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Displaying 94 results
First-time buyers 1920.jpeg
17 Jul 2025
Treasury confirms permanent Mortgage Guarantee Scheme to boost homeownership

In a significant policy announcement on 15 July 2025, Chancellor Rachel Reeves, MP, unveiled plans to enhance homeownership opportunities across the UK by providing government backing to lenders who offer mortgages with deposits as low as 5%. By making this scheme permanent, the UK Government aims to stabilise the housing market and assist more people in becoming homeowners.

UK places as text forming map
03 Jul 2025
Ambitious housing and planning reforms set to transform property market

The UK Government has unveiled major initiatives in its Modern Industrial Strategy that will significantly influence the housing supply and overall property market, signalling huge opportunities and implications for our members. Proper consultation and partnership will be key to delivering genuine benefits, and we remain committed to providing representation to ensure the best outcomes for agents and the wider property market.

Happy couple signing  a contract
07 Mar 2025
Why commonhold isn't that common and how that's about to change

The UK Government has committed to banning the sale of new flats on a leasehold basis and reforming the legal framework for commonhold, so it becomes the default and preferred tenure. It will also become easier for existing leaseholders to convert to commonhold, although the complexities of this may take longer to work out. Few agents in England and Wales have experience with commonhold, as less than 20 developments currently exist, so Propertymark has broken down some key parts of the proposals to help members understand the change.

Japanese Knotweed
05 Mar 2025
Data shows Japanese knotweed consistently mistaken

Harmless plants, including Bindweed and dogwood, are frequently mistaken as Japanese knotweed, leading to unnecessary alarm and potential complications during property transactions, and further education is needed to help with identification.

Unhappy couple with boxed up home
19 Feb 2025
Warning for estate agents after High Court case of misleading details

The buyers of a £32.5 million mansion sued the seller after he failed to give honest information about the state of the property in pre-sale enquiries, particularly, a serious moth infestation. As a result, the court ordered the sale to be reversed, with the buyers receiving a refund of the purchase price plus £4m in damages, including compensation for ruined items.

Model houses increasing in size.jpg
12 Feb 2025
New limits on Right to Buy will slow down the loss of council homes

The UK Government is proposing changes to the Right to Buy (RTB) scheme intended to create a fairer and more sustainable system which retains the opportunity for social housing tenants to buy their homes while supporting councils to replace properties that are sold. Propertymark is supportive of the proposals, which include increasing the length of time someone needs to have been a public sector tenant, amending discount percentages, and allowing Councils to ask for repayment of discounts if the property is resold within ten years.

For sale board with Propertymark Protected logos
10 Feb 2025
Minister announces new plans to drive down property transaction timescales

Matthew Pennycook, MP, stated that the UK Government will work with HM Land Registry to digitise property data, making information more accessible and reducing delays caused by manual processes. This move is expected to streamline transactions and provide agents quicker access to essential property details.

Construction site of new housing development
30 Jan 2025
Bureaucracy-busting is Reeve's next move to boost house building

The Chancellor of the Exchequer revealed more about the UK Government’s plans to accelerate housebuilding and reform the planning system in a speech delivered on 29 January 2025. Highlighting the role of housing in economic growth, she announced measures designed to unlock development, remove planning barriers, and encourage investment in infrastructure projects.

Hazard under microscope.jpg
30 Jan 2025
ESW1 warnings: what agents need to know about invalid fire safety forms

Recent developments concerning the company Tri Fire and one of its assessors have raised significant concerns over the validity of the EWS1 forms they have issued. Major banks are refusing to lend on properties assessed by Tri Fire, potentially causing delays or halts in property sales and remortgages.

EPC on a tablet
10 Dec 2024
Proposed overhaul of Energy Performance Certificates will impact the entire property sector

The UK Government has unveiled plans to reform the Energy Performance of Buildings (EPB) framework in England and Wales, with sweeping changes to the way Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) are structured, used, and valued. Both commercial and residential agents, landlords, and property owners will need to renew their EPCs more often, and some exemptions, for example for heritage properties, may no longer apply.

Novice auctioneer on rostrum
19 Nov 2024
Auctions are a buyer's friend in the dash to avoid Stamp Duty increases

Choosing to sell properties by chain-free auction can avoid lengthy and uncertain buying procedures and save buyers time and money ahead of the Stamp Duty Land Tax increases in April 2025.

Smiling agent holding tablet device
13 Nov 2024
Making identity proofing easier, cheaper and more secure

The Data (Use and Access) Bill was introduced to Parliament on 23 October 2024. It lays out the legal framework for Digital Verification Services (DVS) in the UK, which are long-awaited tools to speed up property purchases, reduce fraud and improve the experience of home buying and selling.

Lit up sales sign.
08 Nov 2024
What estate agents need to know about the Renters Rights' Bill

Agents working with landlords who want to sell a property with sitting tenants must be well-versed advising clients effectively on realistic pricing and the potential impact on the buyer pool, and with tenancy reform at the heart of the Renters’ Rights Bill, watertight paperwork and record-keeping will be more important than ever, for buyers, sellers and agents.

Data chain
17 Oct 2024
The UPRN is a vital part of the digital property market infrastructure

Propertymark, alongside organisations from the UK property sector, has reopened dialogue with the UK Government to outline three key actions Ministers should consider during this parliament: embedding the Unique Property Reference Number (UPRN) in public sector projects, enabling market adoption, and ensuring ethical data use.

Bank sign on wall
07 Oct 2024
Fears that suspicious payment powers could delay property transactions

From the end of October 2024, UK banks will be able to hold payments for up to four days whilst investigations of potential fraud are carried out, raising concerns that the large transactions needed for property purchases may be incorrectly blocked. The change follows stricter rules on fraud compensation which came into force on 7 October 2024, meaning that banks must refund scam victims up to £85,000 within five days.

People making notes and working on laptops
16 Sep 2024
HM Land Registry announces first-in-a-decade fee increase for information services

From 9 December 2024, fees will double for accessing and obtaining copies of title plans and registers – the first change to the cost in more than 10 years – and customers with automated systems are advised to make the necessary changes to their systems before the implementation date. According to HMLR, even with this increase, most customers will pay less than in 1992.

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