Property industry news

Letting agents and property managers will be able to submit and update certain property details on behalf of landlords through England’s new ‘Register your rental property’ service. Guidance published on 29 October 2026 explains how this will work, who is responsible, and how teams can prepare before the service launches in December.

Landlords face a further rise in property income tax from April 2027, while first-time buyers will gain access to a new £4.7 billion equity loan scheme. Chancellor John Healey’s Budget, delivered on 28 October 2026, also sets out more funding for affordable homes, changes to business rates and further details of the council tax surcharge on high-value properties.

Launched in October 1996, buy-to-let followed several years of work by ARLA (now ARLA Propertymark), its members, and established UK banks and mortgage lenders. Their aim was to create finance that reflected the needs of landlords and the income generated by rented homes. Three decades on, the anniversary is also an opportunity to consider how agents, lenders, and policymakers can support investment in good-quality rental homes.

Local authorities in England will be able to apply for Empty Dwelling Management Orders (EDMOs) for homes left empty for six months, rather than two years, from 5 November 2026. This is a positive move, although EDMOs should be used only as a last resort. The measures could be enhanced by adding a requirement for local authorities to consult a qualified agent to speed up the process of returning stock to the market.

We have taken our campaign to unlock empty homes directly to the Senedd, urging policymakers to widen access to funding, recognise private landlords as housing providers, and assess whether council tax premiums are bringing properties back into use. In an evidence session on 21 October 2026, our Head of Policy and Campaigns, Timothy Douglas, highlighted the need for practical support for owners, better housing data, and properly funded local authority teams.

Survivors could gain stronger rights to remain in their social homes whilst their abuser is removed under new proposals in the Social Housing Bill, which aims to protect social housing stock in England, support investment, and improve security for tenants. The Bill is progressing through the parliamentary process and could become law in the first half of 2027.

Established six months ago following an extensive selection process, Propertymark’s Regulatory Board brings together leading expertise in professional regulation, consumer protection, governance, and the property sector, including individuals with experience at some of the UK’s most respected regulatory organisations.

Tenants and leaseholders in England could gain a clearer route to installing electric vehicle (EV) charge points under ‘ability to charge’ proposals, which aim to make permissions quicker and more consistent. A new UK Government consultation focuses on homes with off-street parking, including rented, leasehold, and shared ownership properties.

Applications are open for REACH UK’s 2027 program, which supports technology businesses tackling challenges across the property sector. Propertymark’s relationship with REACH goes back to its UK launch in 2020, and we’re encouraging members to share the opportunity with businesses developing tools that could improve how property professionals work.

The UK Government aims to deliver new legislation which speeds up the removal of unsafe cladding, strengthens enforcement against those delaying work, and gives public authorities powers to step in when remediation stalls. For managing agents, the proposals could bring greater scrutiny of assessments, project progress, and communication with residents.

New evidence that pensioners are going without food and heating adds greater urgency to our longstanding call for the UK Government to re-link Local Housing Allowance (LHA) to market rents. At the Autumn Budget on 28 October 2026, the Chancellor must restore rates to cover at least the cheapest 30% of local rents, backed by annual increases to prevent support from falling behind again.

The UK Government has opened a consultation on extending Awaab’s Law to private rented homes in England. Rather than placing new duties on landlords to carry out repairs, the proposals set clear legal expectations about the timeframes within which homes must be made safe if they contain serious hazards, while also empowering private renters to challenge dangerous conditions. Propertymark is calling on members to get involved in our work to ensure proportionate regulations packaged with meaningful support for agents and their landlords.