Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the case for covering property developers under money-laundering regulations; and what plans they have to ensure that property developers are regulated for such purposes.

The Government published its most recent National Risk Assessment for money laundering and terrorist financing in July 2025, which included an assessment of risks for property developers.

While property developers more generally are not in scope of the Money Laundering Regulations, the regulations do apply to estate agencies, and to property developers that make their sales via a separate legal entity. Other property developers fall in scope of the regulations via their financial services and products. The scope of the Money Laundering Regulations is set to ensure that those sectors most at risk of being abused to facilitate money laundering have appropriate, risk-based controls in place to protect themselves, while avoiding undue burdens on businesses and customers.

The Government intends to develop a new public-private strategy focused on anti-money laundering and asset recovery in the coming months. This will respond to the risks identified in the National Risk Assessment, including consideration of whether any further measures are needed to address vulnerabilities in higher risk sectors.