Propertymark has responded to two council consultations on proposed licensing and enforcement schemes, supporting action against negligent agents but arguing that enforcement should prioritise compliance improvement over revenue collection. It raised concerns about penalty levels, proportionality, and the need for clearer, plain-English guidance for landlords, agents and tenants.
The UK government plans a regional rollout of a new Private Rented Sector database in England from late 2026, requiring landlords of assured or regulated tenancies to register themselves and each property. The service will collect tenancy, property, and compliance information, including gas and electrical safety certificates and EPC data, with annual renewal fees and penalties for non-registration.
A leading lettings industry figure has backed the government’s proposed rental database, saying it could improve transparency and help tenants confirm that landlords are legitimate and compliant. However, she warns that the scheme’s success will depend on practical detail, including how agents can support landlords, how much manual input is required, and what information will be visible or kept private.
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.
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.
