The capital’s draft planning strategy proposes more than half a million new homes over ten years, alongside investment in infrastructure, commercial space, and greener neighbourhoods. We support these ambitions, but our members’ experience across London’s property sectors highlights the gap between identifying land for housing and delivering homes that can be financed, built, and occupied. We have called for a more practical approach to delivery that gives greater recognition to the role of the private rented sector and existing buildings.

Buyers in England could soon be presented with standardised upfront information about how a property would cope with flooding, the protection already installed, and recommendations for improvements. The UK Government and Flood Re have announced that the first pilots of the Flood Performance Certificate (FPC) will begin this winter, targeting at-risk areas, with a broader roll-out planned throughout 2027 and beyond.

August’s figures reveal a housing market where activity continues, but buyers are taking a more cautious approach, making realistic pricing and negotiation increasingly important. Meanwhile, growing tenant demand and limited rental supply continue to create challenges across the lettings market, highlighting the different pressures facing buyers, sellers, landlords and renters.

In the last two years, landlords have seen more expensive mortgages and rising compliance costs. The Renters' Rights Act has changed how tenancies work and what happens when things go wrong. And now there's an annual fee to register each property on the new database, one more line on a spreadsheet that only ever grows in one direction. None of that is going away. However, as Propertymark Industry Supplier Homebox explains, agents still can ensure their landlords feel like someone is actively working to bring their costs down.

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.

Housing was firmly at the centre of this year's political conference season, with the major parties setting out competing visions for home ownership, renting, planning reform and economic growth. While Labour's position as the party of government meant it made announcements with the most immediate implications, conferences across the political spectrum provided important insight into how housing policy may evolve in the coming years.

Once implemented, the Building Safety (Wales) Act 2026 will introduce a new regime for assessing and managing building safety risks in multi-occupied buildings, led by a designated local authority in each of Wales’s three fire and rescue authority areas. The success of the regional Building Safety Authorities (BSAs) will depend on sufficient resources, clear guidance, and meaningful engagement with property and managing agents to support a consistent approach across Wales.

Party Leader Zack Polanski's speech and wider conference policy discussions have outlined a series of housing and property proposals, including plans for a three-year cap on private rents, increased investment in social housing, and wider reforms aimed at addressing housing affordability. Propertymark supports policies that improve access to safe, secure, and affordable housing. However, we continue to oppose rent control measures that risk serious unintended consequences for people seeking suitable homes.

A series of enforcement actions relating to licensing breaches, overcrowding, poor property management, and failures to comply with regulatory requirements present a cautionary tale for both agents and landlords. The Renters’ Rights Act has strengthened many of the consequences of non-compliance, whilst local authorities continue to take a firm approach and are increasingly willing to use substantial financial penalties where standards fall short.

The UK Government has used the Labour Party Conference to set out a series of significant housing and property sector reforms, including tougher action against landlords who fail to maintain their properties and confirmation that the regulation of property agents will be introduced. These plans are likely to have far-reaching implications for Propertymark members working across the sales, lettings and property management sectors.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has proposed a new scheme to allow first-time buyers in England to purchase a new-build home with a 2.5% deposit, along with plans to let councils intervene sooner when homes stand empty, and a £210 million package to bring disused high street buildings back into use. Propertymark’s Policy and Campaigns Team is at the Labour Party conference to discuss these announcements directly with MPs and explain how members and their clients could be affected.

Landlords and sole traders already using Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax must send their second quarterly update to HMRC by 7 November 2026. The rules will extend to more people from April 2027, so letting agents can help landlord clients prepare now.

Informed by our engagement with member agents operating in Wales, Propertymark has called on the Senedd’s Finance Committee to ensure the 2027–28 Budget addresses the real financial pressures facing property businesses and the wider housing market. We urge the Welsh Government to prioritise practical action that improves the availability and quality of homes, rather than adding costs or regulation that could reduce supply.

Across the UK, finding a suitable rented home can be more challenging for pet owners, especially when landlords are concerned about potential damage, noise, or cleaning costs. Battersea identifies housing as one of the main reasons animals are given up to its care, but the perceived risks of allowing pets can differ from the reality. Our new Renting with pets guide sets out practical ways to assess requests, manage risks, and build clear agreements that support successful tenancies.