Alarm raised over legality of contractors on property checks
Summary
The article warns that changes to the UK Right to Work framework now extend civil penalty liability along subcontracting chains, which may affect property agents arranging inspections or maintenance through informal contractor arrangements. It highlights the risk that agents could be exposed where there is no written contract, no verified insurance and no clear record of who attended a property.
Why it matters
Residential property surveyors and related property professionals often rely on third-party contractors for inspections, maintenance and other site visits. This change increases the importance of documenting contractor relationships and checking compliance to reduce the risk of civil penalties.
Key points
- Right to Work liability now extends along chains of contracts and to some online platform arrangements.
- Agents using informal contractor arrangements for inspections or maintenance may be exposed.
- The article highlights risks where there is no written contract, insurance verification or attendance record.
- Civil penalties can reach £45,000 for a first breach and £60,000 per illegal worker for repeat breaches.
- Home Office enforcement data cited in the article shows significant penalty activity in 2025.
This is an RPSA summary of a publicly available article. The full content remains with the original publisher.
