Propertymark has called on the next Scottish and Welsh Governments to fix their ‘broken’ housing markets.

It suggests housing will be a defining issue at the Scottish and Welsh Parliament elections this year – and it has produced housing manifestos for each nation.

The manifestos include proposals to reform property taxes and transaction costs, as well as bring empty homes back into use.

More regulation

Propertymark is also calling for more realistic approaches to energy efficiency – appropriate to each type of property – and says more homes need to be built.

For that to happen, it says more investment in construction training and skills is required. Builders are currently unregulated.

Propertymark says professional standards and regulation across the sector needs to be strengthened, with housing policy underpinned by transparent data.

Housing pressures are now being felt across every tenure and in every part of Scotland and Wales.”

It warns that without urgent and coordinated action, affordability challenges will likely intensify, choice for consumers will shrink, and pressure will continue to spill between tenures.

This will push up rents, stall transactions, and undermine confidence in housing markets.

Housing pressures

Timothy Douglas, Head of Policy and Campaigns at Propertymark, said: “Housing pressures are now being felt across every tenure and in every part of Scotland and Wales.

“These manifestos are grounded in the day-to-day experience of property professionals, and they set out practical, deliverable solutions that the next Governments can act on immediately.

“Without bold, evidence-based reform, affordability will worsen, supply will continue to fall short, and the consequences for households and local economies will deepen.”

To read Propertymark’s Welsh manifesto in full, visit: Senedd 2026: Our priorities for Wales’ housing future | Propertymark

To read Propertymark’s Scottish manifesto, visit: Scottish Elections 2026: Our priorities for tackling the housing emergency | Propertymark