More than four in five property firms fined for breaching money laundering regulations in the latest reporting period were estate agents, new government figures reveal.
Data published by HM Revenue & Customs covering 2025 to 2026 shows that between October 2024 and March 2025 over 80% of all firms penalised for non-compliance with the Money Laundering Regulations operated as estate agencies, placing renewed scrutiny on standards and oversight across the sector.
The figures underline the scale of the compliance challenge facing parts of the property market, despite long-standing regulatory requirements around registration, customer due diligence and ongoing monitoring.
They also come against a backdrop of heightened focus on the role property transactions can play in facilitating financial crime if controls are weak or inconsistently applied.
COMPLIANCE GAPS
While the majority of estate agents continue to meet their legal obligations, the concentration of enforcement action highlights persistent gaps in compliance among a minority of firms, with regulators making clear that failures will continue to attract sanctions.
Nathan Emerson (main picture, inset), Chief Executive of Propertymark, says: “These figures underline the importance of robust compliance with anti-money laundering regulations across the property sector.
“It is particularly disappointing to see that between October 2024 and March 2025, over 80% of the firms fined were estate agents, despite the fact that the majority of agents work hard to meet their legal obligations and uphold high professional standards.”
NOT OPTIONAL
And he adds: “Propertymark continues to stress that registration with HMRC and ongoing AML compliance are not optional, but fundamental responsibilities for all regulated firms.”
“We actively support our members through training, guidance and practical resources to help them understand and meet their obligations, particularly as regulations evolve.”
The latest enforcement data is expected to add further momentum to calls for stronger awareness, better training and tougher internal controls across estate agency businesses, as regulators maintain pressure on the sector to improve standards and reduce risk.
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