For many buyers and renters, the start of 2026 still feels like a balancing act between opportunity and affordability. With interest rates now fluctuating and borrowing costs still elevated compared to previous years, people continue to approach moves cautiously.

The UK Government has published its partial response to the consultation on reforms to the Energy Performance of Buildings regime, confirming a significant overhaul of Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) in England and Wales. Once implemented, domestic EPCs will move to four new headline metrics, whilst non-domestic EPCs will continue to use the existing Environmental Impact Rating. Importantly, certificates will still be valid for 10 years under the new regime.

Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney has pledged £10,000 grants to help first-time buyers onto the housing ladder if the SNP is re-elected on 7 May. While the move signals recognition of affordability pressures, Propertymark believes broader action is still required to address the root causes of the country’s housing crisis.

The Youth Jobs Grant, part of the UK Government’s New Deal for young people, is designed to create thousands of jobs and apprenticeships , with estate and letting agencies eligible benefitting from financial support. The scheme forms part of a wider employment drive to unlock opportunities for the next generation, with a focus on supporting businesses to take on younger workers and invest in skills.

The Renters’ Rights Act directly addresses rental discrimination practices, and the UK and Scottish governments have worked closely to extend these protections to Scotland. The new rules make it illegal for landlords and letting agents to disadvantage prospective or existing tenants because they have children or receive benefits.

Prioritising clear, proactive communication, ensuring transparent agreements and fees, and keeping robust records of actions and transactions are the top ways agents can reduce the likelihood of complaints escalating to formal disputes in an increasingly regulated housing market. The findings from The Property Ombudsman (TPO) reinforce the value of strong training, clear processes, and high service standards in maintaining trust with consumers and protecting the reputation of the sector.

Consultation on proposed updates to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) aims to ensure planning decisions better reflect Local Plans across England. Propertymark’s response emphasises that policy must focus on delivering the homes people actually need, supported by infrastructure, clear guidance, and stronger safeguards to ensure developers fulfil their commitments.

With elections to the Senedd approaching, we have set out clear priorities for the next Welsh Government to support a stable, professional and sustainable housing sector. Our new manifesto, published in Welsh and English, outlines practical steps to increase supply, raise standards and support property professionals, while ensuring consumers are protected.

With Holyrood elections set for 7 May 2026 and a national housing emergency declared in 2024, we have set out what the next Scottish Government must do to support a stable, affordable and functioning property market. Our manifesto focuses on practical reforms that increase supply, improve affordability and strengthen professional standards — shaped directly by member insight.

Recent headlines may have made fraud sound like a fast-growing threat across the whole market; however, HM Land Registry’s own figures show that in 2024–25 it received 4,429,092 applications to create or update the register and identified only 86 as fraudulent, or just over 0.0019 per cent. Even so, the sums involved can be significant. In the same year, HM Land Registry says it prevented the registration of fraudulent applications against more than £59 million worth of property.

The Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee is examining whether the Draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill will strengthen the rights of leaseholders and effectively pave the way for commonhold in practice. We’ve provided written evidence, based on feedback from members, which focuses on the areas where change is most urgently needed to support agents and consumers and create a housing market that functions more effectively.

The 2025 data reveal a sharp rise in consumer complaints across the property sector, with a 47% increase compared with 2024 and a 77% rise since 2023. While many cases are resolved quickly, the figures highlight the types of issues that most often lead to disputes and where improvements can help prevent problems from escalating.

Reforms coming into force during 2026, following the Employment Rights Act 2025, will affect recruitment, staff management, and workplace policies across the UK, including in property agencies. With many firms employing a mix of negotiators, property managers, administrative staff, and apprentices, understanding the changes early will help agencies remain compliant and continue to operate effectively.

Whilst nothing significant was delivered defining housing policy, the statement set the tone for future decisions. Yet, without sustained, targeted support for housing, the underlying pressures in the property market will remain. Transactions depend on confidence, investment depends on stability, and supply depends on a coherent long-term strategy.

The evidence that underpins the policy has been criticised by the Regulatory Policy Committee as not fit for purpose, with concerns raised about whether it can genuinely drive improvements in housing quality across the private rented sector (PRS). As the UK Government considers extending and reforming the DHS, it is vital that policymakers recognise a simple truth: standards alone will not improve homes unless they are enforceable, understood and supported by a professional, regulated sector.

With two months to go until the first changes take effect, letting agents should now be focused on operational readiness. Continuing our support for members, our latest webinar in a long series addressed the issues most frequently raised by agents. These included written information requirements, payment processes, rent increases, possession grounds and internal systems. With early planning, clear documentation and robust processes, agents can approach 1 May 2026 with confidence.