The new Labour government remains committed to implementing the recommendations in the final report on the Regulation of Property Agents (RoPA), more than five years on since Lord Best’s Working Group produced the information.
Housing minister Matthew Pennycook yesterday confirmed that that the proposed reforms are still on the agenda. However, there remains no indication of a timeframe for the introduction of planned minimum standards and qualifications.
Pennycook was responding to a question tabled in the House of Commons yesterday. The secretary of state for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities was asked if the recommendations of the Regulation of Property Agents (RoPA) Working Group, published in July 2019, will be implemented.
The minister confirmed that the UK government is committed to creating a fair and just housing system that works for everyone. He added, this commitment includes raising professionalism and standards amongst property agents to protect consumers, and defend the reputation of good agents from the actions of rogue operatives.
The RoPA Working Group Report made recommendations on a model for an independent property-agent regulator, a single, mandatory, and legally enforceable Code of Practice for property agents and a system of minimum entry requirements and continuing professional development for property agents.
Pennycock said: “The government is committed to ensuring that those living in the rented and leasehold sectors are protected from abuse and poor service at the hands of unscrupulous property agents. The Government will set out its position on the regulation of letting, management and estate agents in due course.”
Propertymark has welcomed Pennycook’s commitment to improving standards across the whole of the industry, something the professional body has long campaigned for through RoPA.
Nathan Emerson, CEO of Propertymark, commented: “With so many new laws being introduced and with the Renters’ Right Bill on the horizon, it is vital that consumers are guided through the house buying and rental processes by qualified property agents who are knowledgeable about the latest legislative changes to the housing market.
“We know that across the country, qualifications have a positive impact on an agents professional capabilities with 87 per cent of letting agents in Scotland reporting so. Propertymark members are already operating to these higher standards and by extended these practices across the whole of the sector through regulation, it offers the potential to professionalise the industry, stamp out bad practice, create transparency and give consumers more control over who manages their property.
“Propertymark looks forward to continuing to work with the UK Government in bringing this to fruition and seeing the timetable set out for its implementation.”
