Should estate agents have to be licensed?

In most countries Estate Agents or Realtors have to be licensed and have had to achieve a minimum level of competency... but not in this country... Why?
What possible justification can there be for our legislators to allow a situation where a dishonest individual can leave prison on a Monday and on the Tuesday set himself up in business as 'Suckers Welcome Property Services'

Comments

[Rhona]

Good words.

[John Nixon]

You have my vote Sarah...Why is it more important for a Driving Instructor to have to pass a test in order to become qualified to train new drivers but an estate agent, handling my most precious asset is not required to have any training, qualification or other form of assessment of his competency.

[Sarah Williams]

I agree that all agents should be licensed and that an ombudsmen should be able to confiscate the license of those agents about whom complaints of malpractice are upheld.
Why is an untrained, inexperienced and unqualified agent allowed to put a value on my house? I happen to know the current market value of my house but many people don't. An ill-equipped agent could under value someone's home by tens of thousands of pounds, either through ignorance or self-interest eg pocket the commission and run...How can this be acceptable practice?