The UK Government aims to deliver new legislation which speeds up the removal of unsafe cladding, strengthens enforcement against those delaying work, and gives public authorities powers to step in when remediation stalls. For managing agents, the proposals could bring greater scrutiny of assessments, project progress, and communication with residents.

The UK Government has opened a consultation on extending Awaab’s Law to private rented homes in England. Rather than placing new duties on landlords to carry out repairs, the proposals set clear legal expectations about the timeframes within which homes must be made safe if they contain serious hazards, while also empowering private renters to challenge dangerous conditions. Propertymark is calling on members to get involved in our work to ensure proportionate regulations packaged with meaningful support for agents and their landlords.

The UK Government has published details of its new ‘Register your rental property’ service, which will be introduced across England in stages starting this winter. Registration will begin in the West Midlands, with the rest of England following on a regional timetable. Propertymark is in continued contact with officials from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to clarify the role of agents in the process and to directly raise questions and concerns from our members.

Letting agents in Scotland should review their reporting, inspection, and repair processes after the Scottish Government published new guidance to support the Investigation and Commencement of Repair (Scotland) Regulations 2026, which come into force on 6 October 2026. The Regulations apply to private rented homes covered by the Repairing Standard, as well as relevant social housing.

Legislation to modernise Scotland’s compulsory purchase system will be brought forward during this parliamentary term, following a consultation in 2025. Propertymark’s views are quoted in the Scottish Government’s published consultation reports, reflecting the value of member insight in shaping reforms that can support housing, regeneration, and infrastructure while protecting the rights of property owners and occupiers.

The Future Homes and Buildings Standards will introduce new minimum requirements for energy efficiency, low-carbon heating and renewable electricity in new homes and non-domestic buildings in England. For property professionals, the changes will affect the homes coming to market, the systems buyers and tenants need to understand, and the information agents may need to provide about heating, ventilation, solar panels and energy performance.

The UK Government intends to begin a regional rollout of a Private Rented Sector (PRS) Database in England from late 2026. Its legal framework is already in the Renters’ Rights Act 2025; but questions remain about how the system will work, what information users must provide, and how much time agents and landlords will have to prepare. The final design must reflect how agencies operate to avoid adding a significant new layer of data entry, checks, and liability to every instruction.

Legislation is being prepared that could reshape the private rented sector in Wales. Propertymark is already engaging with Welsh Government Ministers and officials to ensure that new duties are proportionate, evidence-based, and achievable for agents.

Landlords and letting agents in Northern Ireland could soon face new requirements to strengthen the Scheme as an enforcement tool; however, the success will depend on clear implementation. Also, agents need certainty about their role, landlords need a straightforward process, and both require confidence that data will be used responsibly.

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.

The UK Government has published draft regulations introducing a new disclosure regime for land agreements that give control over development without transferring ownership. The rules, which will apply in England and Wales, stem from the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 and are expected to come into force on 6 April 2027.

Jersey’s States Assembly has passed regulations establishing a statutory fire safety regime on the island. The new legislation responds to lessons from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 1 to modernise ongoing fire safety management in high-rise homes as well as protect residents and emergency responders. Further guidance is expected from the Assembly before implementation.

New regulations have been laid in the Scottish Parliament which, if passed, will place clearer and more time-bound duties on landlords and agents to investigate and address damp and mould in both private and social rented homes. Clear standards, realistic timescales and consistent enforcement are essential if these reforms are to improve housing conditions without reducing supply or creating unintended consequences.

The Scottish Government has introduced legislation which will amend the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act 2024, giving councils more flexibility in how they design and run local schemes. This sits alongside the existing timetable for visitor levies to start from spring/summer 2026, with Edinburgh already committed to introducing a 5% levy on overnight stays from 24 July 2026.

Rules for short-stay accommodation in Wales are becoming more complicated. New licensing standards, tax changes, planning rules and a visitor levy are all being introduced, creating major implications for agents and landlords. For property professionals, this brings both challenges and opportunities — the risk of higher costs, reputational damage, and penalties for non-compliance, but also the chance to stand out by offering well-managed, compliant accommodation that builds trust with guests and demonstrates higher standards.