On Thursday 2 May 2024, Londoners will cast their votes for the next Mayor and 25 Assembly Members. With a population of over nine million, and the highest house sales and rental values in the country, London presents unique challenges. Propertymark has written to the candidates outlining our housing plan for London, highlighting key priorities for the next four years and our proposals for addressing the city’s crisis in housing availability.

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.

Plans for statutory registration and licensing for all visitor accommodation in Wales have been announced with legislation expected to be introduced before the end of the year to address the negative impact second homes and short-term holiday lets have on the availability and affordability of housing for local people.

Middlesborough Council who issued the charges has defended it by saying each of the 52 flats in Linthorpe Hall 248 are eligible for the fee under their current selective licensing scheme, which began in 2019.

A property management and letting agency in Enfield received a £7,500 fine and was ordered to pay £1,299 in costs with an additional £2,000 victim surcharge (a total of £10,799), during a recent sentencing hearing at Highbury Corner Magistrates Court.

Responding to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) consultation on the registration options for a short-term lets (STLs) licensing scheme in England, Propertymark stated that any scheme should not be compulsory for local authorities if they can prove they are having no impact on private rented sector supply in their area.

Two separate investigations in Camden and Mansfield involving unlicensed Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs) led to sanctions for landlords and agents. West Northamptonshire is the latest council to announce a crackdown on unregulated and poorly managed properties.

Recognising the fact that some members in Wales operate for landlords of short-term holiday lets, Propertymark has responded to the Welsh Government’s consultation to establish a statutory licensing scheme for all visitor accommodation in Wales.

The Scottish Government has announced more time for hosts of short-term lets to apply for a licence. The deadline has now been postponed for six months from the original deadline of 31 March 2023 to 1 October 2023.

Responding to consultations across England, Propertymark is concerned that licensing schemes are not the best tool to drive up standards in the private rented sector (PRS), particularly during difficult financial times.

The Lettings Industry Council (TLIC) has published a report making practical and workable recommendations based on the expected changes to be introduced in the Renters' Reform Bill.

The Queen’s Speech on 10 May 2022, saw the UK Government announce that it would bring forward legislation to reform the private rented sector in England.

The House of Commons Public Accounts Committee’s report on the Regulation of Private Renting, published today, 13 April 2022, claims that better data is needed to understand issues within the private rented sector (PRS) in England and to evaluate the impact of legislative changes on landlords, tenants, the housing market as a whole and the effectiveness of regulation.

The UK Government plans to reform the private rented sector (PRS) in England and to help shape and influence the Renters’ Reforms, Propertymark has produced a paper outlining its position.

The Future of Renting features our recommendations to the UK Government and its plans to reform the private rented sector in England. We want to help shape and influence the UK Government’s Renters’ Reforms White Paper which is due to be released in 2022.