Housing Legislation

Laws governing housing development, tenant rights, property standards, social housing, and urban planning.

The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) (Amendment) Order 2026

This Order modifies the permitted development rights for domestic renewable energy installations in England, establishing distinct regulatory criteria for dwellinghouses and blocks of flats.

It introduces height, protrusion, and surface area limits for solar photovoltaic (PV) and solar thermal equipment, while specifically prohibiting the installation of plug-in solar equipment on wooden or timber-clad exterior surfaces.

The Order applies to residential developers and homeowners, mandating that equipment installed in sensitive locations—such as conservation areas or near highways—meets stricter visual and dimensional standards to qualify for planning permission without a full application.

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The Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (Legal Aid: Anti-social Behaviour and Prevention and Investigation Measures) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2026

This Order expands the scope of civil legal aid in England and Wales to include proceedings related to respect orders, youth injunctions, and housing injunctions.

It directs that 'help at court' and 'investigative representation' are unavailable for proceedings involving Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures or foreign power threat activity.

Additionally, the Order mandates that only 'legal help'—and not broader legal services—is exempt from financial means testing for individuals subject to national security-related investigation notices.

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The Town and Country Planning (Discharge of Local Planning Authority Functions) (England) Regulations 2026

These regulations mandate how local planning authorities in England must distribute decision-making powers between elected member committees and unelected officers for various types of planning applications.

The instrument requires smaller-scale applications, such as householder and minor residential projects, to be determined by officers, while allowing larger or more significant developments to be referred to a committee of no more than 13 members.

These requirements apply to all relevant local planning authorities in England beginning 31 October 2026.

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The Oxford Street Development Corporation (Functions) Order 2026

This Order establishes the Oxford Street Development Corporation as the local planning authority for its designated development area, effective 10 August 2026.

It transfers planning functions from the London boroughs of Camden and the City of Westminster to the Corporation and grants it specific powers related to land compensation, listed buildings, hazardous substances, and tree preservation.

The Order also defines transitional arrangements for pending planning applications, enforcement actions, and appeals to ensure continuity of service during the transfer of authority.

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The Biodiversity Gain (Town and Country Planning) (Amendments and Transitional Provisions) (England) Regulations 2026

This statutory instrument amends the regulatory framework for biodiversity net gain in England by modifying the biodiversity gain hierarchy and establishing new exemptions for specific development types.

It directs that for non-major developments, onsite habitat creation, enhancement, and offsite gains carry equal weight in the hierarchy, with biodiversity credits serving as the final option.

The regulations introduce exemptions from the mandatory biodiversity gain condition for temporary developments lasting five years or less and for small-scale developments not exceeding 0.2 hectares, provided neither impacts priority habitats.

These changes apply to local planning authorities, developers, and the Secretary of State, while also revoking the previous exemption for self-build and custom-build projects.

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The Tribunal Procedure (First-tier Tribunal) (Property Chamber) (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2026

Published: Thu 9th Jul 26

This instrument extends the cost-awarding powers of the Property Chamber of the First-tier Tribunal to include cases involving business security of tenure.

It directs that the Tribunal may now order a party to pay the costs of another in proceedings brought under Part 2 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954.

These rules primarily affect commercial landlords and tenants involved in disputes regarding the renewal or termination of business tenancies that fall under the Tribunal's jurisdiction.

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The First-tier Tribunal and Upper Tribunal (Chambers) (Amendment) Order 2026

This Order amends the First-tier Tribunal and Upper Tribunal (Chambers) Order 2010 to allocate specific legal proceedings to the Property Chamber of the First-tier Tribunal and the Lands Chamber of the Upper Tribunal.

It specifically addresses jurisdiction conferred by the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022 regarding business tenancies that involve telecommunications 'code rights' under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954.

The Order applies to the judiciary and parties involved in lease renewals or compensation claims where the primary purpose of the agreement relates to digital communications infrastructure.

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The Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025 (Commencement No. 5) Regulations 2026

The Secretary of State brings into force sections 49 and 50 of the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025 effective 12th August 2026.

These regulations mandate that the First-tier Tribunal determine certain immigration appeals within 24 weeks, specifically targeting appellants receiving government accommodation support and non-detained individuals liable for deportation due to criminal convictions.

These requirements apply to the Tribunal judiciary and administration, though the timeframe may be waived if the Tribunal deems compliance not reasonably practicable or if the appeal is conducted from outside the United Kingdom.

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