The Property Institute Conference 2026 highlighted that Demonstrating Competence is Essential

The property industry is already in a significant period of change, and the pace is only going to increase. With statutory regulation on the horizon, greater scrutiny of service charges entering the public zeitgeist and continued building safety reform, the message from this year’s TPI Conference was clear: the industry must raise standards now, not wait for legislation to mandate change.

Across sessions led by Baroness Hayter, TPI, Dame Judith Hackitt and The Building Safety Regulator, one theme kept recurring: competence. And this idea of competence goes beyond professional qualifications. It’s about how organisations and individuals operate, the professionals they appoint, the decisions they make and ultimately, the safety and confidence of the people living in the buildings they manage.

Professional Standards Must Mean More In Practice

Recognition of property management as a profession is gaining momentum. TPI reported growth in membership, closer collaboration with government and progress towards a level 5 qualification, with a pilot anticipated before Christmas and an expected launch in early 2027. Meanwhile, action against members who fail to complete continuous professional development signals that accountability must be ongoing.

During his TPI update, Andrew Bulmer highlighted Angela Rayner's earlier statement calling out rogue agents who undercut on price, while recognising the role of responsible agents. It reflects growing government attention on standards across the sector and reinforces the case for regulation that holds individuals and businesses accountable.

Important questions remain about how regulation will work, including who will be licensed, which activities will be covered and how professional standards will be enforced. However, the direction is clear. For managing agents, property owners and housing providers, this means looking beyond the competence of their own teams to the expertise of the suppliers and professional advisers they appoint. Choosing partners with the right skills, knowledge and experience is essential to managing risk, demonstrating good practice and protecting residents.

Building Safety Requires More than Compliance

Dame Judith Hackitt's reflections on the progress since her 2018 report reinforced that regulatory reform alone cannot deliver safer buildings. Lasting improvement requires a change in culture, a skilled workforce and a willingness to take responsibility for getting things right first time.

The Building Safety Regulator's update showed progress towards a more proportionate, risk-based and resident-focused approach, with external remediation approval rates reported to have risen from 67% in March 2026 to 89% in August. Yet questions around technical guidance, consistent assessments and enforcement remain.

Uncertainty is not a reason to stand still. Organisations can review responsibilities, identify skills gaps and ensure decisions are supported by appropriate professional advice while regulatory guidance continues to develop. Building control and regulators cannot compensate for shortcomings elsewhere; everyone involved must understand their responsibilities and play their part.

Residents and Value Must Remain Central

These changes are unfolding alongside greater public scrutiny of service charges and pressure on property managers to demonstrate value. In a challenging market, retaining management contracts matters, but competing on price alone risks overlooking the expertise and quality needed to manage buildings responsibly.

Residents must remain central to decisions about their homes. Effective engagement means explaining why work is needed, listening to concerns and helping people understand what is happening and why. It is not simply a regulatory exercise; it is fundamental to building trust.

The Opportunity is to Prepare Now

The industry will receive further guidance as regulation develops, but organisations do not need to wait for every detail to be confirmed before raising their standards. Investing in people, scrutinising suppliers, strengthening processes and involving residents are practical steps that can begin now.

At Innovus, we believe the focus must remain on what these changes are intended to achieve: safer buildings, better-managed properties and greater confidence for residents and those responsible for their homes. That requires the right expertise, informed decisions and a proactive approach to managing buildings, rather than simply responding to the next regulatory deadline.

The organisations that prepare now will be better placed to meet their obligations, demonstrate their value and respond to what comes next. Ultimately, progress will not be measured by how well the industry adapts to new rules, but by whether those rules lead to safer homes and stronger professional standards.