Propertymark is urging the Burnham government to speed up leasehold reform and provide immediate protections for existing leaseholders, arguing that a future move to commonhold will not address current market problems. Its report says high service charges, slow access to leasehold information and unresolved building safety defects are continuing to hinder sales, mortgageability and consumer confidence.
FCS Compliance is hosting a free webinar for property professionals on anti-money laundering regulation changes and updated HMRC guidance. The session will be led by AML specialists and is designed to address practical questions on applying the revised framework in day-to-day property business operations.
A property management specialist argues that replacing leasehold with Commonhold would not, by itself, resolve the underlying causes of poor resident outcomes. The article calls for stronger regulation, better governance and improved standards within the existing system rather than a wholesale tenure change.
Propertymark is warning letting agents and landlords that local licensing requirements are expanding while penalties for non-compliance have increased under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025. The article highlights growing council consultations on selective and additional licensing, Article 4 Directions affecting HMOs, and the forthcoming PRS Database as part of a more complex regulatory landscape.
Knight Frank data indicates that prime London lettings remain constrained by a persistent supply shortage, with new listings below long-run averages and rents continuing to rise. The article links weaker landlord supply and reduced lettings activity to recent tax and legislative changes, including the Renters Rights Act, while noting stronger activity in higher-value and super-prime segments.
The government has said England’s short-lets register, covering Airbnb-style accommodation, is expected to be fully operational by March next year and is likely to be mandatory. The article also notes that Scotland and Northern Ireland already have similar schemes, while Wales is introducing a visitor accommodation register from next month.
The New Homes Ombudsman Service has reported a sharp rise in formal complaints about new-build properties, with complaints more than tripling year on year and homeowners receiving a higher proportion of favourable decisions. Defects and snagging remain the dominant issues, including cases involving damp, mould, structural problems and fire safety-related defects, while the report also notes that a significant share of new homes still falls outside the scheme.
A survey by The Letting Partnership suggests letting agents expect the Renters Rights Act to increase their compliance and administrative workload. Despite this, seven in 10 respondents believe the added complexity will make professional agents more important to landlords.
Rightmove has added a rent review function to its Tenancy Manager service to help letting agents create and serve Section 13 rent increase notices from existing tenancy records. The update is positioned as part of its wider Lead to Keys suite, aimed at streamlining lettings workflows and supporting agents as they adapt to changes introduced by the Renters Rights Act.
