Opening the new session of Parliament, King Charles III announced more than 40 Bills the UK Government has committed to introduce, with housing and planning firmly in the spotlight. Housebuilding, renters’ rights, and leasehold reform are all on the legislative agenda, along with significant devolution of powers to local authorities.

The UK General Election has returned the Labour Party to power with a parliamentary landslide, ending 14 years of Conservative government. Aiming to channel the spirit of Clement Attlee with a proactive and strategic approach to housing, the party campaigned on a manifesto that promised significant changes to planning rules, strict targets for delivery of new homes, reform of the private rented sector (PRS), long-term schemes to help young people onto the housing ladder, and local powers for councils to take over empty commercial premises.

A report commissioned by the Labour Party states that the opportunity to live in a secure, affordable and accessible home is out of reach for many people, and this is set to remain the case unless the system is changed significantly. They state that landlords and agents should be registered and accredited, recommend rent stabilisation measures, and support longer term tenancies based on the model of Rent Smart Wales.

The long-delayed Bill included over 200 amendments as it returned to the House of Commons for its Report Stage and Third Reading on 24 April 2024. Having been voted through by MPs it will now move to the Upper House, with Housing Secretary Michael Gove MP controversially stating that it’s up to the House of Lords to decide how quickly the Bill can become law.

The Leader of the House of Commons has confirmed the remaining stages of the Renters (Reform) Bill will take place on Wednesday 24 April 2024 with some key changes to the Bill brought forward. Whilst the UK Government has listened and reacted to some industry concerns, another chance has been wasted to effectively regulate property agents.

We have had direct correspondence from senior officials at the Department of Levelling Up, Housing & Communities (DLUHC) regarding amends to be tabled on the Renters (Reform) Bill, including communication between Housing Minister Jacob Young, MP, and Conservative MPs outlining further improvements that address some of the key concerns of letting agents and strike a fairer balance of security for both landlords and tenants.

In this report, we share insights into the Renters (Reform) Bill from the perspective of landlords, which was obtained via Propertymark letting agent members' landlords. If the Bill is implemented, landlords whose properties are managed by Propertymark member agents will receive professional support to assist with implementation and compliance. However, it remains to be seen if the UK Government plan to provide further guidance, and whether it is sufficient to support self-managing landlords.

A series of draft amendments from Conservative backbench MPs reflect fears that the Bill will cause landlords to sell up, reducing the number of rental properties available. The proposals include making it a legal requirement that an impact assessment on the courts must be published by the Justice Secretary before a ban on no-fault evictions could be implemented.

Propertymark recognises the need for change within the sector. Nevertheless, the UK Government must avoid the unintended outcomes realised by similar reforms in the devolved nations and protect the future of the private rented sector, which is home to around 4.6 million people.

In this report, we share insights into the Renters (Reform) Bill from the perspective of letting agents, a key force for change within the sector. The research, conducted with a geographically representative sample of Propertymark letting agent members, provides valuable evidence, which policy makers can use to help shape the Bill in its final stages and thereafter inform its implementation.

The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the Private Rented Sector launched its report Ensuring Rental Reform Works for Tenants and Landlords at a session on 12 December 2023 with our Head of Policy and Campaigns, Timothy Douglas, in attendance to raise the concerns of Propertymark and its members as well as pushing our calls to qualify and regulate property professionals.

Propertymark has submitted written evidence to the Public Bill Committee on the Renters (Reform) Bill, citing data demonstrating the level of concern amongst our members about measures likely to make the PRS increasingly hostile to property owners and the unintended consequences for people in need of homes.

Collaborating with other leading sector organisations, forums and landlord associations, the Housing Coalition's first in-person meeting was held at Propertymark's offices in London on 22 November 2023.

Extra policing will be deployed in ten initial target areas before the plan is rolled out across England and Wales in 2024. The public will also have a simpler way to report ASB (anti-social behaviour), and perpetrators could face penalties within 48 hours.

Representing members, Timothy Douglas, Propertymark’s Head of Policy and Campaigns, presented evidence at the first sitting of the Public Bill Committee on the Renters (Reform) Bill citing member data that demand for rental property was up 32% in August 2023 and underlining the importance of the PRS to the UK housing market, which is struggling due to the lack of affordable housing.

The Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee (LUHCC) has objected to suggestions that delays to the ban on ‘no fault’ evictions are the result of recommendations made in the Committee’s Reforming the Private Rented Sector report. Committee Chair, Clive Betts, MP, stated it was difficult to understand the lack of urgency and transparency around court reforms.