From Lettings to Legacy: Ben Moser on Social Impact & Leadership
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🎙 Episode Title: Legacy, Leadership & Lettings: Ben Moser on Culture, Confidence & Social Change
In this episode of The Viking Chats, Kristjan Byfield sits down with Ben Moser—Director of Operations at Petermans Estate Agents, Managing Director of Petermans Housing Initiatives, and a Volunteer Mentor at Agents Together—for an open, vulnerable, and thought-provoking conversation that cuts right to the core of what the property industry should be about.
Ben’s journey is anything but typical. As the next generation in a family-run agency, he could have coasted. Instead, he chose to listen, learn and lead differently—shaping his own path with integrity, curiosity, and a powerful commitment to making housing better for everyone.
From transforming agency culture to tackling social housing and redefining what it means to be a modern dad in a demanding industry, Ben brings heart, humour and fresh thinking to every corner of the conversation.
🏡 From Family Business to Future-Facing Operator
Ben shares his story of entering the business without a clear plan—and how, by working from the ground up, he’s grown into a leadership role rooted in service and culture. His reflections on working within a legacy brand (with a legendary mum as MD!) offer valuable insight for anyone navigating generational succession or family business dynamics.
🤝 Culture Over Ego
Forget the old-school, hierarchical model of estate agency. Ben and Kristjan dive into why flat structures, psychological safety, and collaborative leadership aren’t just feel-good concepts—they’re essential for building resilient, effective teams that deliver consistently high-quality service to landlords, tenants and partners alike.
🧠 Gen Z Clients, Changing Expectations & Agent Evolution
Today’s buyers and renters expect more: transparency, ethics, responsiveness and empathy. Ben explains how he and his team have adapted to meet these expectations—without losing sight of commercial performance or efficiency.
The result? A values-led approach that earns long-term trust, not just short-term deals.
🏘 A Mission to Expand Social Housing
One of the most powerful themes of the episode is Ben’s work through Petermans Housing Initiatives—a personal and professional commitment to delivering more and better social housing through the infrastructure of the private sector.
Ben talks openly about:
- Why housing access should be treated as a fundamental right
- The operational and political barriers to progress
- How letting agents can (and should) be part of the solution
👨👧 Fatherhood, Pressure & Identity in Business
In a beautifully honest segment, Ben and Kristjan reflect on the reality of being modern dads—juggling leadership, ambition, purpose and parenting. It’s a topic rarely explored in property circles, but one that’s deeply relevant for the next generation of agency owners and directors.
💡 Why This Episode Matters
Whether you're a landlord, investor, BTR/PBSA operator or letting agency leader, Ben’s journey and mindset offer lessons for us all:
- Leadership isn’t about title—it’s about culture
- Profit and purpose can co-exist
- The best agents of tomorrow will be the ones who lead with empathy today
20 episodes