Housing Legislation

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

The Housing Benefit (Earned Income Disregards) (Amendment) Regulations 2026

These Regulations amend the Housing Benefit Regulations 2006 to increase the amount of earned income ignored during the financial assessment for claimants living in specified or temporary accommodation.

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions establishes five distinct disregard rates based on the claimant’s age and relationship status, ranging from £61.41 to £119.70 per week.

These changes apply to working-age claimants in England, Wales, and Scotland, directing local authorities to apply these new calculations when determining eligibility and benefit amounts for employed and self-employed earners.

Read More

The Immigration (Restrictions on Employment and Residential Accommodation) (Prescribed Requirements and Codes of Practice) (Amendment) Regulations 2026

These Regulations amend existing immigration orders to integrate digital verification services into the 'right to work' and 'right to rent' checking processes.

They mandate that employers and landlords wishing to establish an excuse against civil penalties must increasingly rely on registered Digital Verification Service Providers (DVSPs) when using technology for facial recognition or document validation.

The document also introduces new compliance requirements for complex labor arrangements, such as online matching services and subcontracting chains, and Brings into force four revised codes of practice regarding civil penalties and the avoidance of unlawful discrimination.

These measures apply to all employers in the UK and landlords or agents managing residential tenancies in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

Read More

The Online Procedure (Rules and Practice Directions) Rules 2026

This Statutory Instrument establishes a framework for conducting civil proceedings in England and Wales through a dedicated digital service managed by HMCTS. It mandates that specified proceedings—initially limited to possession proceedings—must be initiated and conducted via GOV.UK, while providing paper-based alternatives for unrepresented individuals.

The rules grant courts extensive active case management powers, including the authority to direct parties toward mediation, decide issues without full hearings, and transfer cases out of the online system if necessary to achieve justice.

Read More

The Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018 (Disability and Carer Benefits) (Consequential Amendments) Order 2026

This Order amends various social security, housing benefit, and decision-making regulations across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland to integrate new Scottish disability and carer benefits into the existing UK-wide legal framework.

It updates terminology to include 'carer benefits' alongside disability benefits and ensures that payments such as Carer Support Payment and Pension Age Disability Payment are recognized within the rules for claims, revisions of decisions, and funeral expense deductions.

The Order applies to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and relevant social security authorities responsible for administering benefits and the appeals process.

Read More

The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 (Commencement No. 3) Regulations 2026

These Regulations bring specific provisions of the Renters' Rights Act 2025 into force on 22nd June 2026, primarily concerning the enforcement of housing standards in England.

The order authorizes local housing authorities to impose civil penalties of up to £7,000 on individuals responsible for 'qualifying residential premises' that contain a category 1 hazard, provided it was reasonably practicable to remove said hazard.

It applies to local housing authorities, landlords, and superior landlords, and it establishes the administrative procedures for issuing, appealing, and enforcing these financial penalties while also amending the Tenant Fees Act 2019 to permit authorities to use penalty proceeds for enforcement activities.

Read More

Paragraph Numbering Adjustments for Housing Rating Rules

This document issues a formal clerical correction to the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2026.

It directs that the opening text of regulation 1 be designated as paragraph (1) and requires the re-designation of existing paragraphs (1) and (2) as paragraphs (2) and (3) respectively.

These changes apply to the published version of the statutory instrument under the authority of the Controller of His Majesty’s Stationery Office.

Read More

The Housing Health and Safety Rating System (England) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2026

These Regulations amend the transitional provisions related to housing health and safety inspections in England by changing a reference date.

They ensure that the transitional rules for how dwellings are assessed by local housing authorities align with the commencement date of June 23, 2026.

The instrument applies to the Secretary of State and local authorities responsible for enforcing housing standards under the Housing Act 2004.

Read More

The Provision of Information (Contractual Control) (Registered Land) Regulations 2026

Published: Fri 12th Jun 26

These Regulations, made under the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023, establish mandatory requirements for providing specific 'contractual control information' concerning certain types of restrictive agreements affecting registered land in England and Wales to the Chief Land Registrar, with a commencement date of April 6th, 2027.

The rules define what constitutes a 'contractual control right' (such as options, rights of pre-emption, or contingent dispositions), establish timetables and methods (via conveyancers) for submitting this data upon creation, assignment, or variation, and mandate that the Registrar retain and publish this information in a dataset, subject to certain exemptions like national security or short-term rights.

Read More