Plans for a transparent and balanced system are welcome and could have significant benefits for Scotland’s regeneration and housing ambitions. However, reform must not come at the expense of fairness. Clearer legislation, early engagement, and collaboration with qualified property professionals will ensure that public projects can proceed efficiently while protecting the rights and confidence of property owners and agents.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) will become the Single Professional Services Supervisor (SPSS) overseeing Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing (AML/CTF) compliance for the legal, accountancy, and trust and company service sectors. HMRC will continue to supervise agents under the Money Laundering Regulations, and firms that are already compliant do not need to make any changes to their existing AML procedures.

Property agents throughout the UK are transforming unclaimed client funds into opportunities by donating to the Propertymark Trust, supporting industry professionals in accessing wellbeing services and earning industry-recognised qualifications.

The UK rental market is on the brink of major reform, with the Act aiming to strengthen tenant protections and modernise the private rented sector. A central measure is the abolition of Section 21 “no-fault” evictions, expected to come into effect once the legislation is fully implemented. Propertymark Industry Supplier, Alan Boswell Group, explains how this change will significantly alter how landlords manage risk, making rent guarantee insurance (RGI) increasingly valuable as a safety net.

Following major changes in global sanctions since 2018, the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) has sought views on how to update its penalty, disclosure, and settlement frameworks. Reforms should both strengthen deterrence and make it easier for businesses, including property agents, to comply and report breaches confidently.

HM Treasury must not delay any longer on measures to tackle the growing pressures across the housing market. Without bold action, the supply of homes to rent and buy will continue to fall short of demand. Our message to the Chancellor is clear - stability in the property market depends on policies that make investing, renting, buying and selling homes affordable and sustainable. The Budget on 26 November 2025 is the UK Government’s opportunity to restore confidence and drive growth across the housing sector.

The legislation gained Royal Assent on 27 October 2025. Implementation will be staged via secondary legislation, and the UK Government has stated it will allow time for a smooth transition and engage the sector on commencement dates. Propertymark has hit the ground running, with training, events, and downloadable resources to support the sector through the most significant transition in private renting for a generation.

From 27 October 2025, fixed, enforceable timeframes will be in place for social landlords in England to investigate, make safe and start prevention works to address hazards (including damp and mould), with powers to require alternative accommodation if a home can’t be made safe in time. Similar requirements are set to be extended to the private rented sector (PRS), so now is the time for agents to adopt best practice, future-proof their businesses, and protect tenants and properties.

The Energy Performance of Buildings (Scotland) Regulations 2025 have now been published, which are seen as the vehicle for wider EPC reform. These regulations will include redesigned certificates, clearer metrics, and a five-year validity period, with the new regime coming in on 31 October 2026. The changes are to support the journey to net zero whilst improving the information that buyers, sellers, landlords, and tenants receive.

REACH UK has opened applications for its 2026 cohort, inviting high-potential tech companies that are solving real problems for agents, landlords, buyers and renters. Propertymark and TDS are long-standing partners of the program, which connects founders with an unparalleled industry network, expert guidance and routes to adoption—speeding up the journey from promising prototype to practical, scalable tools used in day-to-day agency work.

The 2025 National Risk Assessment (NRA) has once again placed the property sector in the spotlight as one of the most attractive ways for criminals to conceal illicit wealth. Complex ownership structures, offshore companies, and opaque trusts continue to disguise the identity of the individuals behind transactions, with both residential and commercial sales and lettings vulnerable.

A package of fundamental reforms, centred on upfront information, digital data and ID, higher professional standards, and earlier binding agreements, has been released for a 12-week public consultation. Designed to make home moves quicker, more certain, and less stressful, the changes could cut typical timelines by up to four weeks and save consumers about £255m a year, according to the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).

Our results for August 2025 show that the UK market edging toward recovery. Sales activity and stock levels are rising, but affordability pressures and tax uncertainty continue to weigh on buyers. In lettings, rent growth is easing and arrears are falling, offering early signs of a market finally catching its breath.

The legislation completed Stage 3 in the Scottish Parliament on 30 September and gained Royal Assent on 6 November 2025. The Act provides a framework for rent control, fresh rights for tenants to keep pets, and stronger tools to prevent homelessness. However, most of the key measures require further consultation and regulations, meaning agents and landlords are unlikely to see rent controls in place until 2028.

Cybercrime incidents can impact businesses of all sizes and industries, including property agencies. Propertymark industry supplier, Gallagher, is reminding all property agents about the importance of adequate risk prevention and management.