Our ongoing support for members
Adherence to CMP rules remains a non-negotiable element of professional practice, and we remain committed to helping our members meet their obligations, reduce risk, and build trust with landlords and tenants.
- Our Compliance Team is available to answer questions and help clarify requirements.
- Our CMP scheme offers financial protection in line with legal requirements — for many members, this is the most straightforward route to compliance.
- We encourage all members to treat CMP compliance not as a paperwork burden, but as an essential safeguard and a mark of professionalism.
If any member has questions about their CMP status, needs help to renew, or wants guidance on best practice for client money management, please get in touch with the Propertymark Compliance Team.
Client Money Protection campaign
We have led the campaign for mandatory Client Money Protection to protect landlords and tenants should an agent misappropriate their rent, deposit or other client funds.
What was Operation Jupiter?
From June 2022 to June 2025, 12 local authorities took part in a coordinated push to identify and tackle letting agents failing to comply with legal requirements around client money protection (CMP), redress scheme membership and transparency.
The project ran in phases: first focusing on data collection, guidance and advice; then moving to enforcement. Notices of intent and final enforcement notices were issued where agents lacked CMP, failed to display valid certificates, or neglected to obtain redress membership. In total, CEnTSA issued 131 enforcement notices over the period.
CEnTSA say the work has created a “blueprint” for other local authority areas to follow, giving them clear processes for identifying non-compliance, and power to issue penalties under existing regulations.
The legal position
Since 1 April 2019, it has been a legal requirement for agents in England who handle client money to join a government-approved CMP scheme. Client money includes rent, tenant deposits (before deposit protection elsewhere), service charges, and any other funds held on behalf of clients.
Under the rules, agents must:
- Join an approved CMP scheme.
- Hold client funds in a segregated client money account with a UK bank or building society.
- Display their CMP certificate visibly in any office where they deal face-to-face with clients, publish it on their website, and provide a copy free of charge on request.
- Notify clients if their CMP membership changes.
Failing to comply may result in penalties: authorities can impose fines of up to £30,000 for not belonging to CMP, and up to £5,000 for failing to meet transparency obligations (e.g. not displaying a certificate).
Operation Jupiter demonstrates that this isn’t just a compliance formality — it’s vital protection for tenants and landlords against financial risk.
Best practice checklist for CMP compliance
To avoid being caught out and to protect your clients, make sure you:
- Maintain valid CMP membership — either via Propertymark or another approved scheme.
- Keep client money in a properly designated, segregated client account.
- Display your CMP certificate clearly at all offices and publish it on your website. Be ready to provide a copy on request, free of charge. .
- Issue written notifications to clients if your CMP scheme changes or membership is revoked.
- Stay on top of renewals — including your annual levy (where applicable), and submission of any required accountants’ reports or health checks.
Client Money Protection (CMP)
Client Money Protection (CMP) is a scheme that reimburses landlords and tenants should an agent misappropriate rent, deposit or other client funds.
