HM Land Registry (HMLR) is consulting on changes to how people access land ownership information in England and Wales. The proposals cover new datasets, free access to some information and safeguards to protect individuals.

HM Land Registry (HMLR) is consulting on a restructured fee model in England and Wales aimed at reducing calculation errors and avoidable delays as part of a wider drive for more efficient public services. The proposals would leave some customers paying more and others less.

Lower property taxes, faster tribunal decisions, and support to improve homes must be central to Scotland’s 2027–28 Budget. We recognise the pressure on public finances. However, raising taxes further risks holding back growth and adding to the escalating costs for landlords, tenants, and homeowners.

Landlords face a further rise in property income tax from April 2027, while first-time buyers will gain access to a new £4.7 billion equity loan scheme. Chancellor John Healey’s Budget, delivered on 28 October 2026, also sets out more funding for affordable homes, changes to business rates and further details of the council tax surcharge on high-value properties.

Local authorities in England will be able to apply for Empty Dwelling Management Orders (EDMOs) for homes left empty for six months, rather than two years, from 5 November 2026. This is a positive move, although EDMOs should be used only as a last resort. The measures could be enhanced by adding a requirement for local authorities to consult a qualified agent to speed up the process of returning stock to the market.

We have taken our campaign to unlock empty homes directly to the Senedd, urging policymakers to widen access to funding, recognise private landlords as housing providers, and assess whether council tax premiums are bringing properties back into use. In an evidence session on 21 October 2026, our Head of Policy and Campaigns, Timothy Douglas, highlighted the need for practical support for owners, better housing data, and properly funded local authority teams.

Established six months ago following an extensive selection process, Propertymark’s Regulatory Board brings together leading expertise in professional regulation, consumer protection, governance, and the property sector, including individuals with experience at some of the UK’s most respected regulatory organisations.

Tenants and leaseholders in England could gain a clearer route to installing electric vehicle (EV) charge points under ‘ability to charge’ proposals, which aim to make permissions quicker and more consistent. A new UK Government consultation focuses on homes with off-street parking, including rented, leasehold, and shared ownership properties.

Applications are open for REACH UK’s 2027 program, which supports technology businesses tackling challenges across the property sector. Propertymark’s relationship with REACH goes back to its UK launch in 2020, and we’re encouraging members to share the opportunity with businesses developing tools that could improve how property professionals work.

The UK Government aims to deliver new legislation which speeds up the removal of unsafe cladding, strengthens enforcement against those delaying work, and gives public authorities powers to step in when remediation stalls. For managing agents, the proposals could bring greater scrutiny of assessments, project progress, and communication with residents.

The capital’s draft planning strategy proposes more than half a million new homes over ten years, alongside investment in infrastructure, commercial space, and greener neighbourhoods. We support these ambitions, but our members’ experience across London’s property sectors highlights the gap between identifying land for housing and delivering homes that can be financed, built, and occupied. We have called for a more practical approach to delivery that gives greater recognition to the role of the private rented sector and existing buildings.

Buyers in England could soon be presented with standardised upfront information about how a property would cope with flooding, the protection already installed, and recommendations for improvements. The UK Government and Flood Re have announced that the first pilots of the Flood Performance Certificate (FPC) will begin this winter, targeting at-risk areas, with a broader roll-out planned throughout 2027 and beyond.

August’s figures reveal a housing market where activity continues, but buyers are taking a more cautious approach, making realistic pricing and negotiation increasingly important. Meanwhile, growing tenant demand and limited rental supply continue to create challenges across the lettings market, highlighting the different pressures facing buyers, sellers, landlords and renters.

Housing was firmly at the centre of this year's political conference season, with the major parties setting out competing visions for home ownership, renting, planning reform and economic growth. While Labour's position as the party of government meant it made announcements with the most immediate implications, conferences across the political spectrum provided important insight into how housing policy may evolve in the coming years.

Once implemented, the Building Safety (Wales) Act 2026 will introduce a new regime for assessing and managing building safety risks in multi-occupied buildings, led by a designated local authority in each of Wales’s three fire and rescue authority areas. The success of the regional Building Safety Authorities (BSAs) will depend on sufficient resources, clear guidance, and meaningful engagement with property and managing agents to support a consistent approach across Wales.

Party Leader Zack Polanski's speech and wider conference policy discussions have outlined a series of housing and property proposals, including plans for a three-year cap on private rents, increased investment in social housing, and wider reforms aimed at addressing housing affordability. Propertymark supports policies that improve access to safe, secure, and affordable housing. However, we continue to oppose rent control measures that risk serious unintended consequences for people seeking suitable homes.