Quarterly Update for Apprentices & Employers
Our Spring 2026 quarterly newsletters are now live – tailored guidance for both apprentices and employers:
- Knights Training Academy
Agents old and new to have at least one A level under Labour
Shadow minister says his party would require minimum standards for all agents and business owners to ‘drive out cowboys’
Labour has proposed new regulations for the estate agency sector, requiring all agents to possess at least one A level (equivalent to a Level 3 apprenticeship), and mandating agency owners to hold degree-level qualifications (equivalent to a Level 4 or higher apprenticeship). These regulations have been introduced as an amendment to the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill currently progressing through Parliament.
While the likelihood of this amendment becoming law is uncertain, it strongly signals Labour’s intentions regarding estate agency sector regulation once in power, especially considering their current lead in the polls over the Tories. Notably, Propertymark’s policy chief, Timothy Douglas, revealed that the proposed rules could be applied retroactively.
Under these new requirements, current agents may be compelled to return to education if they lack the minimum qualifications. A grace period might be provided for them to comply with the updated entry standards. These requirements bear resemblance to the Regulation of Property Agents (RoPA) proposed by Lord Best in 2019, which stirred controversy. In October of the previous year, Shadow Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook, responsible for the recent amendments, expressed the intention to implement RoPA should Labour come into power. This would include a statutory code of practice, a fit and proper person test, and mandatory membership of a professional body.
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Apprenticeship Changes 2026: What Employers Need to Know
The Government has announced major apprenticeship reforms, backed by £900m investment over the next three years.
The direction is clear. More focus on 16–24-year-olds, key skills gaps, and making apprenticeships easier for employers to use.
Commitment, Confidence, and a Distinction Achievement
At Knights Training Academy, we are proud to support learners at the start of their career in the property sector, helping them build confidence, capability and a clear pathway for progression.
Get ahead in the agent qualification journey
Mandatory qualifications for property agents are firmly back on the agenda. Revived by the RoPA report and reinforced through ongoing Government consultation, the direction of travel is clear. The sector is moving towards higher standards, greater accountability and formal recognition of competence.
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