The Viking Chats: Championing Standards and Sanity in Lettings with Nicola Thivessen

In this episode of The Viking Chats, Kristjan Byfield sits down with Nicola Thivessen, Chair of The Lettings Industry Council and a long standing advocate for professionalism and best practice in the lettings industry.

With close to 20 years experience across renewals, compliance and lettings operations, Nicola offers a grounded perspective on how regulation has evolved and why enforcement, clarity and simplicity remain ongoing challenges.

The discussion covers the purpose and work of The Lettings Industry Council, the realities of property licensing, the pressures facing agents and landlords, and why good operators often feel penalised while poor practice persists.

It is an honest and detailed conversation about where the sector is today, what is coming next, and why collaboration across the industry matters more than ever.