Harriet Heylen

With a broad technical grounding across all elements of the rural market and direct exposure to complex estate management, she provides commercially focused advice and a deep understanding of agricultural economics. Harriet combines high-level expertise, strategic thinking and personal accountability, adhering to recognised professional standards while building strong personal connections with clients and delivering outcomes that are commercially focused and practically grounded.

Before joining Strutt & Parker, Harriet completed a BSc (Hons) in Real Estate at the University of Reading – a course widely regarded for the depth and breadth of its material and the quality of its teaching. Rather than following a rural-specific route, Harriet deliberately chose a broader programme to develop knowledge across all elements of the market, recognising early that diversification of farms and rural assets was becoming increasingly important to the long-term sustainability of estates.

Since joining S&P in September 2022, Harriet has been exposed to a large variety of instructions across the rural sector. She has developed a thorough understanding of the inner workings of a rural estate and, drawing on her valuation background, is well-placed to provide commercial advice to clients seeking to improve the management and income of their land.

Day-to-day, Harriet supports Directors across their roles and provides training and practical experience to junior members of the team. She advises management clients on leasing and letting of their portfolio with a particular focus on commercial lettings in rural settings and leads on valuations of rural estates and businesses.

Harriet works with a range of clients including institutional clients such as Councils, private clients, banks, and some charities. Her work typically spans leasing and letting, landlord and tenant liaison, project appraisals and property management. In recent years, she has worked closely with clients on improving and developing diversified income streams, including commercial lettings of agricultural buildings in response to the instability created in farming markets by wet drilling, dry springs, and reductions in government subsidies.