Cyberattacks on UK Property Firms Surge 17% Targeting Client Data

• •Cyberattacks on UK property firms rose 17% in 2025, totaling 208 incidents.
• •Property agents hold sensitive data, making them attractive targets for hackers.
• •Specialist data breach insurance is now critically important for the property sector.

Cyberattacks against UK property services businesses increased by 17% in 2025, rising from 178 to 208 incidents. The Information Commissioner's Office reported that property agents and managers are increasingly targeted due to the vast amounts of personal data they collect, including passports, bank details, and tenancy records. Hackers exploit this data for ransomware attacks, identity theft, and payment diversion fraud, where they substitute their bank details for those of sellers during transactions. The rise in attacks has led to significant financial losses, with conveyancing fraud alone costing buyers £11.7 million last year. Ravi Sejpal from Karis Insurance emphasized the need for the property sector to adopt bank-level data security and specialist data breach insurance. The industry has not kept pace with the financial services sector in addressing these risks.