From 31 May 2022, all estate agent websites and property portals need to start including Part A ‘material information’ on their UK residential property listings and from 30 November 2023, information pertaining to Parts B and C should also be included.
These changes are in line with new guidance set by National Trading Standards, who want to increase clarity for consumers on the properties they’re looking to buy or rent.
‘Material information’ is defined as the information an average consumer needs to make an informed transactional decision. National Trading Standards state that in the case of buying or renting a property, a ‘transactional decision’ includes the decision to view a property, as well as the decision to buy or rent one.
Full National Trading Standards Material Information guidance is available here.
This article includes:
- What needs to be included in property listings under the guidance?
- Adding/updating property listings
- FAQs
What needs to be included in property listings under the guidance?
The guidance has been introduced in three stages, referred to as Part A, Part B and Part C.
The list below shows the information that needs to be provided where applicable to comply with the guidelines.
Sales
- Sale Price (£)
- Council tax band (England, Wales and Scotland), Domestic rate (Northern Ireland)
- Tenure
- Length of lease term (years remaining)
- Annual ground rent amount (£)
- Ground rent review period (year)
- Review increase %
- Annual service charge amount (£)
- Shared Ownership (Ownership share %, rent amount, rent frequency)
Lettings
- Rental Price (£)
- Council tax band (England, Wales and Scotland), Domestic rate (Northern Ireland)
- Deposit (£)
Sales & Lettings
- Physical Characteristics
- Property Type
- Construction materials
- Room information
- Number (# for each room type)
- Size
- Type (bed, bath, reception)
- Utilities
- Electricity supply
- Water supply
- Sewerage
- Heating
- Broadband
- Broadband speed
- Mobile signal/coverage
- Parking (availability)
Information on Part C only needs to be included if a property is affected by an issue.
Sales & Lettings
- Building Safety
- Restrictions & Rights
- Restrictions
- Rights & Easements
- Flood/erosion risk
- Flood risk
- Coastal erosion risk
- Planning Permission or proposal for development
- Outstanding building works
- Planning permission or proposal for development
- Property accessibility/adaptations
- Step-free access
- Wet room/level access shower
- Lateral living
- Coalfield or mining area
(Full information on each stage is available here)
Adding/updating property listings
Estate agents are responsible for submitting material information on all new and existing UK residential property listings. You’ll need to include it along with the property listings information you already share with us.
Note
If information is missing, National Trading Standards may get in touch with you if your listings don’t comply with the new guidance
Within Alto, we've made some updates to the fields on the property record where you can add/update all the required ‘Part A, B & C' information, ensuring your property listings remain compliant.
- Property top tab - Sales & Lettings
- Marketing top tab - Sales
- Marketing top tab - Lettings
To update your listings to stay compliant, please see the following articles:
Head to the Zoopla Agent Help Centre to find out more about the changes and what you need to do to stay compliant.
If your website or property portal consumes one of the following feeds, we recommend that you discuss the new changes with your website developer, ahead of implementing the new feed version.
Please see the .pdf document which outlines what you need to do to receive the new fields.
-
Client API feed - Click here to view a .pdf document which outlines the new changes that will enable your website developer to implement the new feed version.
You don't need to contact Support to upgrade to the new feed -
CSV feed - Please upgrade your feed to our Client API feed.
We recommend you discuss this with your website developer first. Then, please contact Support to be switched over to the other feed. To do so, click Submit a request below and complete the contact form
FAQs
We’ve also pulled together a list of frequently asked questions to help you get to grips with the new requirements:
- What other changes are in the pipeline?
We're not aware of any further changes at the moment but we'll update you if that changes.
- What if I don’t have all the material information yet? Can I still list a property?
National Trading Standards requires all information to be available from 30th November 2023. While we don't have any plans to de-list properties, National Trading Standards may get in touch with you if your listings don't comply with the new guidance.
- Will Zoopla de-list my property if any information is missing?
We don’t have any plans to de-list properties, but National Trading Standards may get in touch with you if your listings don’t comply with the new guidance.