Found: s preferred model is to use Designated Professional Bodies, an additional evidence session with Lord Best

Found: The Lord Best Regulation of Property Agents Working Group recommended in 2019 that client money protection

Found: I speak regularly to Lord Best about these issues; his preference is very much for the latter, and for

Found: March 2026 10.30 am Watch the meeting Members present: Baroness Drake (The Chair); Baroness Barker; Lord Best

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to introduce regulations to regulate property management and letting agencies.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

On forfeiture reform, I refer the Noble Lord to the Written Ministerial Statement on 27 January 2026 (HLWS1278).

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 previous government committed to regulate the property agent sector in 2018 and asked a working group Chaired by Lord Best to advise them how to do it, yet it failed to respond to their findings from 2019. We are looking again at Lord Best’s 2019 report on regulating the property agent sector, particularly in light of the recommendations in the final Grenfell Inquiry report.

On 4 July 2025, we launched a wide-ranging consultation on proposals to hold landlords and managing agents to account for the services they provide and the charges and fees they levy. This included a number of proposals recommended by Lord Best, including the introduction of mandatory qualifications for managing agents and estate managers on freehold estates. We are clear that this consultation is not the final step in the regulation of managing agents and we will continue to reflect on the various other recommendations made in the 2019 report.

The government’s recent home buying and selling reform consultation sought views on proposals to professionalise property agents, including introducing a code of practice setting out minimum standards for letting, estate and managing agents.

The government also proposed a future consultation on mandatory qualifications for letting and estate agents and, depending on the outcome, potential legislation in respect of this issue. The home buying and selling reform consultation closed on 29 December and we will publish a roadmap setting out further details later this year.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to include measures to replace forfeiture in the draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

On forfeiture reform, I refer the Noble Lord to the Written Ministerial Statement on 27 January 2026 (HLWS1278).

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 previous government committed to regulate the property agent sector in 2018 and asked a working group Chaired by Lord Best to advise them how to do it, yet it failed to respond to their findings from 2019. We are looking again at Lord Best’s 2019 report on regulating the property agent sector, particularly in light of the recommendations in the final Grenfell Inquiry report.

On 4 July 2025, we launched a wide-ranging consultation on proposals to hold landlords and managing agents to account for the services they provide and the charges and fees they levy. This included a number of proposals recommended by Lord Best, including the introduction of mandatory qualifications for managing agents and estate managers on freehold estates. We are clear that this consultation is not the final step in the regulation of managing agents and we will continue to reflect on the various other recommendations made in the 2019 report.

The government’s recent home buying and selling reform consultation sought views on proposals to professionalise property agents, including introducing a code of practice setting out minimum standards for letting, estate and managing agents.

The government also proposed a future consultation on mandatory qualifications for letting and estate agents and, depending on the outcome, potential legislation in respect of this issue. The home buying and selling reform consultation closed on 29 December and we will publish a roadmap setting out further details later this year.