In this powerful episode of The Viking Chat, Kristjan Byfield sits down with Carrie Alliston, Head of Partnerships at HomeLet and one of the UK property industry’s most respected voices on compliance, leadership and transformation. After decades of experience in agency - most recently as Group Lettings Director at Hunters - Carrie brings both operational depth and big-picture strategy to every conversation she joins.

This is not a surface-level industry chat. It’s a deep dive into the risks we ignore, the rules we misunderstand, and the relationships we take for granted - all from someone who has walked the walk and now helps agents talk it better.

Whether you're a branch manager, agency owner, compliance lead, or just someone trying to navigate an ever-shifting lettings landscape, this episode will leave you better informed, more inspired - and maybe a little bit more honest with yourself about where your business stands.

🎙️ What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ Why compliance isn’t a box to tick - it’s a business asset
Carrie unpacks the real commercial value of getting regulation right. It’s not about red tape - it’s about risk mitigation, business protection, and long-term trust. She explains why every agent, regardless of portfolio size, should see compliance as a differentiator, not a drag.

✅ What agents get wrong about reform
We tackle everything from Section 21 to pets, licensing to leaseholds - and Carrie shares where the biggest knowledge gaps are, and how agents can turn uncertainty into opportunity by engaging early, not reacting late.

✅ The danger of being ‘too busy to be better’
In a world of shrinking margins and staff burnout, Carrie makes the case that making time for training, processes and self-reflection isn’t a luxury - it’s leadership. Agencies that evolve are the ones that survive. Full stop.

✅ From valuer to industry leader: Carrie’s inside story
Carrie shares her career journey from local agency teams to strategic national roles - and the pivotal moments, mentors, and lessons that shaped her perspective. If you’re a woman in property or a team member wondering how to scale, this one’s for you.

✅ Why respect - for tenants, landlords and each other - must return to the industry
We talk about tone. About trust. About transparency. Carrie shares how poor communication and ego-driven culture still harm our sector - and what agents can do to rebuild credibility with the public.

✅ Where the PRS is heading next (and what agents should do about it)
Carrie gives her no-nonsense take on the trends, tech and training that will define the next decade in lettings - and what agents need to prioritise if they want to remain essential in the eyes of their clients.

💬 Why This Episode Matters

The private rented sector is evolving fast. Legislation is piling up. Public trust is volatile. Talent is harder to retain. And yet, so much of the conversation in agency circles is still focused on fees, portals and short-term wins.

Carrie Alliston cuts through that noise.

With practical insight, genuine empathy and a deep understanding of what’s really at stake - for landlords, tenants and agents alike - Carrie reminds us that the best agents aren’t just well-informed. They’re well-intentioned.

They care about doing things properly. They invest in getting better. They lead with consistency - not crisis.

This episode is a masterclass in what the future of agency leadership looks like: smart, strategic, human, and humble.

👂 Who Should Tune In?

• Lettings professionals seeking clarity on compliance and reform
• Branch managers and directors ready to step up their strategy
• Property managers feeling stretched but

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