Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if she will take steps to modify the Estate Agents Act 1979 so that people need to (a) be registered with the Estate Agency Affairs Board and (b) possess a Fidelity Fund Certificate before completing transactions.

All estate agents are legally required to register with HMRC and must belong to a Government-approved redress scheme. The National Trading Standards Estate and Lettings Agency Team regulate the estate agency sector, including overseeing the operation and enforcement of the Estate Agents Act 1979 and other relevant legislation.