This week on the podcast, we’re thrilled to have Valerie Bannister, National Property Director at Your Move, joining us for the latest episode in our "My Life in Lettings" series. Valerie's 40-year career at LSL Land & New Homes is nothing short of inspiring. Her positive attitude and dedication have led her from humble beginnings—losing an earring in her first interview and working out of a cleaning cupboard— to becoming ARLA Propertymark President and winning the Sunday Times Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Lettings Sector! ✨

In this episode, Heidi and Valerie discuss; Valerie’s start in the property sector, how the industry has transformed over the last 40 years, navigating a career as a driven woman in the 80s, predictions for the Renters' Rights Bill and industry reactions, Valerie’s go-to ways to relax and unwind and the key people who made a difference in her journey

This is an inspirational story filled with valuable insights—perfect for your morning commute. And be sure to stick around for the story of the interview disaster that launched Valerie's incredible career! ✨

*Note: This episode was recorded just after the second reading of the Renters' Rights Bill, so any reference to timelines may have changed.

This week we are joined by our good friends and returning guests Ben Parker from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home and Jennifer Berezai from AdvoCats to talk all things pets.

In this episode we reflect on the evolution from the initial Renters Reform Bill to the current Renters’ Rights Bill, and what it means for Pets In Lets.

They shared their insights on the ongoing challenges and what changes they are actively campaigning for including focusing on several key challenges facing pet owners in rental properties. Advocates are pushing for clear tenant rights regarding pet inclusion at the start of tenancies, aiming to combat discrimination against pet owners by placing them on the same level as families with children and those receiving benefits. They seek to define what constitutes a 'reasonable' denial of pet ownership, alongside establishing clear standards for insurance policies that support pet inclusion in rentals.

As you know, this is a topic that we are very passionate about so hearing the latest news on how the charities intend to seek clarity on the Pets In Lets legislation was something we were keen to hear about.

On the 9th of October, the Renters' Rights Bill advanced to its second reading in Parliament, where MPs debated the core principles of the proposed legislation. The session saw a range of viewpoints expressed by industry experts, with both support and concerns raised on various aspects of the Bill. If you were unable to catch it live, don’t worry—The Lettings Hub is committed to providing you with continuous insights and updates as the Bill progresses.

Our CEO, Heidi Shackell, sat down with Suzanne Smith, founder of The Independent Landlord blog and the Good Landlording Podcast, along with David Smith, Partner at JMW Solicitors LLP, to deliver a comprehensive analysis of the current state of the Renters' Rights Bill as it moves towards the next stages of the legislative process.

From starting out as a teacher to becoming a key figure in Propertymark, Toby shares the twists and turns that have shaped his professional life and what being part of Propertymark means to him today. We had such an engaging conversation that we could have spoken to Toby all day! Don’t miss this jam-packed episode and get to know the true rockstar behind the scenes.

And, as we head into Autumn with the nights growing longer, we got into the spooky spirit (literally!) with a ghostly tale to close out the episode!

This week, we're thrilled to be joined by one-half of the renowned duo, Tamsin and Mike, from Tamsin Wheatcroft Property & Financial Services Recruitment! Tamsin is sitting down with Heidi to dive deep into the world of recruitment and share her expert insights.

From the shoes you should wear to an interview to how you say goodbye at the end, Tamsin is covering all the details that make a candidate stand out. We’ll also explore how the market has evolved throughout her career and what employers should focus on to secure the best talent.

So whether you are looking for a new job currently, or save it to your favourites for a later date we have all the top tips you need to get back into the lettings job market!

Kicking us off and launching season 4 we are joined by Siȃn Hemming Metcalfe, Operations Director at Inventory Base, which couldn’t have come at a better time! This week Siȃn has shared the importance of regular inspections and how inventory professionals can identify hazards to not only keep landlords on top of compliance but protect tenants in light of the Renters’ Rights Bill announcement. A shocking 13% of homes in the Private Rental Sector do not currently meet the Decent Homes Standard, but how does the Renters Rights Bill and Inventory Base support the shift in reducing that number?

In this episode, we talk all about what Inventory Base does, and how the evolution of Inventory Professionals has already changed the sector and will continue to do so with the help of technology. We also go back to Sian’s previous career as a Prison Officer and discuss how the skills in that role made the transition into property seamless

Can you believe we are coming to the end of season 3 of Let's Talk Lets already? And what an amazing season it has been (again!!). As our regular listeners will know, at the end of every season of Let's Talk Lets, we compile all of the best bits and funny stories from our guests' careers - and once again our guests did not disappoint!

During season 3 we introduced a new mini-series called 'My Life in Lettings' where our CEO, Heidi Shackell, spoke to a range of inspiring guests about their career in the lettings industry. So in this episode, we are recapping all of the best bits of these episodes... from an eventful Christmas Party to a company car that didn't make it back to the office

Can you belive we are coming to the end of Season 3 of Let's Talk Lets already? And what an amazing season it has been (again!!). As our regular listeners will know, at the end of every Season of Let's Talk Lets, we compile all of the best bits and funny stories from our guests' careers - and once again the guests for season 3 did not disappoint!

From interesting viewings and awkward court appearances to an AC/DC party gone wrong there is definitely a story for everyone...

But not to worry, this isn't the end of Season 3... We still have two more episodes as we are joined by Maxine Fothergill next week and then have our final round-up from all of our 'My Life in Lettings' episodes on the 31st July!