Propertymark is advising estate agents to secure professional qualifications in advance of planned regulatory changes, following the government's recent proposals to update the homebuying and selling process.
As part of these reforms, the government has confirmed a non-statutory Code of Practice will be released later in 2026. It also intends to consult in 2027 on introducing mandatory qualifications for estate and letting agents across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Nathan Emerson, CEO at Propertymark, stated that while consultation on mandatory qualifications is not anticipated until 2027, property professionals do not need to wait. He encouraged agents to proactively gain recognised qualifications now.
Propertymark noted a growing demand for qualifications, with almost 3,500 new learners registering for its courses in 2025, 7,400 examinations completed, and 1,500 qualifications awarded during that year.