Your rights when selling or buying a home
Every UK law that protects you when dealing with an estate agent — translated out of legal jargon into plain English. Free to read, no sign-up.
Why we built this
Most people selling a home in the UK do not know they have legal protections that go far beyond whatever an estate agent tells them. Offers must be passed on in writing. Fees must be clear up front. Flood risk, lease length, and construction type must be disclosed. Misleading photos are illegal. Pressure tactics are banned. Every one of those rules is backed by a real law — and most are free to enforce.
This hub walks through every one of those laws in plain English, tells you exactly what it means for you, and shows you how to use it if you need to.
Core Laws
The foundational UK legislation every estate agent has to follow.
Estate Agents Act 1979
If an agent is selling a home in the UK, this 1979 law sets the floor for how they have to treat you — from the fees they charge to the offers they pass on.
Read the guideConsumer Protection Regulations (CPRs) 2008
The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 are the reason estate agents have to tell you everything material about a property, not just the nice bits.
Read the guideConsumer Rights Act 2015
The Consumer Rights Act 2015 consolidated decades of consumer law into a single, modern statute. It governs contracts for services — which is exactly what an estate agent provides.
Read the guideDisclosure
What sellers and agents must tell you about a property — by law.
Material Information Rules (NTSELAT)
National Trading Standards created a three-part list of information that every property listing has to include. If it is missing, the listing is breaking the law.
Read the guideEnergy Performance Certificates (EPC)
An Energy Performance Certificate is a government-issued rating that shows how energy-efficient a home is. Without one, you cannot legally market the property.
Read the guideRedress
Free routes to put things right when an agent has let you down.
Property Redress Schemes (TPO / PRS)
Since 2014, every UK estate agent is required by law to belong to a government-approved redress scheme. It is your no-fee route to a binding decision if things go wrong.
Read the guideHow to Complain About an Estate Agent
Every estate agent in the UK must belong to a redress scheme. Here is the exact sequence for getting a result without a lawyer.
Read the guideAdvertising
The rules that stop misleading adverts, listings, and marketing claims.
Business Protection Regulations (BPRs) 2008
These regulations run alongside the CPRs and stop agents from making misleading claims in adverts — whether on portals, brochures, or websites.
Read the guideASA & the CAP Code
The Advertising Standards Authority enforces the CAP Code — the UK's advertising rulebook. Every leaflet, social post, portal listing, and website page falls under it.
Read the guideData & Identity
How your personal data and ID documents are protected during a sale.
Anti-Money Laundering (MLR 2017)
The Money Laundering Regulations 2017 make estate agents responsible for checking the identity of buyers and sellers, spotting suspicious transactions, and reporting them.
Read the guideUK GDPR & Data Protection Act 2018
UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018 give you strong, enforceable rights over the information any business holds about you — including estate agents, mortgage brokers, and valuation services.
Read the guideWant an honest valuation without handing your details to anyone?
ValuQ lets local agents compete for your business — anonymously, on price and expected sale time. You stay in control of your information until you pick an agent.