Propertymark’s response to the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) consultation on reforms to the Energy Performance of Buildings (EPB) regime addresses the wide-ranging proposals, covering changes to Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs), Display Energy Certificates (DECs), and Air Conditioning Inspection Reports (ACIRs). We welcome many of the proposed reforms but have also raised concerns, especially around commercial and heritage buildings and HMOs, and made recommendations to ensure the final policy is fair, practical, and effective.

Jayne Bryant MS, Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government announced that the survey will be undertaken in 2026–27, marking a major step forward in improving housing policy. This is a great campaign win for Propertymark – we have been calling for this for some time, including in evidence to the Senedd’s Local Government and Housing Committee, where we made it clear that without up-to-date and reliable information, ministers can’t make informed decisions that truly reflect what’s happening across Wales.

The property sector has seen a significant regulatory shift with the quiet withdrawal of the National Trading Standards Estate and Letting Agency Team (NTSELAT) Material Information Guidance. This change coincides with the enforcement of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act (DMCC Act) on 6 April 2025 which supersedes the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (CPRs) and has shifted power over consumer protections to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).

The Scottish Government has set out detailed plans to tackle Scotland’s ongoing housing challenges in its Programme for Government 2025-26, with significant implications for property agents across the country. Propertymark welcomes the renewed focus on affordable housing and tenant protections, issues we have consistently highlighted through our policy engagement, particularly with regard to the Housing (Scotland) Bill. However, we reiterate our stance that truly resolving Scotland’s housing crisis requires the Scottish Government to urgently reassess the broader financial landscape affecting housing.

From January 2026, Ofgem will take on regulatory responsibility for heat networks in England, Scotland and Wales, with a remit to protect consumers, support investment in the sector, and help the UK Government achieve its net zero targets. Significant growth in the use of heat networks is being driven by government policy and funding, making it crucial that managing agents, estate and letting agents, and auctioneers are part of the conversation.

As the home finance market grows more complex, estate agents are urged to help educate consumers on their options. Buyers often struggle to understand the range of products available or how affordability is assessed, and property professionals are well placed to guide clients towards independent advice and trusted resources.

Three new museums are set to join the list of bodies that can advise the Animal and Plant Health Agency on applications for exemption certificates under the Ivory Act 2018. If an owner wants to sell ivory-containing items which were made before 1918 and are of outstandingly high artistic, cultural, or historic value, they must be expertly assessed by recognised institutions.

A major consultation for a new Land Use Framework aims to balance the need for 1.5 million new homes, expansion of energy infrastructure, and the creation of new towns, alongside the protection of the environment and the transition to a low-carbon economy. Propertymark supports a balanced approach to changes in land use, however, we believe the UK Government has significantly underestimated the land required for residential development.

Plans are afoot to strengthen HMRC (HM Revenue and Customs) to act quickly and robustly against professional tax advisers who help clients avoid paying the correct tax. Propertymark welcomes this because it aligns with our calls to the Treasury, and we support HMRC’s ambition to ensure the financial sector upholds the highest standards and integrity of the tax system.

US trade tariffs are shifting global auction dynamics, and UK auctioneers are being drawn into the ripple effects of international policy. While these measures are largely designed to protect US industries from Chinese competition, they’ve also had knock-on effects on transatlantic trade, complicating the movement of goods and altering buyer behaviour in ways that UK auction businesses are starting to feel. So, how can UK auctioneers respond with confidence to a changing market?

The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act (DMCC Act) was enacted on 24 May 2024 and provides regulation of competition in digital markets, amending the Competition Act 1998 and the Enterprise Act 2002 and encompassing the protection of consumer rights and other related rights.

Extensive revisions have been announced to the proposed Bill, which is designed to transition Scotland's buildings to cleaner heating systems and improve energy efficiency. Following consultations, including substantial input from Propertymark, the Scottish Government is now committed to developing a more balanced approach that aligns environmental objectives with economic realities.

The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act (DMCC), which passed into law on 24 May 2024, contains provisions to prohibit unfair commercial practices, replacing and updating the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (the 2008 regulations). The legislation hands direct enforcement powers to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), giving them the authority to act on breaches of consumer protection rules, including requirements for providing material information.

The new logo will be exclusively available to those who take up a new Company Advantage package, signalling to prospective clients that a business has successfully achieved accreditation. In research independently conducted by YouGov, consumers overwhelmingly chose the wording that would make them want to engage and instruct.