UK trade body the Conveyancing Association ( CA ) has called for estate agents to be reformed . It made the call in response to the government 's call for action on improving the process of buying and selling houses , saying agents should have to pass a fit - and - proper test before they can trade . CA also called for greater digitisation and for search data to be made available online . Other suggestions include the establishment of a property log for each individual property in the UK; purchasers to have mortgages approved in principle before they can make an offer; and for sellers to provide much more information up-front. But it rejected the idea of banning referral fees , saying the payments often led to greater transparency and enhanced levels of service .
UK trade body the Conveyancing Association ( CA ) has called for estate agents to be reformed . It made the call in response to the government 's call for action on improving the process of buying and selling houses , saying agents should have to pass a fit - and - proper test before they can trade . CA also called for greater digitisation and for search data to be made available online . But it rejected the idea of banning referral fees , saying the payments often led to greater transparency and enhanced levels of service .