Dr. Rock & The Rise of Agentic AI: Neil Cobbold Unplugged

In this electric episode of The Viking Chats, Kristjan Byfield is joined by none other than Neil Cobbold—industry heavyweight, tech evangelist, landlord, Drum & Bass DJ, and true rock superfan—to unpack what’s really going on behind the scenes in UK lettings, PropTech, and beyond.

You might know Neil as the Managing Director of Reapit, or from his long tenure as the voice of PayProp. But in true Viking Chats fashion, we go way deeper than job titles. From sleepless DJ gigs to serious property pain points, Neil brings his full self to the mic in a conversation that blends insight, rebellion, humour, and some honest-to-goodness truth bombs about the current state of our sector.

Kristjan and Neil get into:

• Agentic AI: What it actually is, and why it could change how lettings agencies operate at a core level—whether you're ready or not.
• The reality behind digital transformation in lettings—why it’s more than PDFs and e-signatures, and how it's reshaping compliance, communication and cost.
• The problem with policy: how clunky regulation and slow reform are throttling innovation, and what agents need to do to keep ahead of shifting sands.
• Neil’s surprisingly personal take on mental health, self-worth, and rediscovering creativity beyond corporate confines.
• How his musical alter ego, Dr. Rock, keeps him grounded, curious, and just a little bit dangerous.
• Why the lettings industry still struggles with trust and perception, and what it’ll take to rebuild confidence from landlords, tenants and the wider public.

More than just a tech or policy chat, this episode becomes a deeply human look at what it means to be in property today. Neil shares stories from his early days in agency life, his experiences growing (and fixing) big teams, and the sometimes bruising—but always revealing—lessons that come with driving change in an industry that often resists it.

There’s also plenty of trademark Viking wit, fierce debate about the future of AI in property, and a call to arms for agents, landlords and suppliers alike: evolve or become irrelevant.

This episode is a must-listen for:

• Letting agents who want to understand the real implications of AI, automation and digital workflows (without the fluff).
• Landlords and property investors curious about what all this tech change means for them—and how to spot agents who are keeping pace.
• PropTech innovators and suppliers who want a blunt but insightful view of what’s working, what’s not, and where real opportunity lies.
• And anyone who likes their property chat with a healthy dose of basslines, brainpower and brutal honesty.

Whether you're a die-hard techie, an old-school agent, or somewhere in between—Neil Cobbold brings the clarity, credibility and character to shake up your view of where property is headed.

Get ready for riffs, reforms, and a few revelations. The Viking Chats are back—and they’ve never sounded quite like this.

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