The UK Government’s Affordable Homes Programme annual report 2024 to 2025 underlines a simple truth: affordability won’t improve without more homes being built and a system that helps people move. This is why we’re campaigning for delivery that matches local needs, better mortgage access for first-time buyers, and reforms that reduce the pressure on the whole housing sector.

The UK Government is investing £15 billion and promises a major push to cut bills, tackle fuel poverty, and accelerate home upgrades. In response to our campaigning, the initial 2028 deadline for new tenancies has been scrapped and, with a lower cap amount, property owners will be expected to spend less on upgrades. However, we remain concerned that landlords are being asked to deliver significant change without sustained, targeted support.

The first phase of implementation will happen on 1 May 2026, introducing extensive reforms to the private rented sector. Letting agents play an important role in helping landlords understand and adapt to these changes, while ensuring their agency’s practices are adaptable to new legislation and remain compliant. Propertymark Industry Supplier Alan Boswell Group discusses what agencies need to do now to be prepared.

The Assured Tenancies (Private Rented Sector) (Written Statement of Terms, etc. and Information Sheet) (England) Regulations 2026 have been published in draft by the UK Government. We have engaged with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to provide feedback on the regulations, which currently fail to acknowledge common real-world scenarios, such as overseas property owners and unique arrangements for vulnerable tenants or tenants with a disability.

Many self-employed property agents and landlords are accustomed to submitting a Self-Assessment tax return annually. However, as the tax and regulatory landscape becomes increasingly complex, the risk of mistakes or missed deadlines could grow, particularly for landlords with small portfolios who must juggle compliance alongside day-to-day responsibilities.

The Sentencing Council has launched a 12-week public consultation on new sentencing guidelines for housing offences, including unlawful eviction, unlawful harassment, Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) and housing standards breaches. For property agents, the proposals underline the importance of compliance, record-keeping and professional standards and present a clear opportunity to influence how the guidance is shaped.

Insight shows a market that remains resilient but measured, with steady new listings, slightly softer sales, and easing inflation, offering cautious optimism. While buyer conditions show signs of balance, demand in the rental market continues to outstrip supply, keeping affordability pressures firmly in focus.

The private rented sector (PRS) is being reshaped by changing motivations and new financial pressures, which help explain the structural changes behind shrinking stock levels, higher churn, and new expectations around compliance and profitability. For agents, these insights help develop and position services to effectively address the needs of their clients in a shifting market.

The Property Ombudsman (TPO) has issued new guidance in responding to growing concern about the prevalence of aggressive practices in the home-buying process, empowering buyers to recognise and challenge unfair practices. With complaints on the rise and increased scrutiny from redress schemes and Trading Standards, estate agents should take time to review their processes, staff training and messaging to ensure compliance.

Following the success of the Class of 25 initiative, The Propertymark Trust has opened its 2026 bursary programme, offering vital financial support to individuals working towards industry qualifications. Promoting professionalism and supporting access to education for people who would otherwise struggle to meet the costs of training, membership and assessment sits at the heart of the Trust’s work.

Formal regulation marks a major shift in how these systems are overseen and how consumers are protected. For property agents, this change is important because it will affect how heat networks are operated, what information consumers must receive, and how agents advise clients and market properties connected to networks. Hundreds of thousands of homes, particularly in blocks of flats and new developments, are already connected, and their use is expected to grow as part of the UK’s decarbonisation plans.

Fresh analysis shows that there are fewer homes available in 14 Scottish local authority areas than in 2022, despite the introduction of rent control measures. Propertymark has consistently warned that restricting rents without tackling supply and costs can create unintended consequences for tenants, landlords and the agents supporting them.

Head of Policy and Campaigns, Timothy Douglas, has followed up our written submission to the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee inquiry into housing affordability with in-person evidence on 6 January 2026. Our evidence reinforces the need for a joined-up approach to affordability which considers housing supply, rental market pressures, financial products, taxation, and consumer costs together.

The UK Government has announced a multi-million-pound funding package to expand access to free legal advice for people in England facing eviction or home repossession. The investment aims to ensure more households can get early, practical legal support to help them stay in their homes or secure alternative accommodation where needed. This comes at a time when demand for housing advice remains high, with many households facing affordability pressures and uncertainty.

In a major setback for long-awaited housing reform, the UK Government has failed to publish the draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill before the end of 2025 as repeatedly promised to Parliament — delaying crucial leasehold overhaul legislation until early 2026. The omission, confirmed in correspondence from Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook to the Housing, Communities and Local Government (HCLG) Committee, has drawn sharp criticism from MPs, campaigners and sector bodies alike.

The UK Government has announced that an expansion of its Rent Repayment Orders (RROs) pilot scheme will see the trial rolled out to 41 local authorities across England following early success in recovering public funds and deterring poor housing practice.