Update to Anti-Money Laundering Regulations
Article written by David Smith - 17th June 2026
The Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (Amendment) Regulations 2026 were made on 9 June. These come into effect automatically 21 days after they were made, so will be in effect as from 30 June.
I wrote briefly about the draft regulations here when they were made available.
By far and away the most crucial and immediate change is that the €10,000 pcm rent threshold for compulsory AML checks for higher value tenancies changes to £10,000. This is quite a change as €10,000 is closer to £8,650 so there is quite a big jump here. This is also quite a key number as there are a fair few rental properties in the higher-end sector that would be picked up by a threshold at £8,500 but not by a threshold at £10,000 so I would anticipate that this will take a reasonable chunk of property out of AML controls and will give agents a lot more flexibility in this area.
The New HHSRS System
In 2006, under the Housing Act 2004, the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) was introduced. It became the benchmark for local authorities to assess and set standards in relation to housing condition for the private rented sector. 20 years later, the government has reset the parameters and published draft Operating Guidance along with Enforcement Guidance for HHSRS.
When Is the New HHSRS Being Introduced?
The draft Operating Guidance and Enforcement Guidance for the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) were laid before Parliament on 23 March 2026 and are expected to come into force later this month.
Regulations were laid before Parliament on 1 June 2026.
The revised HHSRS is due to come into force on 23 June 2026.
The new framework will apply only to inspections commenced on or after 23rd June 2026.
Existing inspections already underway before that date will continue under the previous HHSRS system.
Settling Into New Legislation
Over the last 2 years our free webinars have been well-received and extremely well attended by GLM members and non members to stay up to date with the government’s plans to roll out what was the Renters’ Rights Bill and subsequently, Act. The benefit, unlike training, was to provide a snapshot of the changes that were to be implemented and the impact on landlords, tenants and letting agents.
The webinars that we are currently running up to and including early December 2026 will focus on how landlords and letting agents are navigating the Renters’ Rights Act, the trends that are developing as a result and the challenges when it comes to dealing with change.
Register now - If there are any topics that would be of interest, contact laurengreen@guild-let.co.uk
Our Golf Day in support of Child Bereavement UK
We are very grateful for the support we have received for our Charity Golf Day - sponsors, golfers, the team at The Hertfordshire Golf and Country Club , a wonderful team of people who bring the day together - very excited to have taken part in a wonderful day with no rain.