News and reports

The Welsh Government has set out plans to change how Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) are treated for council tax, confirming that property owners, not tenants, will remain liable and that properties will be valued as a single dwelling. The move brings greater consistency to the system and aligns Wales more closely with the approach already taken in England.

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 appointees join the board after an intensive and robust recruitment process. The Trust is the official charity of Propertymark, supporting estate and letting agents through life’s toughest moments.

The proposals form part of a wider ambition to accelerate housebuilding and tackle long-standing shortages, with large-scale developments expected to play a central role in delivering new homes and infrastructure. For property agents, these proposals signal continued focus on boosting supply, but also reinforce the need for practical, deliverable solutions that can bring homes to market more quickly

Propertymark is inviting member agents to apply for a place on the REACH UK Agent Advisory Board, offering a direct role in shaping and testing the next generation of property technology. The Board builds on a proven model that gives agents early access to emerging solutions and the opportunity to influence how they are developed and deployed in real agency settings.

When it comes to deposit disputes in the private rental sector, one thing matters above all else: evidence. Not opinion. Not memory. And certainly not assumptions. What matters is time stamped, detailed and impartial documentation that shows exactly what condition a property was in at the start and end of a tenancy. Propertymark Industry Supplier, Inventory Hive, explains why inventory reports matter so much, what makes them stand up to scrutiny, and what can cause them to fall apart in front of a deposit adjudicator.

From 6 April, 125,000 landlords and sole traders in the property sector must use Making Tax Digital (MTD) software, in the biggest change to the Self-Assessment system since 1997. Support is available to those impacted, and HMRC has confirmed that no penalties will be issued for late quarterly updates in the 2026 to 2027 tax year as the system beds in.

The UK Government has published the final version of the document, which sets out key changes for tenants ahead of reforms coming into force on 1 May 2026. Letting agents and landlords now have a clear legal duty to provide this document to relevant tenants, with a strict 31 May 2026 deadline and financial penalties for non-compliance.

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.