Labour backs ROPA rules

The Labour Party has committed to introducing the Regulation of Property Agents (ROPA) rules if it wins next year’s General Election.

Shadow Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook made the pledge at the party’s annual conference in Liverpool yesterday, stating that a future Labour government would look to introduce the recommendations in Lord Best’s report.

This includes minimum agency standards and qualifications.

The current Tory Government has regularly said it is committed to introducing the rules, first proposed in 2019, but is yet to do so.

The news was welcomed by agency trade body Propertymark.

Timothy Douglas, head of policy and campaigns at Propertymark, said:  “The UK Government and policy makers appreciate the need for qualifications for property managers in the social rented sector. It is now positive to hear Labour acknowledge that regulatory oversight and protections should be extended to all tenants and consumers regardless of the housing tenure they live in.

“Estate agents are the only part of the home buying and selling process that isn’t regulated, outside of Scotland and Wales there are no requirements for letting agents to be suitably trained or qualified and with a huge focus on building safety in multi-occupied buildings, alarmingly there are no qualification or ongoing training requirements for managing agents. Propertymark will continue to work across party to ensure these important reforms are implemented through legislation.”