The professional body
for the property sector

The Smoke, Heat and Carbon Monoxide Alarms Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 set the standards for the number and type of alarms that must be installed in privately rented properties. Once they come into force, letting agents and landlords will be responsible for installing and keeping alarms sufficient in any property they rent out.

The residential sales sector has seen an early flurry of activity in April with prospective buyer registrations, new sales instructions, and the number of sales agreed all increasing. In the residential lettings sector, our members report an increase in the number of prospective tenant registrations. However, while stock levels have increased slightly, demand continues to outstrip supply.

As technology continues to advance, the threat of cyber-attacks becomes increasingly prevalent. Investing in robust cyber defence measures can help property agents protect their sensitive data and systems — but what proportion of an IT budget should be set aside?