Propertymark unveils Scottish and Welsh housing manifestos

Propertymark has published housing manifestos for the Scottish and Welsh elections in May, setting out proposals it says are intended to address pressures affecting landlords, renters, buyers and sellers.

The organisation says the plans draw on the experience of property professionals working across the market.

The plans focus on issues including housing supply, affordability, environmental targets and regulatory standards.

Action needed now

Propertymark’s head of policy and campaigns, Timothy Douglas, said: “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.”

He added: “Without bold, evidence-based reform, affordability will worsen, supply will continue to fall short, and the consequences for households and local economies will deepen.”

Scotland’s housing emergency

In Scotland, the organisation has produced a 10-point manifesto to help deal with the national housing emergency declared in May 2024.

It calls on the next Scottish Government to prioritise steps designed to reduce the cost of renting and increase housing supply.

Expanding construction skills also features in the proposals.

Other measures centre on improving energy efficiency standards without reducing the number of homes available to let.

There are also calls for policies aimed at helping more households move on to the housing ladder.

Sustainable PRS in Wales

The manifesto for Wales points to increasing housing supply and improving the housing data used to shape policy decisions.

Alongside this are proposals intended to support high street regeneration and encourage housing decarbonisation.

Propertymark is also calling for a sustainable private rented sector in Wales.

Call for tax changes

Several themes appear in both manifestos, including changes to property taxes and transaction costs that affect investment and housing mobility.

The organisation also points to empty homes and underused buildings, arguing these could be brought back into productive use.

Skills and training within the construction sector also form part of the proposals.

Energy efficiency measures are included as well, with the manifestos referring to property-type specific approaches rather than uniform targets.

Further recommendations cover stronger regulation, improved enforcement and higher professional standards across the property sector.