Compliance Café: Anti-Money Laundering (part 1)

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.

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.

A series of enforcement actions relating to licensing breaches, overcrowding, poor property management, and failures to comply with regulatory requirements present a cautionary tale for both agents and landlords. The Renters’ Rights Act has strengthened many of the consequences of non-compliance, whilst local authorities continue to take a firm approach and are increasingly willing to use substantial financial penalties where standards fall short.

Landlords and sole traders already using Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax must send their second quarterly update to HMRC by 7 November 2026. The rules will extend to more people from April 2027, so letting agents can help landlord clients prepare now.