Scotland’s visitor levy framework has been expanded after the Visitor Levy (Amendment) (Scotland) Act received Royal Assent on 21 May 2026, giving councils greater flexibility over how tourist taxes can be charged.

Voting opened on 21 May 2026 for members to elect a Propertymark Board Director and the next Vice Presidents for our sales and lettings divisions. By taking part, members help influence how the profession is represented, shape the professional body's future priorities, and strengthen the credibility of member-led representation.

This has been a year of real momentum for Propertymark. In a fast-moving and often challenging market for our members and oursleves, we have continued to strengthen our position as the UK’s leading professional body for property agents - investing in our members, raising standards, and ensuring our voice is heard where it matters most.

The UK Government has set out further reforms across housing, communities, and local government. Proposals affect leasehold, building safety, social housing, local authority standards, and tourism levies, all of which could impact local housing markets and influence the way councils, owners, agents and residents interact.

The Renters’ Rights Act came into force on 1 May 2026. Much of the coverage has focused on the big, visible changes: the end of Section 21, the shift to periodic tenancies, and the ban on rental bidding wars. These are significant, but they are not, on their own, what will squeeze landlord margin. Propertymark Industry Supplier, Homebox, explains the potential impact of the less headline-grabbing changes in the legislation.

Propertymark has highlighted the challenges property agents face when identifying the hidden influence of Designated Persons in transactions. The Office for Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) is examining how the rules are applied in practice, and we’ve been clear that whilst agents are committed to preventing financial crime, the current expectations are often difficult to meet.

With the Scottish Parliament election approaching on 7 May 2026, all major political parties have set out their housing priorities. The next Scottish Government will need to strike a careful balance between improving standards and maintaining supply. Policies that focus too heavily on regulation risk reducing investment, while those that prioritise supply must still ensure quality and consumer protection.

Transactions are taking longer than at any point in recent years, creating uncertainty for consumers and placing additional pressure on property agents working to keep chains together. Although market activity is showing some resilience, movers are facing waits of up to 17 weeks to exchange, exposing ongoing inefficiencies in the system.

The housing market shows steady activity, ongoing challenges with sales agreed rising slightly and stock levels stable, while affordability pressures and longer transaction times continue to strain buyers and sellers. Demand is strong in the rental sector, with significant competition among tenants despite only a modest increase in available properties. Rents have remained relatively stable month to month.

Property agencies can face a variety of risks in their everyday operations, many of which may lead to liability claims when unexpected incidents occur. Whether supporting staff, handling client interactions, conducting property viewings, or managing office operations, unforeseen events can have considerable impact on the business. A liability claim may result in financial strain, operational disruption and reputational damage. For property agents, understanding these exposures is an important step in managing risk effectively. Gallagher, Propertymark's insurance supplier, shares insight into the risks property agents may face and the types of protection that can help keep businesses resilient.

Tackling empty homes is a practical and achievable way to increase housing supply without relying solely on new development. By combining stronger local action, targeted incentives, and clearer national direction, governments can unlock the potential of existing housing stock and support more people into secure homes.

The UK has more than 359,000 homes sitting empty for over six months. Long-term vacancy represents a wasted asset at a time of acute housing need, while also contributing to social decline, increased maintenance costs, and reduced local investment. A more strategic, well-resourced approach is essential to bring empty properties back into use and support thriving, sustainable communities.

Propertymark welcomes the tougher standards from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), which place stricter responsibilities on energy suppliers to fix faulty meters, improving reliability for households and supporting smoother tenancy management.