The Online Procedure Rule Committee has published a draft practice direction for a new digital service for County Court possession proceedings in England and Wales. Letting agents are unlikely to use the service in its first phase unless they work with an eligible social landlord. However, the pilot signals the direction of travel for possession proceedings.

Landlords who failed to register or obtain the correct licence accounted for almost all of the 3,198 fixed penalty notices (FPNs) issued by Rent Smart Wales in the 12 months to May 2026, highlighting the valuable role agents can play in supporting client compliance. All private landlords renting out domestic property in Wales must register with Rent Smart Wales and either employ a licensed agent or become licensed to manage the property themselves.

An early First-tier Tribunal decision under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 offers useful lessons for agents, landlords, and tenants. Evidence of rents achieved for comparable homes proved more persuasive than advertised prices, but Propertymark members report that the speed of the process varies significantly.

Commercial property agents handling telecommunications sites in England and Wales should note a change to where disputes under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 are decided. From 30 July 2026, certain disputes fall within the jurisdiction of the First-tier Tribunal and Upper Tribunal, rather than the courts.

Local housing authorities in England have gained new investigatory powers under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025, including the ability to enter rental sector business premises as part of enforcement activity. Officers can request and seize documents, but their powers are not unlimited. Agents should know what officers can lawfully ask for, what notice should be given in routine cases, and what protections apply to legally confidential material.

A recent Upper Tribunal decision has underlined the importance of clear management agreements, robust oversight, and accurate licensing checks for landlords and property managers involved with Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) after a landlord was cleared of responsibility for more than £20,000 in fines relating to an unlicensed rental property.

Letting agents in England should be aware of a new tiered fee framework for the Property Chamber of the First-tier Tribunal, introduced to support the new and amended rights created by the Renters’ Rights Act 2025. Fee reform may help create a more consistent tribunal framework, but it cannot be a substitute for the wider investment, reform and operational improvements needed across the justice system.

Propertymark welcomes the announcement of millions of pounds in additional financial support to help councils identify non-compliant landlords, improve housing standards, and ensure tenants are protected under the new legislative framework. It is vital that this funding is sustained and used strategically to build long-term capacity, not just for short-term fixes.

Our response to the Sentencing Council’s consultation on proposed new guidelines was informed by survey responses from members, supporting a more structured, practical and consistent framework for enforcement across the private rented sector, with enough flexibility built in to address different levels of offending.

Recent headlines may have made fraud sound like a fast-growing threat across the whole market; however, HM Land Registry’s own figures show that in 2024–25 it received 4,429,092 applications to create or update the register and identified only 86 as fraudulent, or just over 0.0019 per cent. Even so, the sums involved can be significant. In the same year, HM Land Registry says it prevented the registration of fraudulent applications against more than £59 million worth of property.

The Sentencing Council has launched a 12-week public consultation on new sentencing guidelines for housing offences, including unlawful eviction, unlawful harassment, Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) and housing standards breaches. For property agents, the proposals underline the importance of compliance, record-keeping and professional standards and present a clear opportunity to influence how the guidance is shaped.

The Central England Trading Standards Authorities (CEnTSA) has published a report on a three-year enforcement project across the West Midlands that targeted CMP failures by letting agents and helped protect more than £11.1 million in client money. Propertymark’s compliance team supported the operation by answering hundreds of enquiries from Trading Standards and providing witness statements when required.

New research from the High Court Enforcement Officers Association (HCEOA), supported by Propertymark, provides stark evidence of the severe County Court backlogs which are delaying evictions for months, costing landlords thousands, and constraining supply across both the social and private rented sectors. The report sets out two quick changes the UK Government could make now, and practical steps for agents and landlords to minimise losses.

Gwynedd Council has confirmed it will appeal after a High Court judgement ruled its Article 4 Direction, intended to require planning permission for converting homes into holiday accommodation, was unlawful. The case is the first major legal test of new powers given to local authorities in Wales to control the growth of short term lets and second homes.

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.

Police have called on auctioneers and high-value dealers to help recover four historic bronze statues stolen from the grounds of Iford Manor in Wiltshire during the night of 19 June 2025. This incident highlights the continued vulnerability of heritage assets and the crucial role that auctioneers and agents can play in preventing the circulation of stolen goods.