LRG sets out rental, leasehold and mortgage priorities ahead of Labour Party Conference

“As the Renters’ Rights Bill nears the finish line, what the sector needs now is a clear and practical plan for implementation,” she said. “The transition must be carefully phased and underpinned by clear, usable guidance.”

Thompson highlighted three priorities:

• Courts: committing to targets for listing times and ensuring housing-specific court lists are adequately resourced.

• Tenancies: providing fixed dates, standardised terms and transitional rules to support the move to periodic tenancies.

• New systems: ensuring the new ombudsman and property portal are simple to use, with national data standards to make compliance seamless.

On the proposed Decent Homes Standard, Thompson urged government to focus on fixing high-risk issues first:

“We support the introduction of a Decent Homes Standard in the private rented sector, but it has to be practical to follow and consistent to enforce. Too many landlords want to do the right thing but are left guessing what’s required.”

She also called for alignment of timelines across reforms, including energy efficiency targets. On EPC C, Thompson emphasised the need for early clarity and realistic guidance:

“Improving energy efficiency is something the sector supports, but it needs to be delivered in a way that keeps good landlords in the market. If EPC C is the target for 2030, then landlords need clarity now.”

Leasehold and Block Management – regulation with clear timelines

Robert Poole, Director at Glide Property Management (part of LRG), said leasehold reform must be accompanied by robust regulation of managing agents:

“Leasehold reform will only deliver for residents if buildings are run by people with the right qualifications and accountability. That means a mandatory framework that includes professional standards, a statutory code of practice, and one consistent route to redress.”

Poole also called for a clear implementation roadmap for the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act:

“Successful reform depends on everyone having a clear view of what’s changing and when. We would like to see government publish a single, joined-up timeline covering all aspects of the Act. With clarity and time to prepare, agents and freeholders will deliver the changes quickly and consistently.”

Financial Services – stability, affordability and modernisation

Tom Davies, Group Financial Services Managing Director at Mortgage Scout (part of LRG), highlighted the need for proportionate affordability rules and a completed review of loan-to-income limits.

“The mortgage market needs stable, proportionate rules that reflect today’s conditions,” he said. “Recent changes to loan-to-income exemptions are a good first step, but we now need the full review completed. Certainty helps lenders plan products and resources, which ultimately benefits customers.”

Davies also urged government to provide stability on property taxation:

“Government should set out any intentions on stamp duty and housing taxes as early as possible, ideally phasing changes over time rather than cliff-edge changes. With notice and a stable timetable, lenders can price with confidence, keep service levels strong and support completions through year-end and into early 2026.”

On modernising the housing market, Davies welcomed government moves on digital property data but called for firm adoption milestones:

“Half a million transactions fail each year because the process is slow and opaque. The government’s push on digital property data is the right direction. Now we need firm milestones and adoption requirements so that weeks are removed from the completion process.”

A call for clarity and phased change

LRG’s message to policymakers is consistent across all areas: reforms are welcome, but success depends on clarity, phased implementation, and practical guidance. With well-sequenced timelines and simple-to-use systems, LRG believes the housing, lettings and mortgage sectors can deliver improvements that benefit landlords, leaseholders and renters alike.