Revolutionary proposals to impose mandatory qualifications on letting agents have been unveiled by the government.
The proposals are amongst a series of dramatic reforms, proposed in a series of consultation documents released this morning.
On mandatory qualifications for lettings and sales agents the government says:
“Estate agents play a pivotal role in the home buying and selling process and many provide an excellent service.
“However, too many are failing consumers. Compared to other property professionals and international norms, the sector is lightly regulated. This contributes to low public trust scores with only 37% of people expressing trust in the profession (November 2024 Ipsos MORI Veracity Index).
“Low trust, a lack of qualifications, and the absence of minimum professional standards increase the industry’s burdens, creating additional legal and administrative work for conveyancers.
“We propose introducing a Code of Practice setting out the minimum standards expected of all residential property agents, including estate, letting, and managing agents. We will explore the most effective delivery options for maximising the impact of the Code but expect that National Trading Standards, the redress schemes, professional bodies and the courts would use it to drive up standards.
“On 4 July 2025 the government consulted on the introduction of mandatory minimum qualifications for managing agents of leasehold, commonhold, and share of freehold properties and estate managers of freehold estates. This consultation closed on 26 September, and we are analysing responses.
“The consultation set out a preferred option to deliver qualifications through government appointing designated professional bodies to implement the qualification requirements, supported by local authority enforcement. We propose extending this model to estate and lettings agents and as a first step could consult on mandatory qualifications for these sectors. Trade-offs, including potential impacts on consumers and agents (for example, costs), will be carefully assessed.
“Subject to consultation outcomes, we propose to legislate for mandatory qualifications when a suitable legislative vehicle is available and consider legislation to ensure compliance with the Code of Practice.
“Alongside this, we would improve consumer education so the public understands agent’s roles and knows where to turn if things go wrong.
“We will also work with the Competition and Markets Authority to ensure their new powers under the Digital Markets Consumers and Competition Act (2024) support high standards in this sector. Further interventions would remain under consideration if needed to raise standards.”
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The government consultation cites Denmark as an example of the kind of regime it wants to embrace.
The government says: “In Denmark, estate agents must be approved and registered by the Danish Business Authority (Erhvervsstyrelsen). To join the register, they must have formal qualifications and be able to demonstrate professional competence. Estate agents are responsible for preparing a sales report, building survey, electricity survey and energy report for each property they are selling.”
As part of the consultation, the government asks five questions:
- Do you agree that we should intervene to drive up standards amongst, and improve trust in, property agents?
- Do you agree with our proposal to bring forward a Code of Practice on a non-statutory basis, and to legislate to put this on a statutory footing in future if necessary?
- Do you agree with our proposal to consult on mandatory qualifications for estate and lettings agents?
- Are there additional interventions you think government should take to drive up standards amongst property agents?
- Are there any other areas across the property agent sector that needs to be monitored or regulated in order to improve the customer journey?
You can see the full consultation document here: https://draft-origin.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/consultations/home-buying-and-selling-reform/home-buying-and-selling-reform
