With the Senedd election approaching on 7 May 2026, housing remains a critical issue across Wales. All major parties recognise the need to increase supply and improve affordability, but their approaches differ significantly. The next Welsh Government will need to strike a careful balance between raising standards and maintaining investment, particularly in the private rented sector (PRS).

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.

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.

The UK Government has published its partial response to the consultation on reforms to the Energy Performance of Buildings regime, confirming a significant overhaul of Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) in England and Wales. Once implemented, domestic EPCs will move to four new headline metrics, whilst non-domestic EPCs will continue to use the existing Environmental Impact Rating. Importantly, certificates will still be valid for 10 years under the new regime.

With Holyrood elections set for 7 May 2026 and a national housing emergency declared in 2024, we have set out what the next Scottish Government must do to support a stable, affordable and functioning property market. Our manifesto focuses on practical reforms that increase supply, improve affordability and strengthen professional standards — shaped directly by member insight.

Energy efficiency policy has major implications for the private rented sector (PRS), homebuyers and sellers, and the wider housing market. Our response to the UK Government’s consultation on reforms to Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) and the introduction of the Home Energy Model sets out clear recommendations to ensure changes are grounded in real-world property conditions and avoid unintended consequences for supply.

Housing quality and energy efficiency underline the progress made, and the scale of the challenges still facing the sector is the headline finding in the EHS (English Housing Survey). Policy ambitions must have clear guidance, realistic timescales, workable exemptions, and sustained funding to reflect the diversity of the housing stock. Active involvement by qualified property professionals is also a must if raising standards is to be achieved.

The UK Government is investing £15 billion and promises a major push to cut bills, tackle fuel poverty, and accelerate home upgrades. In response to our campaigning, the initial 2028 deadline for new tenancies has been scrapped and, with a lower cap amount, property owners will be expected to spend less on upgrades. However, we remain concerned that landlords are being asked to deliver significant change without sustained, targeted support.

The Welsh Government’s 2026–27 Budget, approved by the Senedd on 27 January 2026, includes extra support for councils, changes to business rates from April 2026 and more funding for Green Home Wales, but key opportunities were missed to support rental supply and first-time buyers.

Formal regulation marks a major shift in how these systems are overseen and how consumers are protected. For property agents, this change is important because it will affect how heat networks are operated, what information consumers must receive, and how agents advise clients and market properties connected to networks. Hundreds of thousands of homes, particularly in blocks of flats and new developments, are already connected, and their use is expected to grow as part of the UK’s decarbonisation plans.

The 2025 Autumn Budget confirmed a new £1.5 billion allocation for the Warm Homes Plan, intended to support insulation and low-carbon heating upgrades across England. According to the UK Government, the funding will target households in the least efficient homes, as part of a long-term ambition to upgrade up to five million properties.

Timothy Douglas, Propertymark’s Head of Policy and Campaigns, took the views and concerns of members directly to MPs as he gave evidence to the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee inquiry into housing conditions in England on 4 November 2025. Douglas highlighted the ongoing work of professional agents in driving up standards but warned that progress under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 depends on clarity from the UK Government, realistic timelines, and a fair regulatory framework.

The Energy Performance of Buildings (Scotland) Regulations 2025 have now been published, which are seen as the vehicle for wider EPC reform. These regulations will include redesigned certificates, clearer metrics, and a five-year validity period, with the new regime coming in on 31 October 2026. The changes are to support the journey to net zero whilst improving the information that buyers, sellers, landlords, and tenants receive.

Propertymark has responded to the Welsh Government’s Draft Budget for 2026–27 with a warning that without tax reform, the continued loss of landlords will deepen affordability issues for tenants and increase pressure on local authorities to house more people in the social sector. A vibrant private rented sector (PRS), alongside investment in social and affordable housing, is essential to meet demand and ensure all people in Wales have access to decent and secure homes.

Ofgem has issued draft guidance on protections for heat network consumers, and is seeking views on the rules and requirements set out in the authorisation conditions. This includes obligations around billing clarity, complaint handling, and safeguards for vulnerable residents.

Propertymark has responded to the Scottish Government’s plans to require private rented homes to meet a new EPC Heat Retention Rating of band C — from 2028 for new tenancies and 2033 for all lets — focusing on a property’s fabric and heating system to better link upgrades with reduced emissions. Whilst we support the principle of improving energy efficiency, we are concerned that the proposals place significant financial and practical pressures on landlords.