What this law is
The Material Information guidance was issued by the National Trading Standards Estate and Letting Agency Team (NTSELAT) to make the CPRs workable in practice. It splits disclosable information into three parts: A, B, and C.
Part A (mandatory on every listing): council tax band, asking price, tenure (freehold/leasehold/shared ownership). Without these three, a listing cannot be published.
Part B (mandatory where relevant): physical construction type (non-standard construction must be flagged), availability of utilities (water, electricity, gas, sewerage), heating system, broadband speed, mobile signal coverage.
Part C (mandatory where relevant): restrictive covenants, flood risk, mining activity, planning permissions, listed building status, conservation area, tree preservation orders, rights of way, and anything else that could materially affect a decision.
Why it exists
For years, estate agents only had to disclose what they specifically knew — which often meant listings with huge gaps. The NTSELAT framework turned vague "material information" into a concrete checklist so buyers and sellers know exactly what must appear.
What it means for you
- Before you list your home, your agent should ask you for all of this information. If they do not ask, they cannot produce a compliant listing.
- When you are buying, scan every listing for the Part A items. If they are missing, walk away or challenge the agent.
- Listings that hide Part B or Part C items — for example, a non-standard construction home listed without mentioning the construction type — are illegal and you can report them.
- Rightmove, Zoopla, and OnTheMarket have all integrated the NTSELAT framework into their listing templates, so any missing field is now easier to spot.
Red flags to watch for
- ⚠Tenure shown as "Ask Agent" or left blank — this is not allowed.
- ⚠No council tax band listed.
- ⚠A modern-looking house listed without construction type when the area is known for steel-frame or concrete-frame builds.
- ⚠Flood risk not mentioned in a postcode that has a known flood history.
- ⚠A leasehold property with no lease length, ground rent, or service charge shown.
How to use it
- 1Check every listing against the Part A list. If any of the three mandatory fields are missing, challenge it.
- 2For leaseholds, always ask for: years left on the lease, ground rent, service charge, and any pending major works. These come under Parts B and C.
- 3Report non-compliant listings to Trading Standards via Citizens Advice, and to the portal (Rightmove/Zoopla/OnTheMarket) directly.
- 4If you are selling, push your agent to follow the NTSELAT checklist exactly. It protects you too — a buyer who later finds a hidden issue can come back to you and the agent.
Key terms, translated
- NTSELAT
- National Trading Standards Estate and Letting Agency Team. The dedicated team inside Trading Standards that oversees estate agent compliance.
- Tenure
- How the property is owned. Freehold means you own the building and land forever. Leasehold means you own a long lease on a property the landlord still owns.
- Non-standard construction
- Anything other than traditional brick-and-block with a slate or tile roof. Includes steel frames, concrete panels, timber frames, thatch, and prefabs. Insurers and lenders often charge more for these.
- Restrictive covenant
- A rule in the property deeds that limits what you can do with the home — such as a ban on building extensions or running a business from the property.
Official source
This guide is a plain-English summary, not legal advice. For the original text, always go to the official source.
NTSELAT Material Information guidance (National Trading Standards)Frequently asked questions
What happens if an agent does not include material information?
They are breaching both the CPRs and the NTSELAT guidance. You can report them to Trading Standards and to the agent's redress scheme. If you discover a missing material fact after completing a purchase, you may also have a compensation claim.
Does this apply to new-build homes as well as resales?
Yes. All three Parts apply to every residential listing, new or old.
Who is responsible if the information is wrong — the agent or the seller?
The agent has the duty to disclose, but they rely on the seller for accurate information. If the seller misled the agent, the agent has a defence — but they must have asked the right questions in the first place.
Do online-only agents have to follow the NTSELAT rules?
Yes. The rules apply to every estate agent in the UK, regardless of business model.