The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) is considering the design of transparency and standardisation measures to be implemented in England and Wales under the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024. In addition, it has outlined new proposals around the fees and charges leaseholders pay, reform of the major works regime, and mandatory qualifications for managing agents.

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 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.

HMRC has clawed back £107 million in unpaid taxes from buy-to-let landlords in 2024/25, the highest annual total on record. The recoveries were made through the Let Property Campaign (LPC), HMRC’s disclosure scheme for landlords with undeclared income, and show a doubling of repayments compared with three years ago.

We have responded to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) on its draft price transparency guidance under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (DMCCA). From 6 April 2025 the DMCCA replaced the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations, so the CMA’s approach will shape day‑to‑day advertising for every agent. Our message is clear: property is different, and the guidance must reflect that.

From 18 November 2025, identity verification will become mandatory for the incorporation and appointment of new directors and people with significant control (PSCs). Companies House is encouraging individuals to verify their identities as early as possible.

A BBC investigation has revealed that criminals used the UK Government’s unclaimed estates list to commit probate fraud. The list, published on the Gov.uk website, included details of around 6,000 estates left by people who died without a will or known heirs. It was taken offline in July 2025 after evidence showed fraudsters used it to submit fake wills and claim millions of pounds in assets.

Propertymark has submitted a detailed response to the Scottish Parliament’s Finance and Public Administration Committee as part of its call for views on the proposed Building Safety Levy (Scotland) Bill. While we support the principle of improving building safety, we are concerned that the Bill, in its current form, risks worsening Scotland’s housing emergency and unfairly penalising responsible developers.

The Building Safety Levy (England) Regulations 2025 have been laid before Parliament, marking a significant step in the UK Government’s ongoing effort to secure swift remediation of buildings with historical safety defects. Subject to approval, the Levy will be charged to developers and used to pay for the remediation of building safety defects, protecting leaseholders from those costs, and is expected to raise £3.5 billion over ten years.

194 agents have incurred penalties totalling over £1 million for breaches identified by HM Revenue and Customs between October 2024 and March 2025. The vast majority are a result of failing to register for Anti-Money Laundering (AML) supervision on time – the most common reason agents are fined. This highlights how important it is for property professionals to understand the rules, apply correctly, and maintain an up-to-date registration with HMRC.

Our robust response to the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee consultation on sanctions scrutiny outlines the disparity between the sanctions and anti-money laundering (AML) regimes and underscores the necessity for clearer, more consistent regulations and stronger UK Government support for letting agents navigating complex obligations. Implementing our recommendations will bolster compliance, protect agents, and significantly reduce the risk of economic crime in the UK property sector.

With rising enforcement by HMRC and an increase in consumer complaints to The Property Ombudsman (TPO), the risks to property businesses from non-compliance are growing fast. At the same time, complexity and the pace of change are escalating; rules around financial sanctions reporting, material information, and unfair commercial practices have shifted in recent weeks, and for the lettings sector, the implementation of the Renters’ Rights Bill is rapidly approaching.

Propertymark works to ensure our members understand the full extent of their legal obligations, and for letting agents this includes tenancy deposit protection. The Siddeeq v Alaian court case highlighted concerns about how and when prescribed information must be served, and with the implementation of the Renters’ Rights Bill on the horizon, it’s a relevant reminder that agents must be precise and compliant when dealing with tenancy deposits in England and Wales.

The property sector has seen a significant regulatory shift with the quiet withdrawal of the National Trading Standards Estate and Letting Agency Team (NTSELAT) Material Information Guidance. This change coincides with the enforcement of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act (DMCC Act) on 6 April 2025 which supersedes the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (CPRs) and has shifted power over consumer protections to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).