Published: 08/10/2025 By PropertyMark

The UK Government has launched two consultations aimed at understanding the measures needed to improve the home buying and selling process, boost consumer confidence, speed up transactions, and improve the availability of material information in property listings.

This announcement brings fresh momentum for reform and professional qualifications following the change of UK Government and a six-year wait since the release of the Regulation of Property Agents (RoPA) report. You can find the announcements and the consultations linked below.

• UK Gov announcement
• Home Buying and Selling consultation
• Material Information consultation

The UK Government acknowledge the need for a radical overhaul, including digitisation and connectivity across the process, referencing the Scottish home buying and selling system, where upfront surveys underpin a lower fall-through rate.

The property leaders are urging the UK Government to set out a clear timetable so that the consumer experience aligns with the promised reforms.

Focus on professional standards

The consultations focus on the need for clarity on service standards through a common Code of Practice, mandatory qualifications for estate and letting agents, and strengthened consumer protection and redress mechanisms.

Proposals include the introduction of digital property logbooks, ID verification, and standardised data sharing, delivered initially via local authority pilots.

Five pillars for reform

To tackle the long-standing challenges in the home buying and selling process, the UK Government propose a comprehensive set of strategic reforms focused on five key pillars:

• Digitisation
• Upfront information for buyers
• Professional standards and consumer redress
• Consumer education and transparency
• Market innovation

Government seeks views on Material Information guidance

Through its focus on Material Information, the UK Government is seeking views on how guidance can best support estate agents in meeting their legal responsibilities to provide potential buyers with key information, while also helping consumers better understand both their own responsibilities and what they should expect from property professionals.