Citizens Advice response to Government consultation on home buying and selling reform

Citizens Advice response to Government consultation on home buying and selling reform 132 KB

Citizens Advice welcomes the opportunity to respond to this consultation on home buying and selling reform, where we have addressed topics that are relevant to our expertise.

We support proposals for mandatory requirements for sellers and estate agents to provide comprehensive information upfront, particularly around EPC data. And we agree that the Government should support the wider use of digital property logbooks and packs, which can play an important role not only in property transactions but also in informing and protecting consumers who make green upgrades to their homes. Digital property logbooks can enable performance verification and information, which should be a key part of a future standards and and quality framework for green home upgrades.

We also strongly agree that the Government must act to drive up standards among property agents, where Citizens Advice advisers support privately renting clients with problems with letting agencies. Improved standards will be vital not only to protect tenants, but to support landlords in preparing for policy changes and improved minimum standards in the private rented sector.