More than half of estate agents admit industry burnout is rife according to data from Alto’s Agency Trends Report with mid-sized agencies bearing the brunt.
There is a growing people crisis inside Britain’s estate agencies – with burnout rising sharply and mid-sized firms struggling to keep hold of staff – just as a wave of new regulation and cost pressures hits the sector.
According to Alto’s research, six in 10 agencies are now reporting burnout inside their teams, with just under half (44%) calling it an “ongoing problem” and 15% saying it has become a major issue impacting performance.
The situation is even worse for mid-sized agencies, where one in three say recruitment and retention is one of their biggest challenges as they struggle to retain staff.
DRAINED AND OVERSTRETCHED
Industry leaders warn that agencies in 2026 are both drained, overstretched and short-staffed with many teams already “running on fumes” before the next wave of compliance, admin work and economic pressure lands this year.
Riccardo Iannucci-Dawson (main picture, inset), CEO of Alto, says: “Agents are tired, and that’s understandable. The workload is relentless, the paperwork keeps rising, and teams are being hit from every direction.
“Mid-sized agencies are in the toughest spot of all. They have enough volume to generate real pressure, but not enough staff to absorb it. Unless they modernise quickly, many will reach breaking point.”
COMPLIANCE DEMANDS
The findings come from the newly released 2026 Agency Trends Report from Alto which surveyed 250 estate and letting professionals across the UK.
Alto’s research shows why staff are struggling. Agents cite rising admin, heavy compliance demands and constant task-switching as key drains on time and morale.
Many say a typical day is now dominated by repeated data entry, chasing paperwork and managing compliance tasks.
Alto says this pressure is exactly why agencies are now turning to AI-driven tools at record speed.
PRESSURE VALVE
Iannucci-Dawson adds: “AI is the pressure valve this industry desperately needs. The real shift we’re seeing is that AI is starting to manage work, not just data. It can spot what matters, guide agents through complex tasks, and keep processes moving automatically in the background.
“The agencies using it to eliminate repetitive tasks and keep deals moving are the ones who’ll cut burnout and keep their best people. Agencies using AI won’t just work faster; they’ll deliver a better experience for buyers, sellers, landlords and tenants.
“That’s exactly why we’re investing in embedded AI throughout Alto – to strip out the grind, take the stress out of compliance, save hours every week, and give agents more time to do the work they’re brilliant at and enjoy the most, like focusing on clients and relationships, not admin.”
The sector cannot afford to treat burnout as a “nice-to-sort” issue.
Alto’s report warns that the sector cannot afford to treat burnout as a “nice-to-sort” issue.
With a tightening labour market and more experienced negotiators leaving the industry, agencies risk a staffing crunch just as competition, regulation and customer expectations intensify.
NOT OPTIONAL
Iannucci-Dawson says: “When the people load is this heavy, technology stops being optional. The firms that take the pressure off their teams will be the ones that are thriving this time next year.”
The Alto 2026 Agency Trends Report explores how different agency types are preparing for the year ahead, the pressures reshaping the market, and where technology and automation could provide a competitive edge.
The full report is available to download for free HERE and offers a detailed look at the challenges and opportunities facing agents as the sector heads into a pivotal year.
