With housing expected to be a major issue in the 2026 elections for the Scottish Parliament and the Senedd, Propertymark has published housing manifestos for Scotland and Wales urging the next governments to tackle supply shortages, affordability pressures and falling confidence across the market.
The proposals draw on input from property professionals working across sales and lettings and set out a series of policy recommendations aimed at improving housing supply, supporting renters and buyers, and addressing the pressures facing households in both nations.
In Scotland, Propertymark’s 10-point housing manifesto responds directly to the national housing emergency declared in May 2024, urging the next Scottish Government to act quickly to help reduce the cost of renting, increase housing supply, expand construction skills, improve energy efficiency without undermining availability, and help people move more easily progress on to the housing ladder.
In Wales, Propertymark’s manifesto, “Boosting housing and growth for Wales”, focuses on unlocking new supply, revitalising high streets, improving housing data and decision-making, supporting decarbonisation, and maintaining a sustainable private rented sector while avoiding policies that would further restrict supply.
Across both manifestos, Propertymark identifies common priorities that must be addressed if housing pressures are to ease, including:
+ Reforming property taxes and transaction costs that act as barriers to investment and mobility
+ Bringing empty homes and underused buildings back into productive use
+ Investing in skills, training, and construction capacity
+ Supporting realistic, property-type-specific approaches to energy efficiency
+ Strengthening regulation, enforcement, and professional standards across the property sector
+ Ensuring housing policy is underpinned by transparent, high-quality data
+ Building more homes, particularly social housing, to meet long-term demand
Propertymark warns that without urgent and coordinated action, affordability challenges will likely intensify, choice for consumers will shrink, and pressure will continue to spill between tenures, pushing up rents, stalling transactions, and undermining confidence in housing markets.
Timothy Douglas, head of policy and campaigns at Propertymark, commented: “Housing pressures are now being felt across every tenure and in every part of Scotland and Wales. These manifestos are grounded in the day-to-day experience of property professionals, and they set out practical, deliverable solutions that the next governments can act on immediately. Without bold, evidence-based reform, affordability will worsen, supply will continue to fall short, and the consequences for households and local economies will deepen.”
The organisation also highlights the importance of collaboration between devolved governments and the UK government, particularly on issues such as Local Housing Allowance, where continued freezes are leaving growing numbers of households unable to meet housing costs in both Scotland and Wales.
As political parties shape their housing offers ahead of the 2026 elections, Propertymark is urging policymakers in both Scotland and Wales to engage with the manifestos and commit to solutions that deliver more homes, better standards, and a housing system that works for consumers, communities, and the economy.
Propertymark’s Welsh manifesto
Senedd 2026: Our priorities for Wales’ housing future
Increase housing supply across all tenures
Wales continues to face a significant housing shortage and requires a renewed focus on boosting supply across the social, private rented and owner-occupied sectors.
This includes improving the planning system so that it is consistent, properly resourced and responsive to local housing need. We want to see local development plans that reflect demand for different property types and tenures, alongside an infrastructure-first approach so that new communities are sustainable and attractive places to live.
Support investment in the private rented sector
We are urging the Welsh Government to review the impact of Land Transaction Tax on additional properties and consider targeted incentives to encourage long-term rental investment, which could help bring more homes into the sector.
We also want to see stronger support for bringing empty properties back into use, including improved access to grants and interest-free loans for landlords willing to invest in regeneration.
Avoid rent controls and focus on affordability
While affordability remains a serious concern, evidence from elsewhere in the UK shows that rent controls risk reducing supply and discouraging investment.
Instead, we are calling for policies that tackle affordability at its root. This includes ensuring housing support is adequate and reflects real market rents and committing to a long-term programme of building social housing to reduce demand pressures in the private rented sector.
Professionalise property agents through regulation
We continue to campaign for mandatory regulation of property agents, including minimum qualification requirements, a statutory Code of Practice and a fit and proper person test. This would help stamp out bad practice, improve consumer confidence and support professional agents who invest in training and compliance.
We are calling on the Welsh Government to work with the UK Government to modernise the regulatory framework and introduce consistent qualification requirements across sales, lettings and management.
Tackle economic crime and strengthen compliance
Property is a high-value asset class and an attractive target for criminals. The scale of economic crime in the UK runs into billions of pounds, and the property sector remains vulnerable where standards are inconsistent.
We are urging stronger coordination across government, improved guidance for agents and wider application of anti-money laundering supervision in the lettings sector. Professional regulation would also play a key role in reducing risk and strengthening sector integrity.
Improve access to justice and enforcement
A well-functioning housing system depends on effective enforcement and access to justice. We are calling for properly resourced local authorities, clearer enforcement powers and reforms that ensure disputes can be resolved quickly and fairly.
Propertymark’s Scottish manifesto
Scottish Elections 2026: Our priorities for tackling the housing emergency
Boost supply across all tenures
We are calling for a sustained programme of social house building, action to bring more empty homes back into use, and planning reforms that unlock city centre regeneration. Expanding the construction skills base is essential to deliver new homes and meet energy targets.
Create the right tax and investment environment
A full review of property taxation, including the 8% Additional Dwelling Supplement and LBTT thresholds, is needed to encourage investment and restore confidence.
Take a realistic approach to energy efficiency
Energy standards must reflect the diversity of Scotland’s housing stock. We want tailored targets, continued access to grants and loans, and clear guidance — without undermining supply.
Improve affordability and market stability
We are urging ministers to coordinate rent data nationally to support evidence-led policy, and to press the UK Government to unfreeze Local Housing Allowance so that support reflects real market rents.
Support mobility and an ageing population
Encouraging downsizing and stimulating retirement housing would unlock underoccupied homes and help people move more easily across the housing ladder.
Strengthen professionalism in the sector
We continue to support the regulation of estate agents, which must include licensing, qualifications and a code of practice to drive up standards and consumer confidence.
These priorities reflect what our members see every day in local markets. We will continue to engage with all parties ahead of the election to ensure housing policy delivers meaningful change for agents, landlords, tenants and homeowners.