The Viking Chats: navigating the choppy waters of property, technology and business
Welcome aboard The Viking Chats—the podcast where property, tech, and business collide in candid, no-fluff conversations. Hosted by Kristjan Byfield—lettings veteran, proptech pioneer, and co-founder of Base Property Specialists and The Depositary—this show dives deep into the real-world challenges and bold innovations shaping the future of the housing sector and beyond.
Each episode, Kristjan drops anchor with industry leaders, disruptors, and entrepreneurs to unpack the messy, inspiring, and often chaotic reality of running a modern business in a rapidly evolving landscape. Expect sharp insights, honest stories, and the occasional Viking metaphor—all served with Kristjan’s trademark wit and big-hearted honesty.
Whether you’re in lettings, launching a startup, or just love a good story about navigating change—this podcast is your compass in the storm.
The Viking Chats: navigating the choppy waters of property, technology and business
Behind the Curtain of Compliance, Complaints & Change in the PRS with Tim Frome of Hamilton Fraser
In this powerhouse episode of Viking Chat, industry trailblazer Kristjan Byfield sits down with Tim Frome, legal and compliance heavyweight from Hamilton Fraser, for a deep dive into the ever-evolving landscape of the private rented sector (PRS). Buckle up for a fast-paced, insight-rich ride through the trends, tensions, and tectonic shifts affecting agents, landlords, and tenants alike.
Tim unpacks Hamilton Fraser’s 2024 annual report—a digital-first, data-driven, interactive document that’s setting new standards for how compliance can be communicated. From the increasing importance of alternative deposits to the dramatic rise in complaints (up 20% year-on-year and 44% over two years), this chat doesn’t shy away from the sector’s growing pains. But the headlines aren’t just alarm bells—they’re rich with opportunity and lessons for the proactive agent.
⚖️ Key Talking Points Include:
- The true drivers behind the 68.5% of agents worried about Section 21 abolishment—and why Kristjan thinks it might be the least significant part of the Renters Reform Bill.
- The alarming 15% of agents unaware of the Renters Reform Bill’s contents and the urgent call to action for industry professionals to educate themselves before change hits.
- An insider look at the surge in sourcing-related complaints, where “property experts” promise riches but deliver disputes.
- The communication crisis: Why poor documentation and broken information chains—not just bad service—lie at the heart of many complaints.
💥 Firecracker Stats from the Report:
- Over 19,000 individual agents now registered with Hamilton Fraser’s schemes, including CMP, MyDeposits, and PRS.
- Expelled agent numbers up 40%, but it’s not all doom—context is everything.
- Just 2.4% of tenants are using deposit alternatives, despite affordability challenges being cited by 30% of renters.
- Nearly 33% of surveyed tenants consider Section 21’s removal the most important part of the bill—a stat Kristjan challenges head-on with nuance and realism.
🤝 Why You Should Listen: This episode is more than a data dump. It’s a passionate, pragmatic exploration of what’s changing and how agents and landlords can adapt with purpose. Kristjan and Tim don’t just talk compliance—they talk strategy. Expect honest reflections, industry anecdotes, myth-busting insights, and even a chuckle over MPs claiming "pet rent" on expenses.
Whether you’re a seasoned letting agent, a landlord trying to navigate reform, or a newcomer seeking clarity in chaos, this episode delivers the clarity, caution, and calls to action you didn’t know you needed.
🔗 Pro Tip: Stick around to the end for sharp soundbites on rent review tribunals, indefinite tenancies, and how AI is about to change tenant awareness forever. Plus, get Kristjan’s no-nonsense advice on the tenant-landlord relationship in a post-reform PRS.
