Propertymark Updates Lone-Working Safety Guidance for Estate Agents — 40 Years After Suzy Lamplugh's Disappearance
The Negotiator · David Callaghan · 7 August 2026
TL;DR
Propertymark has released updated lone-working guidance for estate agents, timed to mark 40 years since Suzy Lamplugh disappeared during a property viewing in London in 1986. Her case prompted the founding of the Suzy Lamplugh Trust and remains a defining moment in property industry safety awareness. The new guidance urges agencies to conduct formal risk assessments covering factors such as isolated locations, poor mobile coverage, out-of-hours appointments, and unexpected attendees. It recommends that frontline staff help shape procedures, receive conflict-management training, and that all agencies maintain a reliable check-in system recording where lone workers are, who they are meeting, and when they are expected to report back. ARLA Propertymark President Kim Lidbury noted the issue extends well beyond property.
Our take
While this guidance originates in the UK, it carries direct relevance for South African estate agents and rental professionals. Lone viewings — often conducted by a single agent showing an unfamiliar property to an unverified prospect — remain a routine but under-regulated practice locally. South African agents operate under the EAAB's code of conduct, but there is no equivalent national lone-working standard. This guidance offers a practical framework that local principals and agency owners can adapt immediately: formalise risk assessments, implement a check-in protocol, and ensure staff are trained to recognise warning signs and exit safely. For agents working in areas with poor signal or conducting after-hours viewings, these steps are not optional extras — they are basic duty of care. Landlords and sellers should also consider whether their appointed agents have documented safety procedures in place; it is a fair question to ask before signing a mandate. Safety culture starts at the top of every agency.
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