New measures will be introduced to professionalise the estate agent market, driving up standards. As the Alliance argued in our consultation response this has the potential to make buyers better aware of obligations relating to listed buildings and conservation areas, among other historic environment issues.
Estate agents will now be required to hold a professional qualification and to be transparent about the fees they receive for referring clients to solicitors, surveyors and mortgage brokers.
The changes set out will professionalise the sector, creating a more trustworthy and reliable industry who will be better held to account.
Guides on ‘How to Buy’ and ‘How to Sell’ will be developed and published to ensure customers are better informed of the process and know what questions they should be asking. The government will work with consumer groups and industry to develop a consistent set of performance metrics for conveyancers, so consumers can make a more informed choice.
The Government has published a summary of the responses to the home buying and selling call for evidence and the measures to be taken by Government in response.