In last week’s Westminster debate, Alex Norris, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government reiterated the Government’s plans to regulate property agents, as recommended in Lord Best’s 2019 report on the regulation of property agents (ROPA).
Speaking in the debate, Alex Norris said: “We want to reform the existing system…… to act to protect leasehold from poor service from managing agents.”
“…we have said that as a minimum, we will include mandatory professional qualifications for managing agents, to ensure that they have the skills that they need to carry out their role to a high standard.”
While much of the rest of the half hour debate focused on frustration because of further delays to the consultations required, the reiteration of the Government’s objective to regulate property agents is to be welcomed.
A great focus of the complaints from leaseholders is on the way that buildings are managed, with an over-arching request for buildings to be managed professionally and reasonably. There is a hope that with more professionalism will come improved communications, additional transparency and increased fairness.
The role of a managing agent is complex, requiring knowledge of Landlord and Tenant law, building construction, health and safety regulations, accounting and so much more. Making professional qualifications mandatory for managing agents sounds like a step forward. It remains to be seen what exactly is meant by ‘professional qualifications’ and this needs clarification, but the general direction of travel is to be applauded and a consultation on the subject is expected later this year.
The ROPA proposals included the introduction of minimum entry requirements and continuing professional development for property agents, the establishment of an independent property-agent regulator, and a mandatory and legally enforceable Code of Practice for property agents. When the parameters of the consultation are published, we will see how serious the Government is about strengthening the regulations.
In my view, so many of the significant concerns relating to leasehold concern to management and it is great to see this point getting some parliamentary ‘air time.’ Whilst there is much to do in the agenda for reform of the law in this area, the regulation of managing agents would in my view be a simple, practical step that would ease the problems being experienced by many at the hands of bad managers and drive up standards within this critical part of the property economy.
Contact our Landlord & Tenant team
If you have a query concerning leasehold property, then please contact our expert Landlord & Tenant team by emailing leasehold@bishopandsewell.co.uk or call on +44(0)20 7631 4141.
The above is accurate as at 10 June 2025.
The information above may be subject to change.
The content of this note should not be considered legal advice, and each matter should be considered on a case-by-case basis.
