Homeowners are surrounded by messages about the urgency of taking green measures in their properties, and insulation should be a high priority. However, mortgage lenders are increasingly taking a zero-tolerance approach to spray foam insulation and are declining applications.

A prevention of future deaths report criticising the location of a prepayment electricity meter has been issued following the death of an elderly woman in her council flat. Property agents do not have any formal responsibility regarding the location of energy meters, however it is sensible to know where to signpost tenants who need support, information or resources.

Following complaints about a significant minority of landlords and letting agents who are not complying with Consumer Protection Regulations, the CMA (Competition and Markets Authority) will re-issue guidance, and investigations will then take place to check compliance followed by enforcement action where necessary.

The terminology surrounding the renting and sale of properties can be confusing for some consumers and new guidance from the National Trading Standards Estate and Letting Agency Team (NTSELAT) provides definitions of commonly used terms to improve consistency and understanding for everyone involved.

Propertymark teamed up with Policy Connect, a membership-based, not-for-profit, cross-party think tank that provides the secretariat to the All-Party Parliamentary Carbon Monoxide Group (APPCOG) to respond to the Welsh Government consultation on carbon monoxide alarms.

Propertymark broadly agrees with the UK Government's proposal to review bandings for Houses in Multiple Occupancy (HMOs) in England so they are banded as one property with the landlord liable for the bill, which is the fairest and easiest system to manage.

Insurance broker Gallagher highlights how the colder weather can bring an increased fire risk in commercial premises when keeping people and buildings warm. If fire safety plans have not been reviewed and communicated lately it should be made a priority.

From Monday 9 January 2023, lenders will be able to consider mortgage applications in England on domestic properties within residential blocks of five or more storeys or 11 metres or taller.

Secretary of State Michael Gove has announced funding for seven councils to test new methods of enforcement on rogue private landlords. At the same time, he has been forced to defend the delays in delivering safety legislation following the fire at Grenfell Tower.

Statistics show at least 100 million appliances in the UK are untraceable if recalled. A campaign, launched by the Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Appliances (AMDEA), is urging homeowners, landlords and tenants to make use of their free appliance register to get important safety alerts.

Households will see the discount automatically applied to their energy bills from 1 November, with savings for October’s energy use seen in bills from November until the Scheme ends on 31 March 2023.

A year after the case of Reverend Richard Hall returning to his Luton property to find that it had been sold without his knowledge, BBC You and Yours found a pattern of criminal behaviour. 

The UK Government’s new Energy Prices Act has been put into law to support consumers in England, Scotland and Wales with energy costs. Households in Northern Ireland will receive a £400 discount on bills through the Northern Ireland Energy Bills Support Scheme.

Propertymark has been working with stakeholders including Scottish Association of Landlords (SAL), National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) and Scottish Land and Estates (SLE) to obtain legal opinion on the Scottish Government’s rent freeze and eviction ban legislation.

Barratt, Taylor Wimpey, Redrow and Bellway are among 100 firms signed up to a new Code of Practice, following the launch of a new Ombudsman Service. The Code has been developed in response to growing pressure surrounding complaints from owners of new build housing that issues fail to be resolved effectively.

Gas Safety Week 2022, taking place 12-18 September, is an annual awareness campaign with everyone coming together for one common goal — keeping the nation gas safe.