The Northern Ireland Executive has published a draft Fuel Poverty Strategy with proposals for improving energy efficiency in homes, protecting consumers, and fostering collaboration across sectors. Propertymark supports the key principles but has highlighted critical areas that need further consideration, including achievable timescales, sensible exemptions, and cost caps that reflect property values.

The Scottish Government has launched a review of fire safety regulations following the fatal Cameron House Hotel fire in 2017. Recommendations from the Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) highlighted key safety failings and proposed regulatory changes to prevent similar incidents in the future with a particular focus on traditional buildings converted to be used as hotels.

Harmless plants, including Bindweed and dogwood, are frequently mistaken as Japanese knotweed, leading to unnecessary alarm and potential complications during property transactions, and further education is needed to help with identification.

Maintaining outdoor spaces is a priority for many landlords and tenants, as well-kept gardens enhance a property’s appeal and provide a pleasant environment. But disagreements over upkeep can lead to disputes. Being aware of the most common garden maintenance issues, and their impact on tenancy agreements, can help agents act to minimise disputes.

The UK Government has announced a significant change in fire safety oversight, transferring responsibility from the Home Office to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) effective from 1 April 2025. The move responds to a recommendation of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 report and puts responsibility for building safety and fire under a single Secretary of State, enabling a more joined-up approach.

The buyers of a £32.5 million mansion sued the seller after he failed to give honest information about the state of the property in pre-sale enquiries, particularly, a serious moth infestation. As a result, the court ordered the sale to be reversed, with the buyers receiving a refund of the purchase price plus £4m in damages, including compensation for ruined items.

Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) in Scotland are to be revised and updated to give consumers a clearer picture of their home’s energy performance and link better with the drive to cut emissions from buildings. The proposed changes include a new rating system with clearer information on the fabric energy efficiency of a property, the emissions, efficiency and running costs of its heating system, and the cost of energy to run the home.

The UK Government has published a new guide to help make small blocks of flats in England safer from fire. It has practical advice for agents, building managers and owners on improving fire safety in blocks of up to three storeys containing up to six flats and includes new legal requirements introduced through Section 156 of the Building Safety Act 2022.

One of the key themes of the White Paper is the Welsh Government’s commitment to achieving housing adequacy — a concept that includes affordability, security, and access to quality housing. While Propertymark agrees with this goal and supports enshrining housing adequacy as a human right in Welsh law, we have urged policymakers to focus on pro-growth policies rather than introducing restrictions that will force landlords out of the market.

Recent developments concerning the company Tri Fire and one of its assessors have raised significant concerns over the validity of the EWS1 forms they have issued. Major banks are refusing to lend on properties assessed by Tri Fire, potentially causing delays or halts in property sales and remortgages.

Barking and Dagenham Council is set to implement a borough-wide selective licensing scheme, requiring all private rental properties to be licensed from 6 April 2025. The scheme is among the first to leverage a law change introduced by Housing Secretary Angela Rayner at the end of 2024, allowing councils to establish larger licensing schemes without seeking central government approval.

The Welsh Government has recently concluded a public consultation on proposed amendments to Part B (Fire Safety) of the Building Regulations, resulting in significant changes that will impact sales and letting agents and building managers. Since 2021, several changes relating to the design and construction phase have already been brought forward, and a Building Safety (Wales) Bill will be introduced before the end of the current Senedd term setting out how building safety should be managed once a building is occupied.

A product of our ongoing and successful partnership, the extensive fact sheet helps property agents in Wales understand new rules and how they impact freeholders, leaseholders, renters, home buyers and sellers. Whilst a number of provisions under the Building Safety Act 2022 apply to Wales, the Welsh Government is establishing its own Building Safety Regime that reflects its plans to ensure the safety of residents in Wales.

The UK Government has unveiled plans to reform the Energy Performance of Buildings (EPB) framework in England and Wales, with sweeping changes to the way Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) are structured, used, and valued. Both commercial and residential agents, landlords, and property owners will need to renew their EPCs more often, and some exemptions, for example for heritage properties, may no longer apply.