The Viking Chats: navigating the choppy waters of property, technology and business

Kristjan Byfield
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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.

  1. MAR 24

    Stop Guessing, Start Planning - The Truth About EPCs, MEES & Retrofit with Simon Bones

    This week on The Viking Chats, I’m joined by Simon Bones, founder of Genous - a retrofit specialist on a mission to bring clarity, logic and (frankly) some much-needed honesty to the world of energy efficiency. Because let’s be honest… right now? Most landlords and agents are guessing. MEES is coming. EPC targets keep shifting. Government messaging is inconsistent at best. And if you try to get advice? You’re usually just being sold something. Cavity wall insulation? “You need this.” Heat pumps? “This is the future.” Solar panels? “Don’t bother with anything else.” The problem is - none of those answers are wrong. But none of them are complete either. And that’s exactly where this conversation starts. Simon breaks down the three biggest challenges facing anyone trying to improve a property’s energy performance: ▪ People don’t know what to do  ▪ They don’t know who to trust to do it  ▪ And they don’t know how much it’s actually going to cost From there, we get into the reality behind EPCs - why they’re often misleading, based on outdated assumptions, and completely disconnected from real-world costs and decision-making. We talk about: ▪ Why EPC recommendations are often nonsensical (and sometimes impossible) ▪ The danger of taking “sales-led advice” from single-solution providers ▪ How different upgrades interact - and why there’s no one-size-fits-all answer ▪ The confusion around MEES and what landlords should actually be doing right now ▪ Why waiting until 2029 is a very, very bad idea There’s also a fascinating deep dive into how the retrofit market actually works - from government schemes being scrapped overnight, to the unintended consequences of policy decisions, to the looming skills and supply crunch that could hit hard as deadlines approach. And one thing becomes very clear: 👉 The biggest risk isn’t the legislation. 👉 It’s leaving it too late to act. Because when everyone rushes to upgrade at the same time… Prices go up. Trades disappear. And suddenly “we’ll deal with it later” becomes a very expensive mistake. We also explore a smarter way forward. Simon explains how technology - including digital modelling of properties - can give landlords and agents something they’ve been missing: 👉 Clarity Not a sales pitch. Not a generic checklist. But a proper understanding of: • What can be done • What should be done • What it will cost • And what impact it will actually have Whether you manage hundreds of properties or just one, this episode is about moving from reactive panic to proactive planning. Because like it or not, this isn’t going away. Energy efficiency, compliance and property performance are becoming fundamental parts of the industry - not optional extras. And the people who win won’t be the ones who wait. They’ll be the ones who understand, plan… and act early. 🎧 Tune in now to The Viking Chats. Because in a world full of noise, confusion and competing agendas - sometimes the most valuable thing you can have… is clarity. Send us Fan Mail

    53 min

  2. MAR 13

    Support When It Matters Most - Megan Eighteen & The Propertymark Trust (Podcasthon Special)

    This episode of The Viking Chats is a little different. It’s part of Podcasthon - a global movement bringing podcasts together from across the world to shine a spotlight on charities and the incredible work they do. And for this special episode, I’m joined by Megan Eighteen, President of ARLA Propertymark and trustee of what might just be the property industry’s best-kept secret: The Propertymark Trust. If you work in estate agency or lettings in the UK, chances are you’ve heard of Propertymark - the membership body helping raise standards, education and professionalism across the sector. But what many people don’t know about is the charity quietly working behind the scenes supporting people in our industry when life takes an unexpected turn. The Propertymark Trust exists to do two simple but powerful things: support education and provide hardship grants. On the education side, the Trust helps people access the qualifications they need to build careers in property - offering grants that can cover anything from a quarter of the cost to the full amount. It’s about making sure talent and ambition aren’t held back by financial barriers. But it’s the hardship work that really shows the heart of the charity. Because sometimes life throws things at people that no one could possibly plan for. Through the Trust, support has been given for things like: ▪ Covering funeral costs after sudden bereavement ▪ Supporting families who lose loved ones unexpectedly ▪ Paying wages for people undergoing cancer treatment ▪ Funding specialist equipment for those who lose their sight ▪ Helping people rebuild their lives after domestic violence ▪ Installing accessibility adaptations after serious illness or injury In short - when someone in the property industry finds themselves facing the hardest moments of their life, the Trust steps in with practical help and human support. And crucially, it does so quickly. Because hardship doesn’t wait six weeks for a committee meeting. During our conversation Megan explains how the Trust works, how applications are handled by a small team of industry volunteers, and why confidentiality and compassion sit at the centre of everything they do. We also talk about the wider role Propertymark plays in professionalising the sector, Megan’s own journey into property (one of the rare people who actually planned to join the industry!), and why supporting the next generation of agents matters more than ever. Finally, we touch on the extraordinary fundraising efforts currently happening across the industry — including Sarka Wilde’s recent attempt to summit Aconcagua, the highest mountain in the Americas, in aid of the Trust. While the climb itself didn’t go to plan and Sarka had to be medically evacuated before the final ascent, she is thankfully safe back in the UK - and the awareness and funds raised for the Trust have already made a huge difference. This episode is about something bigger than property. It’s about community. It’s about compassion. And it’s about an industry looking after its own. If you work in property and didn’t know this charity existed - you do now. And chances are, one day someone in our industry will need it. 🎧 Tune in now to hear the full conversation. Send a text

    32 min

  3. MAR 2

    From Bedroom Startup to Boardroom Influence - Theresa Wallace on 30 Years of Lettings Change

    This week on The Viking Chats, I’m joined by someone who has quite literally grown alongside the modern private rented sector - Theresa Wallace, Compliance Director at Savills and Chair of The Lettings Industry Council (TLIC). Releasing in the week of International Women’s Day and on the eve of annual WIEA event, this episode couldn’t be more timely. Theresa’s journey begins not in a corporate boardroom - but in a bedroom. In the early 1990s, after converting properties with her husband and experiencing both sides of the landlord–tenant relationship, she launched her own lettings business from home. No computers. No CRM. Just a word processor, paper files, and a determination to understand every part of the job. What followed was rapid growth, leadership roles, and eventually joining Savills - where she built lettings departments from scratch and went on to become one of the most respected compliance voices in the country. But this conversation is about far more than career milestones. We dive deep into: ▪ What lettings looked like in the early days of the Housing Act  ▪ Why the industry was once fiercely competitive - and how collaboration has transformed it  ▪ The birth of TLIC and how a small group in a room became a respected government voice  ▪ Why shouting at policymakers doesn’t work - but solutions do  ▪ The professionalisation of the PRS and why regulation, when done properly, strengthens our sector Theresa shares candid reflections on the Tenant Fees Act, Renters’ Rights reform, Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards, and the upcoming PRS database - including the very real concerns about digitisation, integration, and manual processes. There’s a fascinating discussion around UPRNs, digital-first frameworks, and why government departments must stop working in silos if reform is going to succeed. This isn’t abstract policy chat - it’s practical insight from someone sitting in the rooms where these conversations are happening. And perhaps most importantly, we explore leadership. How do you influence government without alienating them? How do you represent an industry without defending the indefensible? How do you raise standards without creating panic? Theresa’s message is clear: professionalism is not about resisting change - it’s about shaping it. From early days when lettings was largely female-led but commercially underestimated, to today’s far more balanced and respected profession, her perspective offers a powerful reminder that progress doesn’t happen by accident. It happens because people step forward. This episode is essential listening for: ✔ Letting agents navigating reform ✔ Agency leaders wanting clarity on what’s coming ✔ Landlords seeking informed guidance ✔ Anyone who believes our industry should lead, not react There’s warmth. There’s pragmatism. There’s a healthy dose of realism about what will be tough - particularly around court reform and digital implementation - but also optimism about the direction of travel. If you care about standards, leadership, digital innovation and the long-term credibility of our sector, this conversation is not one to miss. 🎧 Tune in now to The Viking Chats. Because the future of lettings won’t be shaped by those shouting the loudest — but by those willing to sit at the table and do the work. Send us Fan Mail

    53 min

  4. FEB 27

    Digital Offers, Human Value: Phil Farrell on the Future of Estate Agency

    This week on The Viking Chats, I’m joined by Phil Farrell of Offr - former agent, industry operator, and now one of the most thoughtful voices in the PropTech space. And this isn’t a fluffy “tech will save the world” conversation. It’s a frank, honest and occasionally uncomfortable deep dive into where estate agents truly add value… and where we absolutely don’t. Phil spent over two decades in agency before moving into tech. He’s negotiated, valued, built teams and led businesses. Which means when he talks about digitising the offer process, front-loading transactions and reducing friction, he’s not guessing - he’s speaking from experience. We cover: Why the UK sales process is still painfully slow - and why that can’t continueThe stat that 42% of offers are made outside business hours (and what that tells us about consumer behaviour)Why “people buy from people” is both true… and wildly misunderstoodThe difference between influencing a transaction and simply being part of the adminWhy agents must understand exactly where they add value - before tech forces the questionPhil makes a powerful 80/20 argument: 80% of a transaction is inefficient administration and poor communication. The remaining 20% - negotiation, reassurance, emotional intelligence - is where the real human value lies. And here’s the challenge: If technology removes the 80%… what happens to agents who can’t articulate the 20%? We also explore: Government’s role in modernising property transactionsWhy front-loading property information is inevitableWhether the future high street branch even mattersWhy agents misunderstand long-term relationships with buyersAnd the uncomfortable truth about being “a cog in the process” versus influencing the outcomeThis episode isn’t anti-agent. Quite the opposite. It’s about protecting the future of agency by being brutally honest about where we genuinely make a difference - and where we’re simply repeating processes that tech could handle better, faster and more reliably. There’s healthy disagreement. There’s humour. There’s a deep respect for the human side of property. But there’s also a clear message: Digitisation doesn’t remove the agent. It exposes the agent. And the ones who thrive will be those who lean into influence, expertise and relationship - not paperwork and phone-chasing. If you care about the future of estate agency, if you’re wrestling with PropTech decisions, or if you’ve ever wondered whether we’re defending tradition out of comfort rather than logic - this one’s essential listening. 🎧 Tune in now to The Viking Chats. Because the future of agency won’t be decided by tech alone - it will be decided by agents who understand exactly where they matter most. Send us Fan Mail

    1h 1m

  5. FEB 12

    From Foxy Beginnings to Founders: Liana & Ollie Unfiltered

    What happens when you mix two award-winning agents, a shared love of doing things differently, and the guts to leave the corporate world behind to launch something with your name on the door? You get Liana and Ollie Loporto-Browne - and one of the most refreshingly honest episodes of Viking Chats to date. In this candid and laugh-filled conversation, Kristjan sits down with Liana and Ollie to unpack their journey from colleagues and co-conspirators to co-founders and life partners. It’s a story of values, vision, and a deep, shared commitment to building a business where people - clients and staff - actually matter. ❤️ From Corporate Climb to Culture-First Liana and Ollie both cut their teeth at some of the biggest names in the business. But behind the shiny suits and high-street prestige, they saw the cracks - the culture issues, the politics, the places where profit trumped people. And they decided to do something different. They share: The moment they knew they had to build their own brandWhat it was like leaving steady paycheques behind to start from scratchHow they created a business built on trust, transparency and actually listening to clients🧠 Agency With Heart AND Hustle Far from fluffy, this episode is packed with strategic insight - including: Why empathy is a competitive advantageHow to lead with vulnerability without losing respectThe real conversations they have as business owners, partners and parentsLiana and Ollie open up about managing conflict, finding balance, and building systems that allow them to serve clients exceptionally while staying sane. There’s zero sugar-coating here - just two people telling the truth about what it really takes to build something better. 💬 Topics You’ll Relate To (Maybe Too Much) The myth of work/life balance when your partner is also your co-directorHow corporate agency prepared them… and how it didn’tWhat “client-first” actually looks like in practiceWhy the best agents aren’t born - they’re backed and developedThey also tackle: Toxic culture (and how to spot it)Why they’ll never compromise on brand valuesHow to make the industry more inclusive - and what’s still holding it back👀 Real Talk, Real Laughs, Real Lessons Whether you’re an agent, a business owner, or just someone trying to navigate relationships, reputation and revenue - this episode is full of raw, practical takeaways. It’s also full of warmth, wit and that unmistakable energy that happens when two people love what they do (and each other - most days). 🎧 Tune in now for a masterclass in culture-led agency, delivered by two people who live it every day. #VikingChats #LianaLoportoBrowne #OllieBrowne #CouplesInProperty #LettingsLeadership #CultureFirstAgency #EstateAgencyWithHeart #KristjanChats #NoFluffJustFacts Send us Fan Mail

    1h 11m

  6. FEB 4

    Mintz Condition: Property, Podcasts & Saying What Needs to Be Said

    This week’s Viking Chat is full of big energy, blunt truths, and a big dose of Northern charm - because joining Kristjan is none other than David Mintz. If you’re in agency and haven’t come across David yet, you’re in for a treat. Co-host of the brilliantly unpredictable Kerfuffle Podcast, long-standing estate and letting agent, and self-confessed industry “agent provocateur,” David brings charisma, candour and more quotables than your average awards dinner. This episode is about more than lettings - it’s about how to lead with personality, build real client loyalty, and still have fun doing the job 20+ years in. Here’s what we cover: 🏡 From Listings to Loudmouth (In the Best Way) David shares how his career began, what’s kept him hooked on agency through boom, bust and burnout, and why your local reputation still matters more than your logo. 🎤 Podcasting, Provoking & Punchlines As co-host of Kerfuffle, David knows how to walk the line between irreverent and insightful. He shares behind-the-scenes moments, the catharsis of unfiltered chat, and why humour is a better culture-builder than any mission statement. 🤝 Lettings with Laughter, Loyalty & Legacy We get into the real stuff - what it means to stick around in this industry, why some agents have it and some don’t, and how being unapologetically yourself can be your biggest brand asset. Expect: Cautionary tales and comedy goldBrutally honest takes on PropTech, portals and peopleSurprising reflections on kindness, connection and showing up with consistency💬 Mintz-isms That’ll Make You Snort-Laugh From “never trust an agent with no opinions” to “the CRM isn’t broken, you just never learned to use it,” this episode is packed with one-liners that are funny because they’re true. David’s a natural storyteller, a master of banter - and beneath the laughs, a real advocate for doing this job with pride, patience and personality. 🎧 Tune in now. It’s got heart, hustle, and more sass than a morning team meeting on a Monday. #VikingChats #DavidMintz #KerfufflePodcast #LettingsLife #AgencyUnfiltered #PropertyLeadership #KristjanChats #EstateAge Send us Fan Mail

    1h 21m

  7. JAN 29

    Not Just a PropTech: Why Street Group Thinks Like a Tech Giant – with Stella Nicol

    What happens when a psychology student-turned-estate agent walks into the fast-evolving world of proptech? You get Stella Nicol- former Reeds Rains branch manager, Barrett New Homes sales manager, Spectre pioneer, and now one of the longest-standing team members at Street Group. In this episode of The Viking Chats, Kristjan catches up with Stella for an honest, often hilarious, and always insightful deep dive into her journey from negotiating viewings in Chester to helping build one of the UK’s most admired proptech powerhouses. From her early days “nosying around” homes and flipping through Cheshire Life for kitchen inspiration, Stella shares how her passion for property collided with a career-defining moment: cold-calling Street Group co-founder Heather Staff to ask for a job she wasn’t even interviewed for (bold move… that paid off). We unpack: The highs, lows, and total madness of front-line agency life- from dealing with the Northern Rock queues outside the office window to managing across multiple branches during the LSL takeoverHow growing up in and around homes- derelict bakeries, building sites and French vineyards- informed Stella’s love for property long before Rightmove existedHer transition from high-pressure new homes sales to tech startup life, and what it meant to be one of just five people in the early days of Spectre, when the product was a game-changer and the job was... everythingThe real difference between agents who "list" and agents who "sell"- and how a personal family experience showed just how vast the gap between an average and exceptional agent can be (yes, a shoutout to Vicky Bibiris and the Brickworks team!)Why second-time vendors and landlords with ‘burn scars’ from bad agents are the most valuable leads you’ll ever win- and how Street Group’s data proves itThe surprisingly tech-first culture of Street Group- why it feels like a genuine Silicon Valley SaaS startup that just happens to sell to agents, and how that cultural clarity drives both product development and people growthThe magic of Heather Staff and Tom Staff’s leadership- including the values, openness and obsessive customer focus that make Street a genuinely special place to work (and the largest proptech engineering team in the UK!)We also delve into the upcoming Women in Estate Agency "Not A Conference", and why it's one of the most important (and empowering) events in the industry calendar- for men and women alike. Kristjan reflects on how attending the event as a male founder, boss and father has opened his eyes to the challenges, strength, and perseverance of women across the property industry. If you’re in agency, tech, or simply trying to build a better culture in your business—this is a masterclass in passion, perspective, and purposeful growth. 🎧 Tune in for unfiltered laughs, powerful insights, and why confidence, culture and code are reshaping the future of agency. Send us Fan Mail

    1h 7m

  8. JAN 26

    From Silicon Valley to Street Smarts: Neal Bawa on Data, Development & Doing It Differently

    🎙 The Viking Chats – From Silicon Valley to Street Smarts: Neal Bawa on Data, Development & Doing It Differently This week on The Viking Chats, we go global - quite literally - as Neal Bawa, one of America’s most well-known (and polarising) data-driven real estate investors, joins Kristjan for a cross-Atlantic conversation packed with eyebrow-raising stats, uncomfortable truths, and big lessons for the UK property industry. Neal isn’t your typical investor. He’s a self-proclaimed tech geek, former Silicon Valley exec, and now the founder of Grocapitus and Multifamily University - with over $1B in active real estate projects under his belt. But he doesn’t just build properties - he builds algorithms, models and machine-learning tools that tell him exactly what, where and when to invest. And spoiler alert: he doesn’t trust anyone who invests “off gut feel.” In this fast-paced, unfiltered and sometimes jaw-dropping chat, we cover: The five-year rule that underpins every single investment decision Neal makes - and why if you’re not working to a defined hold horizon, you’re already on the back footWhy 50% of US investors are quietly exiting the market - and what the smart 10% are doing insteadThe real impact of AI on housing and development, including how Grocapitus is using generative models to identify micro-neighbourhoods years before they boomWhat the UK gets wrong about housing policy - including why Neal sees Build to Rent as the most undervalued (and poorly executed) asset class in the UKA withering takedown of poor tax incentives, weak innovation, and the British obsession with owning old homesHow international investors assess UK lettings - and why many are quietly turning their backs on outdated systems, tenant law instability and opaque regulationBut this episode isn’t all critique. Neal offers a hopeful, structured alternative for how the UK can course-correct - and how data, tech and smarter regulation could unlock not just housing supply, but long-term investor confidence. We also get personal: Neal shares how growing up in India shaped his view on housing securityThe moment he realised “playing it safe” would never build legacy wealthWhy he believes UK agents and landlords are woefully under-leveraging the power of dataThis episode will challenge your thinking - whether you’re a letting agent, investor, policy maker or simply someone trying to make sense of housing in a post-COVID, AI-disrupted world. It’s a no-fluff, high-signal conversation between two people who care deeply about raising standards in housing - and who believe the tools exist to fix the system. But only if we stop clinging to the past. 🎧 Available now wherever you get your podcasts. Because sometimes, the smartest person in the room isn’t the loudest - it’s the one with the spreadsheet. Send us Fan Mail

    33 min
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About

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.

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