diff --git a/app/models/validations/property_validations.rb b/app/models/validations/property_validations.rb
index e13de5272..f051a65db 100644
--- a/app/models/validations/property_validations.rb
+++ b/app/models/validations/property_validations.rb
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ module Validations::PropertyValidations
   end
 
   def validate_la_in_england(record)
-    return unless record.form.start_year_2025_or_later? || (record.startdate_changed? && record.startdate_was.year == 2025 && record.startdate.year == 2024)
+    return unless record.form.start_year_2025_or_later? || (record.startdate_changed? && record.startdate_was&.year == 2025 && record.startdate.year == 2024)
 
     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 de0816060..af576c260 100644
--- a/app/models/validations/sales/property_validations.rb
+++ b/app/models/validations/sales/property_validations.rb
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ module Validations::Sales::PropertyValidations
   end
 
   def validate_la_in_england(record)
-    return unless record.form.start_year_2025_or_later? || (record.saledate_changed? && record.saledate_was.year == 2025 && record.saledate.year == 2024)
+    return unless record.form.start_year_2025_or_later? || (record.saledate_changed? && record.saledate_was&.year == 2025 && record.saledate.year == 2024)
     return unless record.la
     return if record.la.in?(LocalAuthority.england.pluck(:code))