The future of the UK sales and lettings market will become clearer in the next few weeks as the major political parties outline their vision for the country in their manifestos to voters. To inform agents about the pledges from politicians across the UK, Reapit | PayProp will be hosting a special webinar with award-winning political expert Simon Darby from communications consultancy PLMR, covering politicians’ plans for industry reforms.
Industry needs clarity
There have already been a number of commitments from the Labour Party about their plans for the sales and lettings. Angela Rayner, Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, outlined the party’s pledge to build 1.5 million homes over five years, some of which will be in ‘new towns’ selected in the first year of a Labour government.
On the private rented sector, Rayner has committed to scrapping Section 21 evictions on the first day of a Labour government. Despite the party ruling out rent controls in 2023, recent comments from Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves suggest that there may be a case for allowing local authorities to cap rents in their area.
Across the political divide, the Conservatives may look to both resurrect the Help to Buy scheme for first-time buyers and to press on with a new version of the Renters (Reform) Bill, which failed to become law in the last parliament.
Setting expectations
Webinar host Neil Cobbold, the Reapit | PayProp Commercial Director, explained: "The upcoming election is a pivotal moment for our industry. Understanding and adapting to the proposed policies will be key to maintaining a competitive edge, protecting your business and reassuring your clients. There have been many statements made already about the housing sector. Our webinar aims to cut through the noise, focusing on what the different political parties are planning for sales and lettings specifically, and giving agents the opportunity to ask questions of an expert on UK politics.
“We’ll also be covering how agents can position themselves as experts on housing policy to reassure their clients during this time of uncertainty.”
Simon Darby, Head of Public Affairs at PLMR, will also be sharing his expertise during the webinar. He commented, "With the likelihood of significant regulatory shifts, estate agents need to be proactive in understanding the implications for their operations. Our goal is to equip attendees with the knowledge they need to engage effectively with policymakers and set expectations on how quickly any manifesto pledges can become law."
“Despite the significant lead Labour has in the polls, we will also be looking at the Conservative policies as they will have a role to play. The Conservatives will remain the largest party in the House of Lords and contribute to legislation in committees in the House of Commons as new laws are debated, so it is important to understand their position as well.
Registration is open and attendance is free
Agents looking to understand what the election means for their business, vendors, buyers, landlords and tenants can register today to secure their place. The webinar will take place on 19 June at 1pm and cover an in-depth analysis of the housing proposals contained within the main parties’ manifestos.
For more information and to register for the webinar, please visit the signup page.
