The UK Government has taken decisive action following the discovery of widespread quality issues with energy efficiency work carried out under the Energy Company Obligation 4 and the Great British Insulation Scheme. Routine inspections by TrustMark, the independent body overseeing tradespeople working in homes, have led to the immediate suspension of 39 businesses from installing new solid wall insulation.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has seen a spike in Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) repayment requests where it’s claimed a property is not suitable for use (NSFU) as a dwelling so the lower, non-residential rates of SDLT apply. However, over 95% of NSFU claims are found to fall well below the required threshold, leaving property owners at risk of penalties.

The Remediation Acceleration Plan is the first scheme to set a deadline for completing work on all buildings in England with unsafe cladding. So far, only 30% of known at-risk buildings have been fully remediated, and it’s estimated that as many as 7,000 are still to be identified. Building Safety Minister, Alex Norris, MP, stated three aims; to fix buildings faster, identify all those with unsafe cladding, and support vulnerable residents.

Minister for Housing, Paul McLennan, MSP, has outlined proposals to introduce a rent cap linked to the Consumer Price Index as part of the Housing (Scotland) Bill. Propertymark has campaigned robustly against the introduction of rent controls since the Scottish Government first enacted them as part of emergency measures under the Cost of Living Act, including launching a legal challenge against that legislation. We are continuing our engagement with policy makers to assert that alternative policy must be developed to improve affordability in the private rented sector (PRS).

Our Councillor briefing pack provides an introduction to Propertymark, our work, the role of property agents and the standards our members adhere to within your local community. It also contains useful questions and areas to consider within the housing sector to support residents.

The Renters' Reform Bill was introduced to parliament on 11 September 2024. If passed without amendment, the Bill will significantly overhaul the structure for private rented sector housing and repeal Section 21, alongside a number of other significant measures including the removal of fixed term tenancies, the expansion of Rent Repayment Orders, and a new landlord Ombudsman. There are many hurdles for the Bill to clear as part of the process of parliamentary scrutiny, but as Labour have a majority in the House of Commons the legislation could go through as quickly as next spring, with the reforms being implemented by late summer 2025.

A survey of 1,500 UK renters has revealed that three in ten tenancies do not benefit from a property inventory, leaving agents, landlords, and tenants more vulnerable to costly disputes further down the line.

A Propertymark webinar on 21 June 2024 gave practical advice on how agents can effectively handle anti-social behaviour (ASB) by or affecting a tenant, where to access support, and how to prepare for an eviction hearing.

In its 2023 Annual Review, The Property Ombudsman (TPO) reported that it resolved 1,663 sales disputes last year, with the main concerns arising from instructions and fees, the under-offer period, and marketing and advertising. Issues of conditional selling and buyer reservation fees were highlighted as key concerns.

Angela Rayner MP, Labour’s Shadow Housing Secretary, will lay out plans today, 20 June 2024, that the party claims will make renters better off if they win power in the General Election. Aiming to relieve cost-of-living pressure on private sector tenants, Rayner, and Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves MP, will pledge to crack down on unscrupulous landlords, ban no-fault evictions, and cap the amount of rent requested upfront.

We have received requested advice in respect the use of stock images or artistic impressions in property advertising and scenarios where it is acceptable to use these types of images.

The Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill received Royal Assent and became law on Friday 24 May 2024. It was included as part of the 'wash-up', as the House of Lords dealt with Bills prioritised with cross-party agreement, following the announcement of the General Election on Wednesday 22 May 2024.

In February 2023, Marc Christopher Davies won a Court of Appeal case against Bridgend Council after Japanese knotweed encroached into his property from council land. He was awarded £4,900 for the diminution in value of his home, due to the stigma associated with it. However, Bridgend Council appealed, and the Supreme Court has now ruled that he is not entitled to any compensation.

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.