How to comply with the Money Laundering Regulations (estate agents)

The Building Safety Levy (England) Regulations 2025 have been laid before Parliament, marking a significant step in the UK Government’s ongoing effort to secure swift remediation of buildings with historical safety defects. Subject to approval, the Levy will be charged to developers and used to pay for the remediation of building safety defects, protecting leaseholders from those costs, and is expected to raise £3.5 billion over ten years.

194 agents have incurred penalties totalling over £1 million for breaches identified by HM Revenue and Customs between October 2024 and March 2025. The vast majority are a result of failing to register for Anti-Money Laundering (AML) supervision on time – the most common reason agents are fined. This highlights how important it is for property professionals to understand the rules, apply correctly, and maintain an up-to-date registration with HMRC.

Our robust response to the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee consultation on sanctions scrutiny outlines the disparity between the sanctions and anti-money laundering (AML) regimes and underscores the necessity for clearer, more consistent regulations and stronger UK Government support for letting agents navigating complex obligations. Implementing our recommendations will bolster compliance, protect agents, and significantly reduce the risk of economic crime in the UK property sector.

With rising enforcement by HMRC and an increase in consumer complaints to The Property Ombudsman (TPO), the risks to property businesses from non-compliance are growing fast. At the same time, complexity and the pace of change are escalating; rules around financial sanctions reporting, material information, and unfair commercial practices have shifted in recent weeks, and for the lettings sector, the implementation of the Renters’ Rights Bill is rapidly approaching.