Housing Insight Report: March 2026

Cyber crime incidents can impact property businesses of all sizes. A lack of cyber security can leave firms vulnerable to substantial losses and the impact can be huge and long lasting. Even using third-party hosting companies or sites doesn't remove the risk of exposure to crime and subsequent liabilities. Propertymark industry supplier, Gallagher, explains the steps property agents can take to prevent and manage risk.

Major changes to the financial rights of married and cohabiting couples when relationships end are being considered by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). Proposed reforms cover divorce and dissolution, cohabitants who separate, and inheritance when an unmarried partner dies without a will. A clearer framework is welcome, but courts must consider housing needs, individual circumstances, and each person’s contribution.

The UK Government intends to begin a regional rollout of a Private Rented Sector (PRS) Database in England from late 2026. Its legal framework is already in the Renters’ Rights Act 2025; but questions remain about how the system will work, what information users must provide, and how much time agents and landlords will have to prepare. The final design must reflect how agencies operate to avoid adding a significant new layer of data entry, checks, and liability to every instruction.

Revenue Scotland has refreshed its guidance on how Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) applies to leases. The update does not introduce new tax rules but provides a useful reminder that further returns may be required when a lease is reviewed, varied, assigned or ended. By treating LBTT as an ongoing responsibility, rather than a one-off task at the start of a lease, property professionals can support compliance by building tax prompts into their lease processes.