all .The 2 senior partners were like Laurel and Hardy .One used to say you are always out of the office and the other used to say you are always on the phone My immediate boss a junior partner I soon learned that his income was very heavily commission based .He was always trying to take over my deals under some pretext so I used to hide the files!
Tricks of the trade to find out who owned the freehold was to call a shop saying you were from The Gas Board and that you will be digging a hole outside their shop and sorry for the inconvenience . You were going to write detailing dates etc and need the name of the owner too .They nearly always obliged .
I walked into the senior partners office one day unannounced to see 2 heads pop up from under the desk as his secretary was taking dictation !The Xmas party was always something else !
Later on booze fuelled lunches were the norm as commercial agents tend to be more clublike sharing info congregating in local watering holes One agent regularly used to throw 6 pints down his neck in an hour before returning to the office and drive out to afternoon appointments
The first deal I did was acquiring a small shop for a grocers submitted the invoice but no money had arrived .My partner immediately on my case to reel it in . I felt a little embarrassed so turned up at the shop stood in a queue behind those getting their fruit and veg It was my turn at the till and said can we have a cheque please .Fair play he wrote one out and gave me a bag of apples! My £50 commission nailed too! Happy days
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Nothing compared to what goes on in Hollywood
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Well, I would disagree with those who think the theme of the book Is nonexistent as well as who think it’s widespread too, especially in the UK.
We shouldnt forget about Mr Trump, as a role model for every Agent in the industry – weather we agree or disagree- did set numerous examples on how he thinks about women, sex and money directly or indirectly related to the industry.
Its not only a problem of the The UK but it’s a problem of the worldwide. In the US, young beautiful girls get the job based on the skills how she can “manage” a client. Needless to say that in most cases she has to engage in some sort of sexual activities, even though it’s against her will and choice. So its an open book.
For the UK, it does exist in almost everywhere whether it happens inside the office or in clients properties or not, it may happen outside of office hours, under the level of socialising activities.
It’s become very common that male colleagues are after sexual favours and females are after financial favours. There’s a very thin fine-line between these two. Ugly stories only spill out when that fine line gets breached.
I know personally (can’t give the name, due to the source’s wish to stay anonymous ) a national agency arranges interbranch get-together party every year in a large city of Northwest, mostly in Christmas time.That annual party eventually turns out to a Large-Scale ******** fest. Not sure if it’s mandatory to join or not!
In my business, I had some female stuff, came from other reputable agencies got asked in first place by the candidate if I had any intention of anything other than the job description! Immediately I knew what they were pointing to, which I did dismiss with one single word, NO.
The bottom line is, the writer of the book, if she is a female, must have had some truthful elements of personal experiences where she might have been abused or exploited or fell in traps against her will.
But the tragedy is if that was the case, by not disclosing the source, she is indirectly tolerating that practice and not helping authorities, industry leaders, regulators And The general public.
Instead of making financial gain by selling book, such an exposition could be used as a sizeable opportunity to clean up the industry Which eventually would have helped others in similar position to speak out against those abusers. we never know!
Just like other industries wake up call under the campaign of #metoo.
Do apologise, if my opinion offends anyone and would love to hear some constructive ideas too.
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