diff --git a/app/models/validations/property_validations.rb b/app/models/validations/property_validations.rb
index 0ffd2d038..87716428f 100644
--- a/app/models/validations/property_validations.rb
+++ b/app/models/validations/property_validations.rb
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ module Validations::PropertyValidations
   end
 
   def validate_la_is_active(record)
-    return unless record.form.start_year_2025_or_later?
+    return unless record.form.start_year_2025_or_later? && record.startdate.present?
 
     if record.is_general_needs?
       return unless record.la
diff --git a/app/models/validations/sales/property_validations.rb b/app/models/validations/sales/property_validations.rb
index 18ae71e55..d56d47fc3 100644
--- a/app/models/validations/sales/property_validations.rb
+++ b/app/models/validations/sales/property_validations.rb
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ module Validations::Sales::PropertyValidations
   end
 
   def validate_la_is_active(record)
-    return unless record.form.start_year_2025_or_later? && record.la.present?
+    return unless record.form.start_year_2025_or_later? && record.la.present? && record.startdate.present?
 
     la = LocalAuthority.england.find_by(code: record.la)