Property industry news

The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) has announced a new improvement plan to accelerate remediation works on higher-risk buildings (HRBs) across England to tackle ongoing delays in the approvals process. A series of operational changes designed to reduce application backlogs, improve decision times, and support higher-quality submissions from industry have been included.

Policymakers in Northern Ireland must ensure landlords can regain possession of their properties efficiently, following the Department for Communities (DfC) proposals to increase standard notice periods for tenants to up to six months, alongside exemptions where shorter notice periods would still apply.

For over two million non-domestic properties across England, new rateable values have come into effect from 1 April 2026, marking the start of the latest three-year business rates cycle that will run until March 2029 and is expected to have significant implications for commercial property agents, landlords, and tenants navigating changing market conditions.

The Interim Measures Alarm Fund (IMAF) is designed to improve resident safety while reducing the financial burden on leaseholders in buildings awaiting remediation. The fund marks a continuation—and expansion—of efforts to address building safety following the Grenfell Tower tragedy, while also aligning with long-standing industry calls, including Propertymark’s campaigning, for practical and cost-effective interim safety solutions.

If a tenant raises a formal complaint about something that happened eighteen months into their tenancy, what would a typical property record show? Not what the agent remembers. Not what the landlord believes happened. What the documentation can prove, line by line, date by date. Propertymark Industry Supplier, Inventory Base, explores why this question matters now, in ways it never has before.

Tackling empty homes is a practical and achievable way to increase housing supply without relying solely on new development. By combining stronger local action, targeted incentives, and clearer national direction, governments can unlock the potential of existing housing stock and support more people into secure homes.

Delays in the court system continue to undermine the private rented sector, with new figures reinforcing long-standing concerns raised by Propertymark about access to justice for landlords and agents. Recent data highlights severe and ongoing delays in possession proceedings, with cases taking many months to conclude, reflecting a wider trend that is damaging confidence in the sector.

The Welsh Government has set out plans to change how Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) are treated for council tax, confirming that property owners, not tenants, will remain liable and that properties will be valued as a single dwelling. The move brings greater consistency to the system and aligns Wales more closely with the approach already taken in England.

Propertymark welcomes the tougher standards from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), which place stricter responsibilities on energy suppliers to fix faulty meters, improving reliability for households and supporting smoother tenancy management.

The appointees join the board after an intensive and robust recruitment process. The Trust is the official charity of Propertymark, supporting estate and letting agents through life’s toughest moments.

The proposals form part of a wider ambition to accelerate housebuilding and tackle long-standing shortages, with large-scale developments expected to play a central role in delivering new homes and infrastructure. For property agents, these proposals signal continued focus on boosting supply, but also reinforce the need for practical, deliverable solutions that can bring homes to market more quickly

Propertymark is inviting member agents to apply for a place on the REACH UK Agent Advisory Board, offering a direct role in shaping and testing the next generation of property technology. The Board builds on a proven model that gives agents early access to emerging solutions and the opportunity to influence how they are developed and deployed in real agency settings.