RICS Influence & Advocacy Update -September 2026

From housing reform and property agent regulation to retrofit and embodied carbon, September saw significant progress on issues that matter to the profession. RICS engaged with policymakers across the UK to help shape practical, evidence-based reforms that support consumers, businesses and sustainable growth.

Housing reform takes centre stage at the Labour party conference 

RICS responded to the prime minister's conference speech, welcoming the measures to support first-time buyers, bring empty homes back into use, strengthen social housing protections and accelerate grid connections. 

While these announcements are positive, RICS stressed that increasing housing supply remains the fundamental challenge. We also highlighted concerns that the new Your First Home scheme focuses solely on new-build properties, which could recreate some of the market distortions seen under Help to Buy if demand increases without a corresponding increase in supply. 

Engaging across the political spectrum 

RICS attended the Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrat and Reform UK party conferences, ensuring professional expertise was represented across key policy debates. 

At the Labour conference, CEO Justin Young joined Minister for Employment Andrew Western MP to discuss AI, skills and the future workforce, highlighting RICS' new data-focused career pathways and Responsible use of artificial intelligence in surveying practice professional standard. RICS also participated in discussions on business rates reform, planning and high-street regeneration. 

At the Liberal Democrat conference, RICS joined a Re:State roundtable with Lisa Smart MP to discuss devolution and place-based policymaking.

At the Reform UK conference, we engaged with parliamentarians on planning reform, business rates and the role of proportionate regulation in supporting growth. 

Progress on property agent regulation 

Announcements during the Labour party conference on regulating managing agents and licensing estate and letting agents marked a significant milestone in a reform agenda that RICS has championed for many years. 

RICS has consistently argued that professional regulation is essential to improving outcomes for leaseholders, renters and homeowners, and creates a fair and consistent framework for professionals. We will continue to work with government to ensure implementation is effective and proportionate and that it delivers meaningful benefits for consumers. 

Supporting members ahead of social housing qualification changes 

Ahead of the introduction of the government's new Competence and Conduct Standard, RICS published guidance for members on forthcoming qualification requirements for social housing professionals. 

Our engagement with government helped secure recognition of existing professional expertise, alongside proportionate CPD and top-up learning routes for experienced practitioners. 

Shaping reform of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 

RICS submitted evidence to the Law Commission's review of business tenancies and met with officials to discuss member views on lease renewals, dispute resolution and valuation. 

A key recommendation was greater use of alternative dispute resolution, reflecting strong support from landlords and tenants for faster and more cost-effective measures than court proceedings in appropriate cases. 

Driving the embodied carbon agenda 

RICS met with Green Party MP Dr Ellie Chowns following her parliamentary debate on embodied carbon where she cited the RICS Whole life carbon assessment for the built environment professional standard as one of the most developed methodologies in the world. 

The discussion explored how the profession can support wider adoption of embodied carbon measurement across government policy and the built environment sector. 

Responding to the Revitalising High Streets inquiry 

RICS submitted evidence to the House of Commons inquiry Revitalising High Streets, arguing that restricting certain business types alone will not address the underlying challenges facing town centres. 

Our response highlighted the need for realistic, place-based approaches that recognise local market conditions, alongside reform of the business rates system to better reflect the modern economy. 

Supporting consumer confidence in retrofit 

RICS responded to the government's consultation on reforming consumer protection for home upgrade schemes. 

Our submission highlighted the role of regulated professionals in the retrofit market and promoted the new RICS Residential retrofit (AssocRICS) pathway, which will support delivery of high-quality retrofit advice and increase consumer confidence under the Warm Homes Plan. 

Updates from the devolved nations 

Across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, RICS continued to engage with governments on housing, skills, building safety and decarbonisation policy. 

In Scotland, this included discussions on tenants’ rights, the proposed Building Safety Levy and EPC reform. In Northern Ireland, we worked with government on public sector decarbonisation, building safety legislation and commercial property rating policy. In Wales, RICS engaged with the Welsh government's people and skills strategy to support investment in professional qualifications across the built environment sector.