Take advantage of our exclusive member benefits such as legal advice, industry newsletters and discounts on our training and events that will help you improve your skills and stay ahead of the competition. As a respected association we believe that estate agents should be licensed to practice, both to protect the consumer and to encourage higher standards in the property sector.
Become a member
On 3 March 2021, the Welsh Government announced that the temporary increase to the nil rate band of LTT for residential property transactions will be extended to 30 June 2021.
The Chancellor has listened to Propertymark’s calls to avoid a cliff-edge deadline to the Stamp Duty Land Tax holiday in the UK Government’s budget, today, 3 March 2021. The nil rate band up to £500,000 will end on 30 June, instead of March. A transitional nil rate band up to £250,000 will be in place until the end of September and then return to £125,000 from October, with first-time buyers continuing not to pay stamp duty on properties up to £300,000.
Research carried out by Propertymark over the last year found an average of 17 property sales fell through, with 42 per cent of respondents saying failed sales are a significant problem for businesses.
Propertymark’s Chief Policy Advisor Mark Hayward has today welcomed speculation in The Times that the Chancellor may extend the Stamp Duty Holiday in England until the end of June, in next week’s budget.
The Board of Propertymark has asked Nathan Emerson to assume the role of Interim CEO with immediate effect. Nathan’s appointment will provide great stability for the organisation, its staff and its members and will ensure that the operational delivery of its new and exciting strategy is taken forward.
The Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) is expanding asymptomatic COVID-19 testing which will be available for workforces via two different routes: either the workplace or community testing.
Ahead of the Scottish Parliament elections scheduled to take place on 6 May 2021, Propertymark has released its key asks to support the housing sector.
Lobbying is key to ensuring that our members have a voice as Government and politicians make decisions affecting the sector. One strand of lobbying work is Propertymark’s Ask The Experts parliamentary sessions, which give legislators the chance to get answers to questions on important property sector issues.
Propertymark has responded to the UK Government’s consultation on ‘Improving home energy performance through lenders’ by raising concerns that the proposed targets are unrealistic, too simplistic and could deter people from moving home.
The Board of Propertymark has accepted the resignation of its CEO, Tim Balcon. Following four months in the role Tim has decided and mutually agreed with the Board, that he will stand down as CEO of Propertymark today, 17 February. This follows a short period of handover to Interim Executive Chair, Nicky Heathcote.
With everyone spending more time at home, many regular social activities no longer available and agents’ day-to-day work practices changing, Propertymark highlights the importance of nurturing your mental health and provides simple changes to our routines which can make a big difference.
Housing Minister Robert Jenrick has today, 10 February, announced the UK Government’s further plans to remove unsafe cladding by investing an additional £3.5 billion. Jenrick promises that the funding will ensure leaseholders in England in high-rise buildings above 18 metres will bear no costs in order to make them safe.
The New Homes Quality Board (NHQB), that will champion quality new homes and better consumer outcomes for buyers, has been launched, today, 9 February. The board will appoint a new homes ombudsman and deliver a ‘step change’ for the buyers of new homes.
It’s National Apprenticeship Week, a time for organisations across the country to celebrate apprenticeships and the positive impact they have on individuals, employers, and the economy. As the EPA organisation for the Junior Estate Agent apprenticeship, Propertymark Qualifications is taking part this year with a series of interviews with employers and their apprentices within the property sector.
REACH UK launched its first program with support from NAEA Propertymark and has announced its PropTech class of 2021 which represents companies based across Europe who offer solutions for the entire estate agency industry.
Ahead of the budget on 3 March, Propertymark has published its manifesto asking for ten changes the UK Government to make to support the housing sector. Principal changes are a continuation of the cut in stamp duty and extending the Help to Buy scheme to the second-hand homes market.
A new report addressing mental health in estate agents found 64 per cent of respondents have had a mental illness, while 89 per cent would like to see mental health awareness integrated into workplace culture. Only 16 per cent of respondents say they have had any training or guidance on the issue.
In yesterday evening’s Stamp Duty Land Tax debate in parliament, MPs reported that multiple constituents have contacted them raising issues with delayed sales due to COVID restrictions and the conveyancing logjam.
The Labour Party is calling for a National Cladding Taskforce to protect those still living in homes with serious fire safety risks. Labour wants all homes made safe by next year and will hold a non-binding vote on the issue in the Commons on Monday 1 February.
Propertymark Industry Supplier, Made Snappy discusses the different uses of virtual tours and the positive impact they will have on the property industry over the next five years.
On Friday 29 January 2021, Mark Drakeford, the First Minister confirmed the alert level four lockdown restrictions will remain in place in Wales for the next three weeks. This means no changes to the existing rules on house moves and related activity.
Propertymark continues to engage with MPs ahead of the virtual debate on extending the relief to Stamp Duty Land Tax. Following the announcement of the session, politicians have been sent a briefing outlining reasons for extending the relief for home buyers.
The Scottish Government has announced in their Budget 2021-2022 that the change to the residential LBTT nil rate band, introduced in July 2020, will not be extended but the 100 per cent non-domestic rates relief will be for at least the first three months of the financial year.
Highest numbers for the month of December were recorded in the NAEA Propertymark Housing Market Report for house hunters and sales agreed per estate agent branch.
Figures published in January 2021 show a 111 per cent increase in housebuilding in England from July to September 2020 compared with the previous quarter. Data for the same period also show a quarterly rise of 185 per cent more dwellings completed.
Propertymark Industry Supplier, Gallagher offers practical steps that can help agents and their clients reduce the risk of damage to property as areas of the nation are set to see further warnings of more inclement weather to come. Damage caused by the escape of water from frozen pipes and other equipment can be extremely costly in repairs and disruption.
First-time buyers looking to purchase a home in England will continue to receive Government support under the revised Help to Buy: Equity Loan Scheme (2021-2023), which is now open for applications with buyers able to move into their new properties from 1 April 2021.
A group of 50 Conservative MPs are calling on the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak to extend the stamp duty cut for properties worth less than £500,000 a further 12 months in a major boost alongside The Telegraph’s ‘Stamp Out the Duty’ campaign.
The Welsh Government’s Building Safety White Paper covers all multi-occupied residential buildings, from houses converted into flats through to high rise apartment blocks. It sets out major reforms to how properties are designed, built, managed, and lived in whilst proposing clear lines of accountability and a stronger regulatory system.
In November, the House of Lords passed an amendment to the UK Government’s Fire Safety Bill making changes to the current legislation to protect leaseholders from having to pay for historical fire safety remedial work, including the removal of dangerous cladding.