Upward-only rent reviews will be outlawed in new leases across England and Wales under the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill. Concerns have been raised by the sector about how this move could affect property values and investor confidence. Plus, a shift of this magnitude requires careful implementation to prevent unintended consequences for future development and commercial supply.

Our robust response to the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee consultation on sanctions scrutiny outlines the disparity between the sanctions and anti-money laundering (AML) regimes and underscores the necessity for clearer, more consistent regulations and stronger UK Government support for letting agents navigating complex obligations. Implementing our recommendations will bolster compliance, protect agents, and significantly reduce the risk of economic crime in the UK property sector.

In a significant policy announcement on 15 July 2025, Chancellor Rachel Reeves, MP, unveiled plans to enhance homeownership opportunities across the UK by providing government backing to lenders who offer mortgages with deposits as low as 5%. By making this scheme permanent, the UK Government aims to stabilise the housing market and assist more people in becoming homeowners.

Propertymark has responded to the UK Government’s consultation on Reforming Site Thresholds, a key element of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s wider planning reform agenda. The proposed reforms aim to simplify the planning system and ease regulatory barriers for small to medium-sized housing developments, which will help more homes to be built in a shorter timeframe.

The Social and Affordable Homes Programme, as outlined in the June 2025 Spending Review, has been announced, which will see 300,000 homes delivered across England, with at least 60% for social rent.

Reforms include longer tenancy requirements, reduced discounts, and new protections to improve delivery, reduce fraud, and help councils replace the homes they lose have been announced by the UK Government following a consultation period.

All new tenancies in England will become open-ended periodic tenancies with a rent period not exceeding a month, with existing tenancies converted, too. Landlords will no longer be able to serve a Section 21 or old-style Section 8 notices to evict tenants, ending fixed-term contracts and overturning decades of rental practice.

A new Building Safety (Wales) Bill has been introduced in the Senedd that includes wide-ranging reforms to improve the safety of flats and other multi-occupied residential buildings, with guidance expected later this year.

Sweeping changes have been announced in a bid to accelerate housebuilding and clear the backlog of stalled high-rise projects, with updated operational guidance expected in the Autumn alongside further steps to establish the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) as a standalone construction regulator.

Propertymark has welcomed Ofgem’s proposals to improve transparency and implement fair pricing protections for heat network customers, but warns that implementation must consider the operational realities of managing agents and ensure true consumer fairness.

A record £7.9 billion has been committed over ten years to protect hundreds of thousands of homes, small businesses, and vital infrastructure from the growing threat of flooding. From high-performance flood barriers to nature-based solutions like wetland restoration, the programme will deliver long-term protection for communities and strengthen local economies, delivering on the UK Government’s Plan for Change.

The House of Lords has backed a series of amendments to the Renters’ Rights Bill, delivering key wins for Propertymark’s campaigning to create a fair, practical and professional private rented sector. Among the positive changes passed were pet damage deposits, expanded student tenancy protections, mandatory post-legislative reviews, and a new measure enabling Primary Authority assured advice for letting agents under the Tenant Fees Act.

The proposals included will apply to both the social and private rented sectors in England so that all homes are free from damp, mould, and other hazards. The consultation, launched on 2 July 2025, also covers how local authorities would enforce the new standard and includes a proposal that it becomes an enforceable requirement in privately rented homes from 2035 or 2037.

The UK and Welsh Governments have, today, 4 July 2025, launched a two-part consultation that includes proposals seeking to hold landlords and managing agents to account — Strengthening Leaseholder Protections Over Charges and Services.

The UK Government has unveiled major initiatives in its Modern Industrial Strategy that will significantly influence the housing supply and overall property market, signalling huge opportunities and implications for our members. Proper consultation and partnership will be key to delivering genuine benefits, and we remain committed to providing representation to ensure the best outcomes for agents and the wider property market.

Propertymark has responded to the Senedd Local Government and Housing Committee’s consultation on the Homelessness and Social Housing Allocation (Wales) Bill, warning that the legislation’s success will depend on adequate funding, cross-sector collaboration, and clear implementation plans.