diff --git a/app/controllers/form_controller.rb b/app/controllers/form_controller.rb
index 17fd9af77..d8ebf9db3 100644
--- a/app/controllers/form_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/form_controller.rb
@@ -92,6 +92,7 @@ private
                                 Date.new(0, 1, 1)
                               end
       end
+
       next unless question_params
 
       if %w[checkbox validation_override].include?(question.type)
@@ -102,6 +103,12 @@ private
         result[question.id] = question_params
       end
 
+      if %w[checkbox].include?(question.type) &&
+          !question.default_answer.nil? &&
+          question.answer_keys_without_dividers.all? { |answer_key| result[answer_key] != 1 }
+        result[question.default_answer] = 1
+      end
+
       if question.id == "owning_organisation_id"
         owning_organisation = result["owning_organisation_id"].present? ? Organisation.find(result["owning_organisation_id"]) : nil
         if current_user.support? && @log.managing_organisation.blank? && owning_organisation&.managing_agents&.empty?
@@ -229,6 +236,8 @@ private
   end
 
   def question_missing_response?(responses_for_page, question)
+    return unless question.default_answer.nil?
+
     if %w[checkbox validation_override].include?(question.type)
       answered = question.answer_keys_without_dividers.map do |option|
         session["fields"][option] = @log[option] = params[@log.model_name.param_key][question.id].include?(option) ? 1 : 0
diff --git a/app/models/form/question.rb b/app/models/form/question.rb
index eac75dc5c..35843cccd 100644
--- a/app/models/form/question.rb
+++ b/app/models/form/question.rb
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 class Form::Question
   attr_accessor :id, :header, :hint_text, :description, :questions, :disable_clearing_if_not_routed_or_dynamic_answer_options,
-                :type, :min, :max, :step, :width, :fields_to_add, :result_field,
+                :type, :min, :max, :step, :width, :fields_to_add, :result_field, :default_answer,
                 :conditional_for, :readonly, :answer_options, :page, :check_answer_label,
                 :inferred_answers, :hidden_in_check_answers, :inferred_check_answers_value,
                 :top_guidance_partial, :bottom_guidance_partial, :prefix, :suffix, :requires_js, :fields_added, :derived,
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ class Form::Question
       @plain_label = hsh["plain_label"]
       @error_label = hsh["error_label"]
       @disable_clearing_if_not_routed_or_dynamic_answer_options = hsh["disable_clearing_if_not_routed_or_dynamic_answer_options"]
+      @default_answer = hsh["default_answer"]
     end
   end
 
diff --git a/app/models/form/sales/questions/buyers_organisations.rb b/app/models/form/sales/questions/buyers_organisations.rb
index 1ab8a81e8..bb17c3d4d 100644
--- a/app/models/form/sales/questions/buyers_organisations.rb
+++ b/app/models/form/sales/questions/buyers_organisations.rb
@@ -5,8 +5,9 @@ class Form::Sales::Questions::BuyersOrganisations < ::Form::Question
     @check_answer_label = "Organisations buyers were registered with"
     @header = "What organisations were the buyers registered with?"
     @type = "checkbox"
-    @hint_text = "Select all that apply"
+    @hint_text = "Select all that apply. This question is optional. If no options are applicable, leave the options blank, and select save and continue."
     @answer_options = ANSWER_OPTIONS
+    @default_answer = "pregblank"
     @question_number = 59
   end
 
@@ -15,7 +16,7 @@ class Form::Sales::Questions::BuyersOrganisations < ::Form::Question
     "pregother" => { "value" => "Other private registered provider (PRP) - housing association" },
     "pregla" => { "value" => "Local Authority" },
     "pregghb" => { "value" => "Help to Buy Agent" },
-    "pregblank" => { "value" => "None of the above" },
+    "pregblank" => { "value" => "None selected" },
   }.freeze
 
   def displayed_answer_options(_log, _user = nil)
@@ -26,8 +27,4 @@ class Form::Sales::Questions::BuyersOrganisations < ::Form::Question
       "pregghb" => { "value" => "Help to Buy Agent" },
     }
   end
-
-  def unanswered_error_message
-    "At least one option must be selected of these four"
-  end
 end
diff --git a/app/services/bulk_upload/sales/year2023/row_parser.rb b/app/services/bulk_upload/sales/year2023/row_parser.rb
index a8f322828..4566ee852 100644
--- a/app/services/bulk_upload/sales/year2023/row_parser.rb
+++ b/app/services/bulk_upload/sales/year2023/row_parser.rb
@@ -469,7 +469,6 @@ class BulkUpload::Sales::Year2023::RowParser
   validate :validate_if_log_already_exists, on: :after_log, if: -> { FeatureToggle.bulk_upload_duplicate_log_check_enabled? }
 
   validate :validate_data_protection_answered, on: :after_log
-  validate :validate_buyers_organisations, on: :after_log
 
   def self.question_for_field(field)
     QUESTIONS[field]
@@ -571,15 +570,6 @@ private
     end
   end
 
-  def validate_buyers_organisations
-    organisations_fields = %i[field_67 field_68 field_69 field_70]
-    if organisations_fields.all? { |field| attributes[field.to_s].blank? }
-      organisations_fields.each do |field|
-        errors.add(field, "At least one option must be selected of these four", category: :not_answered)
-      end
-    end
-  end
-
   def prevtenbuy2
     case field_72
     when "R"
@@ -864,6 +854,8 @@ private
     attributes["pregla"] = field_69
     attributes["pregghb"] = field_70
     attributes["pregother"] = field_68
+    organisations_fields = %i[field_67 field_68 field_69 field_70]
+    attributes["pregblank"] = organisations_fields.all? { |field| attributes[field.to_s].blank? }
 
     attributes["disabled"] = field_76
     attributes["wheel"] = field_77
diff --git a/app/services/bulk_upload/sales/year2024/row_parser.rb b/app/services/bulk_upload/sales/year2024/row_parser.rb
index 2c1b6089a..e01841f92 100644
--- a/app/services/bulk_upload/sales/year2024/row_parser.rb
+++ b/app/services/bulk_upload/sales/year2024/row_parser.rb
@@ -468,8 +468,6 @@ class BulkUpload::Sales::Year2024::RowParser
   validate :validate_address_fields, on: :after_log
   validate :validate_if_log_already_exists, on: :after_log, if: -> { FeatureToggle.bulk_upload_duplicate_log_check_enabled? }
 
-  validate :validate_buyers_organisations, on: :after_log
-
   def self.question_for_field(field)
     QUESTIONS[field]
   end
@@ -564,15 +562,6 @@ class BulkUpload::Sales::Year2024::RowParser
 
 private
 
-  def validate_buyers_organisations
-    organisations_fields = %i[field_66 field_67 field_68 field_69]
-    if organisations_fields.all? { |field| attributes[field.to_s].blank? }
-      organisations_fields.each do |field|
-        errors.add(field, "At least one option must be selected of these four")
-      end
-    end
-  end
-
   def prevtenbuy2
     case field_71
     when "R"
@@ -860,6 +849,8 @@ private
     attributes["pregla"] = field_68
     attributes["pregghb"] = field_69
     attributes["pregother"] = field_67
+    organisations_fields = %i[field_67 field_68 field_69 field_70]
+    attributes["pregblank"] = organisations_fields.all? { |field| attributes[field.to_s].blank? }
 
     attributes["disabled"] = field_75
     attributes["wheel"] = field_76
diff --git a/spec/models/form/sales/questions/buyers_organisations_spec.rb b/spec/models/form/sales/questions/buyers_organisations_spec.rb
index 88af9917d..9e772a24d 100644
--- a/spec/models/form/sales/questions/buyers_organisations_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/form/sales/questions/buyers_organisations_spec.rb
@@ -32,11 +32,11 @@ RSpec.describe Form::Sales::Questions::BuyersOrganisations, type: :model do
   end
 
   it "has the correct hint" do
-    expect(question.hint_text).to eq("Select all that apply")
+    expect(question.hint_text).to eq("Select all that apply. This question is optional. If no options are applicable, leave the options blank, and select save and continue.")
   end
 
-  it "has the correct unanswered_error_message" do
-    expect(question.unanswered_error_message).to eq("At least one option must be selected of these four")
+  it "has the correct default answer" do
+    expect(question.default_answer).to eq("pregblank")
   end
 
   it "has the correct answer_options" do
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ RSpec.describe Form::Sales::Questions::BuyersOrganisations, type: :model do
         "pregother" => { "value" => "Other private registered provider (PRP) - housing association" },
         "pregla" => { "value" => "Local Authority" },
         "pregghb" => { "value" => "Help to Buy Agent" },
-        "pregblank" => { "value" => "None of the above" },
+        "pregblank" => { "value" => "None selected" },
       },
     )
   end
diff --git a/spec/services/bulk_upload/sales/year2023/row_parser_spec.rb b/spec/services/bulk_upload/sales/year2023/row_parser_spec.rb
index c4f4a26a6..8913a49d9 100644
--- a/spec/services/bulk_upload/sales/year2023/row_parser_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/services/bulk_upload/sales/year2023/row_parser_spec.rb
@@ -962,11 +962,8 @@ RSpec.describe BulkUpload::Sales::Year2023::RowParser do
       context "when all nil" do
         let(:attributes) { setup_section_params.merge(field_67: nil, field_68: nil, field_69: nil, field_70: nil) }
 
-        it "returns correct errors" do
-          expect(parser.errors[:field_67]).to be_present
-          expect(parser.errors[:field_68]).to be_present
-          expect(parser.errors[:field_69]).to be_present
-          expect(parser.errors[:field_70]).to be_present
+        it "sets pregblank field" do
+          expect(parser.log.pregblank).to be(1)
         end
       end
     end
diff --git a/spec/services/bulk_upload/sales/year2024/row_parser_spec.rb b/spec/services/bulk_upload/sales/year2024/row_parser_spec.rb
index 5a1a9e4df..68a420d44 100644
--- a/spec/services/bulk_upload/sales/year2024/row_parser_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/services/bulk_upload/sales/year2024/row_parser_spec.rb
@@ -969,11 +969,8 @@ RSpec.describe BulkUpload::Sales::Year2024::RowParser do
       context "when all nil" do
         let(:attributes) { setup_section_params.merge(field_66: nil, field_67: nil, field_68: nil, field_69: nil) }
 
-        it "returns correct errors" do
-          expect(parser.errors[:field_66]).to be_present
-          expect(parser.errors[:field_67]).to be_present
-          expect(parser.errors[:field_68]).to be_present
-          expect(parser.errors[:field_69]).to be_present
+        it "sets pregblank field" do
+          expect(parser.log.pregblank).to be(1)
         end
       end
     end