News and reports

The UK Government has unveiled major initiatives in its Modern Industrial Strategy that will significantly influence the housing supply and overall property market, signalling huge opportunities and implications for our members. Proper consultation and partnership will be key to delivering genuine benefits, and we remain committed to providing representation to ensure the best outcomes for agents and the wider property market.

Propertymark was pleased to see our campaign work pay off on the first day of the Renters’ Rights Bill Report Stage debate in the House of Lords (1 July 2025) as Peers supported a proposal to allow Ground 4a to be extended to non-HMO student properties. The Report Stage provides an opportunity for further scrutiny and refinement of the Bill with two further sessions scheduled for 7 and 15 July.

The House of Lords will sit for the Report Stage of the Renters’ Rights Bill on 1, 7, and 15 July 2025, before the parliamentary summer recess, providing the Lords with a further opportunity to examine and make changes. The UK Government and Peers must make key amendments to ensure the legislation is workable for letting agents, landlords and tenants alike.

We were delighted to welcome members from across the UK and internationally to our interactive digital AGM, which gave members a chance to hear updates on key issues from our Chair, CEO, and Head of Finance, along with the opportunity to ask questions. We also marked the beginning of fresh Presidential terms for the ARLA Propertymark and NAEA Propertymark Advisory Panels and announced this year's successful Vice-Presidents, who now join the presidential teams for the sales and lettings divisions.

The Bill cleared the Committee Stage in the House of Lords on 15 May 2025, and the next step, the Report Stage, will take place over three sessions between 1–15 July. It seems unlikely the Bill will complete the final stages and gain Royal Assent before Summer recess, however, key measures - like changes to tenancy agreements and possession rules – could still come into force later this year. More complex elements, such as the landlord and agent database and the Decent Homes Standard, are expected to follow in 2026 or 2027.

In 2018, Propertymark Industry Supplier RentGuarantor launched with a clear purpose: to support people who deserved access to rental homes but were being turned away—not for financial reasons, but because they didn’t fit the system. RentGuarantor set out to provide an alternative, a support mechanism that helped tenants secure a place to live, while giving landlords and letting agents the confidence to say yes. Seven years on, they explain why their purpose hasn’t changed, but the scale has.

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.

The Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 officially became law on 19 June, marking the biggest update to the UK’s digital data laws since Brexit. The Act amends — but does not replace — the UK GDPR, the Data Protection Act 2018, and the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR). For Propertymark members, the new law presents a golden opportunity to streamline processes and embrace innovation, all while continuing to protect people’s personal data.

Propertymark has welcomed the launch of Extract, the UK Government’s new technology solution, which aims to reduce delays and support the delivery of 1.5 million homes through its Plan for Change. However, we urge ministers to recognise that digitising the planning system is only one part of the solution to tackling the housing crisis – recruitment, inefficient processes, and skills gaps must still be addressed.