So far it's been very predictable and impressive.
But when you talk to Votta, it becomes clear that he is neither your typical letting agent nor the typical person you often see at the helm of an industry association.
He spoke openly about his past personal struggles. He underwent six months of treatment with weekly cognitive behavioral therapy sessions after depression, which he realized was post-traumatic stress disorder from an incident several years earlier. And he admitted he regrets not being more sympathetic in the past to his friend, who he now understands was a mental health issue.
Mr. Botta is also keen to emphasize that while he may be at the head of a very established and well-established trade association, he is not without a radical edge. The 39-year-old is keen to share his status as ARLA's youngest ever chairman, but he admits the situation was “. A few years ago, he said Propertymark was “a little shaky” and that the entire organization (thankfully) was no longer what he called “an old man's club.”
He is also passionate about seeing the 'good side' of agents promoted, with key figures giving as much time, effort and funds to local charities as real estate agents. He is on record as saying that he has few, if any, ideas for the industry.
On contemporary issues, he is cautious in terms of his public response to the Fairer Rental Sector White Paper (remember, he will have to sit around the table with government ministers at some point). However, he doesn't agree when I tell him that. Overall, it's hard to see this as anything other than a shift in power from intermediaries and landlords to tenants.
“If you read the nitty-gritty, it’s actually very positive for landlords,” he says. “Like a lot of other things we've done, if you look at this, it's not all negative.” He said Article 8 could be a particularly big win for the industry. It points out that the eviction authority of the government should be strengthened and clarified.
He is equally optimistic when addressing the rental industry's numerous problems and the industry's failure to persuade governments (my words, not his) of the need for rapid introduction of regulation. , suggested there was still work to be done.
Votta said: In many ways, a white paper is just the beginning of the process. My hope is that the industry will come together and come together and see that while there are strange proposals, there are also great opportunities. ”
He believes the industry should continue its vigorous lobbying efforts of recent years, put together a united front and push for more case studies on the positive impact landlords and agents can have on housing provision.
The takeaways from this case study are key to understanding Votta's approach to the industry. He loves people and the difference they make.
In a previous interview, he said he was able to quickly acquire a clientele of landlords after starting his company because they were impressed by how sympathetically he treated his tenants several years ago. I was happy to explain. He continues to refer to the “big picture” as a goal for us as an industry to look at, rather than simply outdoing rival agencies in the short term.
And, as expected, he also supports Propertymark.
Every industry group has its detractors, but Votta doesn't give in to PropertyMark's critics.
he says: “It’s a safety net for about 80p a day. What a bargain! In my opinion, Propertymark has really come into its own during the coronavirus crisis. Agents have all the tools they need, including webinars, insurance, compliance and training. Now you can equip it. Why don't you join?”
And his own goals as president? He wants to promote more uniform and fair enforcement of regulations, codes of conduct and rules.
While these objectives opened doors with government a few years ago, it now appears that RoPA and regulatory issues have been removed from the Department of Levelization, Housing and Communities' urgent list.
In the absence of long-awaited government action, it is up to the industry to position itself and become more agile given the unpredictability of the economy and politicians. Votta clearly believes that.
He also believes this is the key to getting more business for agents and is keen to emphasize this to those seeking leadership from ARLA Propertymark.
“Agents have to be adaptable. They are already adapting to big changes, but even bigger changes are likely to come. As long as we continue, both individual agents and the industry will be fine.”
