RICS Influence and Advocacy Update – August 2026

With a new UK Prime Minister and government forming over the summer, RICS has moved quickly to ensure policymakers place the built and natural environment at the heart of their decision-making. From home buying and selling reform and skills policy, to commercial property legislation, energy efficiency standards and leasehold reform, discover how RICS is representing members' interests and shaping the policy landscape across the UK.

Our message to the new Prime Minister and government

Following Andy Burnham's appointment as Prime Minister, RICS moved quickly to engage with the new administration and set out priorities for the built and natural environment. We welcomed the opportunity to work constructively with government on housing delivery, planning reform, skills, decarbonisation and economic growth.

RICS also welcomed the government's decision to reduce business rates for pubs, clubs and live music venues, highlighting the importance of supporting high streets and community assets, while continuing the wider conversation on long-term business rates reform. We have also called for the new government to commit to moving forward with reforms to home buying and selling, stressing that consistency and market confidence are key to allowing the sector time to prepare for changes.

Home buying and selling reform: maintaining momentum

RICS has called on the new Prime Minister to maintain momentum behind the government's proposed reforms to home buying and selling. In our engagement with ministers and officials, we have emphasised the opportunity to improve transparency, reduce fall-throughs and create a more efficient property transaction process for consumers.

To support this work, RICS hosted an industry panel discussion at our London headquarters, bringing together government representatives, property professionals and industry leaders to discuss next steps. Conversations focused on digital sales packs, upfront information, identity verification and raising professional standards across the property sector.

While there was broad support for reform, participants noted that improvements to the transaction process alone will not increase housing mobility, unless accompanied by wider measures to improve housing supply. There was also strong support for greater professionalisation of estate and letting agents to improve consumer confidence and consistency across the market, while also ensuring reforms work for businesses of all sizes, especially SMEs.

Building the next generation of surveyors

RICS has welcomed government proposals to strengthen technical education pathways and apprenticeships, recognising the need to address long-term skills shortages across the surveying profession.

We continue to work closely with government and education providers to promote accessible routes into the profession and ensure employers can access the skilled workforce needed to support housing, infrastructure and economic growth ambitions across the UK.

RICS also responded to the APPG on apprenticeships inquiry into supporting the economic growth agenda.

RICS argued that apprenticeships are essential to delivering the government’s industrial strategy and wider economic growth ambitions, particularly in the built environment sector, which underpins housing, infrastructure, net zero, planning reform and building safety. While supportive of Skills England’s overall mission, RICS highlighted concerns about disruption caused by the transition from IfATE, reduced employer influence over skills development, and reforms that could weaken the independence and robustness of apprenticeship assessment.

RICS called for a stable, employer-led skills system that aligns local skills planning with major project pipelines, maintains high-quality apprenticeship standards and recognises apprenticeships as a key route into professional careers and social mobility. It also urges government to retain funding for higher-level and Level 7 apprenticeships, improve flexibility within the Growth and Skills Levy, better align apprenticeship success measures with professional competence frameworks such as the RICS APC, and ensure funding and policy reforms support both workforce development and long-term economic productivity.

Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 review

The Law Commission's review of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 continues, with RICS actively engaging throughout the process on behalf of members.

The review presents an important opportunity to ensure the commercial leasing framework remains fit for purpose, supports investment and provides flexibility for modern occupiers, while maintaining confidence across the property market. We will continue to represent member views as proposals develop.

Commercial Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES)

The UK government has published a further update on reforms to Commercial MEES, confirming work is continuing on proposals to improve the energy performance of commercial buildings.

RICS continues to engage with government on implementation challenges, highlighting the importance of a clear transition pathway, realistic timescales and sufficient market capacity to support compliance. Members have consistently stressed the need for certainty to support investment decisions and retrofit planning.

Leasehold and commonhold reform

RICS has continued its engagement with parliamentarians on leasehold and commonhold reform, following a recent parliamentary debate on challenges facing leaseholders and the regulation of managing agents.

We have held discussions with MPs, including Robbie Moore and Danny Beales, who share our view that greater professionalism and stronger standards are essential to improving consumer confidence in the sector. RICS will continue advocating for a proportionate regulatory framework that places competence and professionalism at its centre.