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.

Launched in October 1996, buy-to-let followed several years of work by ARLA (now ARLA Propertymark), its members, and established UK banks and mortgage lenders. Their aim was to create finance that reflected the needs of landlords and the income generated by rented homes. Three decades on, the anniversary is also an opportunity to consider how agents, lenders, and policymakers can support investment in good-quality rental homes.

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.

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.

This report highlights continued economic uncertainty across the commercial property sector, with expectations of steady industrial demand, increased supply of pubs and restaurants, and varying sentiment around capital values and investment yields.

New evidence that pensioners are going without food and heating adds greater urgency to our longstanding call for the UK Government to re-link Local Housing Allowance (LHA) to market rents. At the Autumn Budget on 28 October 2026, the Chancellor must restore rates to cover at least the cheapest 30% of local rents, backed by annual increases to prevent support from falling behind again.

The latest Auctions Barometer highlights the sector’s resilience despite economic uncertainty. Nine in ten members surveyed reported stable or increased numbers of lots achieving their reserve price, while 55% saw an increase in lots exceeding reserve prices. The report explores auction performance and key challenges facing the sector.

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.

The UK Government has used the Labour Party Conference to set out a series of significant housing and property sector reforms, including tougher action against landlords who fail to maintain their properties and confirmation that the regulation of property agents will be introduced. These plans are likely to have far-reaching implications for Propertymark members working across the sales, lettings and property management sectors.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has proposed a new scheme to allow first-time buyers in England to purchase a new-build home with a 2.5% deposit, along with plans to let councils intervene sooner when homes stand empty, and a £210 million package to bring disused high street buildings back into use. Propertymark’s Policy and Campaigns Team is at the Labour Party conference to discuss these announcements directly with MPs and explain how members and their clients could be affected.

Landlords and sole traders already using Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax must send their second quarterly update to HMRC by 7 November 2026. The rules will extend to more people from April 2027, so letting agents can help landlord clients prepare now.

Across the UK, finding a suitable rented home can be more challenging for pet owners, especially when landlords are concerned about potential damage, noise, or cleaning costs. Battersea identifies housing as one of the main reasons animals are given up to its care, but the perceived risks of allowing pets can differ from the reality. Our new Renting with pets guide sets out practical ways to assess requests, manage risks, and build clear agreements that support successful tenancies.