From 31 May 2022, all estate agent websites and property portals need to start including extra ‘material information’ on their UK residential property listings. 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.
This article includes:
What needs to be included in property listings under the new guidance?
The new guidance is being 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 to comply with ‘Part A’ of the guidelines.
Over the coming weeks you’ll see changes to the way you upload listings. You’ll see new fields to capture and display the 'Part A' information, helping you to stay compliant.
Sales
- Sale Price (£)
- Council tax band (England, Wales and Scotland), Domestic Rates (Northern Ireland)
- Tenure (freehold, leasehold, share of freehold, commonhold, feudal)
- Length of lease (years remaining)
- Annual ground rent amount (£)
- Ground rent review period (year)
- Annual service charge amount (£)
- Service charge review period (year/month)
- Shared Ownership (% share being sold, rent amount, rent frequency)
Lettings
- Price - rent (£)
- Council tax band (England, Wales and Scotland), Domestic Rates (Northern Ireland)
- Deposit (£)
(More information on each stage is available here)
Adding/updating property listings within Expert Agent
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.
New and existing listings need to be updated with Part A information from 31 May 2022 – for both sales and lettings. This includes properties that are sold subject to contract (SSTC). It does not include overseas or non-residential properties.
 Note
- If Part A information is missing, National Trading Standards may get in touch with you if your listings don’t comply with the new guidance
- If you're a ZooplaPro user, use the dedicated unique fields to provide ‘Part A’ information on your listings, which can be found on the Add residential property page (via Add listing) and the Edit residential property page
Within Expert Agent, we'll be making some updates to the fields on property records where you can add/update all the required information, ensuring your property listings remain compliant. Â
Sales
Council tax band
You'll need to select a council tax band for all your properties.
For more information on checking a property's council tax band, click here.
- Hover over the Properties dropdown list on the Top Menu
- Click Grid from within the dropdown menu
- Use the filters, i.e. Status, to select the relevant property
- Alternatively, find the property using the Quick Search box in the Top Menu
(If you have recently been working on the property, another quick way to access the property would be to use your Navigation history in the Top Menu - showing the top 20 most recently viewed records)
- Click the Details tab
- Ensure a Council Tax Band has been selected from the dropdown menu (bands A-I are applicable to properties in England, Wales and Scotland)
- If the property is a new build and hasn't had its council tax band assigned, select New Build - Rates not available yet
- If the property is located in Northern Ireland, select Northern Ireland - Domestic rates. The Domestic Rates field will become visible - ensure a rate is entered (£)
- Click the Save icon
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Sale Price/Price Prefix
You'll need to provide the sale price for all your properties.
You may also need to amend the price prefix in order to meet the National Trading Standards rules.
- Hover over the Properties dropdown list on the Top Menu
- Click Grid from within the dropdown menu
- Use the filters, i.e. Status, to select the relevant property
- Alternatively, find the property using the Quick Search box in the Top Menu
(If you have recently been working on the property, another quick way to access the property would be to use your Navigation history in the Top Menu - showing the top 20 most recently viewed records)
- Right click in the property record and hover over Change Status or Price
- Click Price Change
- The Property Price Change window opens.
In the Numeric Price section, if the Price Prefix is currently set as Price on Application, you'll need to select a different option as this can no longer be used
- Ensure a Numeric Price (£) has been entered
- Click the Save icon
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Tenure/Length of lease/Annual ground rent amount/Ground rent review period/Annual service charge amount/Shared ownership
You'll need to provide the tenure for all your properties.
In addition, properties with a lease or those sold as part of the Shared ownership scheme need extra details.
 Note
- The list of Tenures has been reduced to reflect the new National Trading Standards rules. As such, if the property Tenure is currently set as Unknown, you'll need to select a new option
- If the annual Ground Rent and annual Service Charge isn't currently in a numerical format, you'll need to amend it accordingly. This will allow us to display it on the portals and meet the new National Trading Standards rules
- Hover over the Properties dropdown list on the Top Menu
- Click Grid from within the dropdown menu
- Use the filters, i.e. Status, to select the relevant property
- Alternatively, find the property using the Quick Search box in the Top Menu
(If you have recently been working on the property, another quick way to access the property would be to use your Navigation history in the Top Menu - showing the top 20 most recently viewed records)
- Click the Details tab
- Ensure a Tenure has been selected from the dropdown menu (Freehold, Leasehold, Private Company Ownership, or Share of Freehold)
- If Share of Freehold or Leasehold is selected, click the new Lease Details tab. This has been introduced to reflect details required for leasehold and shared ownership properties.
Ensure you enter the Lease Remaining (years) - This has been moved from the Details tab
- Ensure you enter the annual Ground Rent amount (£) that the buyer is required to pay
- Ensure you enter the Ground Rent Review Period (years) and enter the Ground Rent Increase (%) associated with each rent review
- Ensure you enter the annual Service Charge amount (£) that the buyer is due to pay each year
- Tick if the property is Shared Ownership. Ensure you enter the Ownership Share (% share being sold), the Rent amount (£) due on the % not sold, and select the Rent Frequency for how often the remaining shares rent is due
- Click the Save icon
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Lettings
Council tax band
You'll need to select a council tax band for all your properties.
For more information on checking a property's council tax band, click here.
- Hover over the Properties dropdown list on the Top Menu
- Click Grid from within the dropdown menu
- Use the filters, i.e. Status, to select the relevant property
- Alternatively, find the property using the Quick Search box in the Top Menu
(If you have recently been working on the property, another quick way to access the property would be to use your Navigation history in the Top Menu - showing the top 20 most recently viewed records)
- Click the Details tab
- Ensure a Council Tax Band has been selected from the dropdown menu (bands A-I are applicable to properties in England, Wales and Scotland)
- If the property is a new build and hasn't had its council tax band assigned, select New Build - Rates not available yet
- If the property is located in Northern Ireland, select Northern Ireland - Domestic rates. The Domestic Rates field will become visible - ensure a rate is entered (£)
- Click the Save icon
Price - rent/Deposit
You'll need to provide the rental price and security deposit for all your properties.
- Hover over the Properties dropdown list on the Top Menu
- Click Grid from within the dropdown menu
- Use the filters, i.e. Status, to select the relevant property
- Alternatively, find the property using the Quick Search box in the Top Menu
(If you have recently been working on the property, another quick way to access the property would be to use your Navigation history in the Top Menu - showing the top 20 most recently viewed records)
- Right click in the property record and hover over Change Status or Price
- Click Price Change
- The Property Price Change window opens.
In the Numeric Price section, ensure a Numeric Price (£) has been entered
- In the Security Deposit section, ensure a Deposit Amount (£) has been entered. This is what new tenants will be charged at the beginning of their contract
- Click the Save icon
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Feeds
If you consume the following feed, we recommend that you discuss the new changes with your website developer, and then contact Support to discuss and confirm the switch over to the new feed version.
Please see the below .pdf document which outlines the new fields.
- XML feed - Click here to view a .pdf document which outlines the changes to the new feed version. Please log a support ticket via Expert Agent to request switching your XML feed to the new updated version
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’ll update you when we know more. Once the details for Part B and Part C have been agreed, we’ll share next steps. (More information on Parts A, B and C is available here)
- What if I don’t have all Part A information yet? Can I still list a property?
National Trading Standards requires all Part A information to be available from 31 May 2022. 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 Part A 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.