A survey of 2,000 home movers suggests as many as four in ten (37%) estate agents are failing to advise clients on their obligations in regard to the provision of material information.
23% of home movers were unsure or had only provided some of the information relating to council tax band and tenure; required information under Part A of the National Trading Standards Estate and Letting Agency Team (NTSELAT) Material Information guidance.
Information relating to the physical characteristics, the number of rooms, and how utilities are provided, covered under Part B of the guidance, saw 20% of respondents indicate they were either unsure, have provided none of it, or have only provided some of it.
And for Part C, which refers to information that may or may not need to be established, such as listed building status, unsafe cladding issues, and planning permissions, 37% are unsure, have provided none of it, or have only provided some of it.
The survey has been conducted by Moverly, a provider of Material Information and Digital Sale Ready packs. Commenting Gemma Young, Moverly CEO, said:
“While Material Information requirements are becoming increasingly important for property listings, there’s still a clear knowledge gap in the market, particularly with consumers who haven’t heard or don’t understand the purpose of it. “
By working together – agents, proptech providers and industry bodies – we can help sellers understand how providing this information early creates faster, smoother transactions for everyone involved. This isn’t just about compliance; it’s about creating a more efficient property market where sellers can actively contribute to speeding up their own sales process. We’re focused on making it simple for agents to gather this information and helping sellers understand its value from day one.”
Material Information has been the subject of a recent Competition and Markets Authority consultation after it was announced from April 2025 the CMA will become the main overseer of compliance with updated unfair commercial practices (UCP) provisions in the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers (DMCC) Act 2024; which replaces and updates the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (CPRs). The CMA will be given greater powers to penalise non-compliance including fines.
Young recently appeared on the Today’s Conveyancer Podcast to discuss the implementation of technology in conveyancing and the wider property sector.