Estate agency and other property groups have written to new housing secretary Angela Rayner asking for regulation to be introduced in the sector.
In an open letter, they asked the government to regulate property agents through a Code of Practice, and with mandatory qualifications and competence standards.
The letter was from the British Property Federation, Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, Federation of Private Residents Association, The Property Institute and Propertymark.
They requested an early roundtable meeting with the government to discuss the proposals.
The letter said: “As you know, housing is a key part of our nation’s core infrastructure. Good housing improves lives, with better outcomes in physical and mental health, social cohesion, children’s education, crime rates and the wider economy.
“Whereas poor quality housing harms the economy, our health, social and education services and the sense of a just society.
“We the undersigned share the objective of raising standards across the residential housing sector to improve the living environment and experience of homeowners, tenants and residents.”