News and reports

HM Land Registry (HMLR) is consulting on changes to how people access land ownership information in England and Wales. The proposals cover new datasets, free access to some information and safeguards to protect individuals.

HM Land Registry (HMLR) is consulting on a restructured fee model in England and Wales aimed at reducing calculation errors and avoidable delays as part of a wider drive for more efficient public services. The proposals would leave some customers paying more and others less.

Letting agents and property managers will be able to submit and update certain property details on behalf of landlords through England’s new ‘Register your rental property’ service. Guidance published on 29 October 2026 explains how this will work, who is responsible, and how teams can prepare before the service launches in December.

Landlords face a further rise in property income tax from April 2027, while first-time buyers will gain access to a new £4.7 billion equity loan scheme. Chancellor John Healey’s Budget, delivered on 28 October 2026, also sets out more funding for affordable homes, changes to business rates and further details of the council tax surcharge on high-value properties.

Launched in October 1996, buy-to-let followed several years of work by ARLA (now ARLA Propertymark), its members, and established UK banks and mortgage lenders. Their aim was to create finance that reflected the needs of landlords and the income generated by rented homes. Three decades on, the anniversary is also an opportunity to consider how agents, lenders, and policymakers can support investment in good-quality rental homes.

Local authorities in England will be able to apply for Empty Dwelling Management Orders (EDMOs) for homes left empty for six months, rather than two years, from 5 November 2026. This is a positive move, although EDMOs should be used only as a last resort. The measures could be enhanced by adding a requirement for local authorities to consult a qualified agent to speed up the process of returning stock to the market.

We have taken our campaign to unlock empty homes directly to the Senedd, urging policymakers to widen access to funding, recognise private landlords as housing providers, and assess whether council tax premiums are bringing properties back into use. In an evidence session on 21 October 2026, our Head of Policy and Campaigns, Timothy Douglas, highlighted the need for practical support for owners, better housing data, and properly funded local authority teams.

Survivors could gain stronger rights to remain in their social homes whilst their abuser is removed under new proposals in the Social Housing Bill, which aims to protect social housing stock in England, support investment, and improve security for tenants. The Bill is progressing through the parliamentary process and could become law in the first half of 2027.

Established six months ago following an extensive selection process, Propertymark’s Regulatory Board brings together leading expertise in professional regulation, consumer protection, governance, and the property sector, including individuals with experience at some of the UK’s most respected regulatory organisations.