Housing Legislation
Laws governing housing development, tenant rights, property standards, social housing, and urban planning.
The Planning Data (England) Regulations 2026
Mandated that local planning authorities use standardized digital formats for publishing plan timetables and housing requirement data starting May 2026.
These Regulations establish mandatory digital data standards for local planning authorities in England regarding the publication of local plans, minerals and waste plans, and housing requirements.
The instrument designates specific documents, such as plan timetables and the minimum number of expected homes, as "planning data" under the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023.
These authorities must ensure that such data complies with technical standards published by the Secretary of State whenever they publish or update their plans at specified stages of the planning process.
The Birmingham East Mayoral Development Corporation (Establishment) Order 2026
Created a new statutory body called the Birmingham East Mayoral Development Corporation to oversee urban development in a designated section of the West Midlands.
This Order establishes a Mayoral development corporation for a designated area in East Birmingham, formally named the Birmingham East Mayoral Development Corporation.
Starting 11 May 2026, the Corporation functions as a statutory body under the West Midlands Combined Authority, tasked with urban development within the geographic boundaries defined by the associated official map.
The Order applies to the Secretary of State, the West Midlands Combined Authority, and any persons or entities operating within the specified development area.
The Local Government (Structural Changes) (Finance) (Amendment) Regulations 2026
Mandated a one-year notice period for new council tax premiums on second homes in specific areas following local government reorganisations.
These Regulations amend the Local Government (Structural Changes) (Finance) Regulations 2008 to clarify how new successor councils in England must implement higher council tax rates on periodically occupied dwellings.
They direct that when a new council is formed from multiple predecessor authorities, any new decision to charge higher council tax in an area where it was not previously charged is treated as a 'first determination.' This triggers a legal requirement under the Local Government Finance Act 1992 for the council to make that decision at least one year before the start of the financial year in which the higher rate takes effect.
The Rules amended the 2013 Tribunal Procedure for the Property Chamber to incorporate jurisdiction under the Renters' Rights Act 2025 and adjusted provisions related to costs orders for Housing Act 1988 financial penalty appeals.
These Rules amend the existing 2013 procedural rules governing the Property Chamber of the First-tier Tribunal, primarily to integrate the jurisdiction created by the Renters' Rights Act 2025 concerning residential property disputes and new penalties, while also clarifying the scope of the Tribunal’s authority to make costs orders in specific Housing Act 1988 penalty appeals.
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2026
Expanded the Boiler Upgrade Scheme to include air-to-air heat pumps for residential properties and extended the grant program's lifespan to 2030.
These Regulations amend the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (England and Wales) Regulations 2022 to expand the scope of eligible renewable heating technologies and extend the duration of the program.
They introduce air-to-air heat pumps as eligible plant for residential properties, remove the mandatory requirement for a valid energy performance certificate, and extend the scheme's operational timeline until 2030.
The regulations apply to heat pump and biomass boiler installers and property owners in England and Wales, overseen by the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero.
The Town and Country Planning (Mayor of London) (Amendment and Transitional Provision) Order 2026
The Order amended the 2008 procedural framework concerning the Mayor of London's oversight of planning applications, introduced Category 3J for large housing schemes, formalized intervention procedures, and updated legislative cross-references.
This Statutory Instrument amends the Town and Country Planning (Mayor of London) Order 2008 to update procedural references and introduce significant changes to how development proposals of strategic importance (PSI applications) are handled within Greater London, notably by inserting a new Category 3J covering developments involving 50 or more residential units, which triggers specific notification and potential direction powers for the Mayor of London, while also extending the Mayor's direction power to Category 3D development.
The Discretionary Financial Assistance and Discretionary Housing Payments (Amendment and Revocation) Regulations 2026
The Regulations revoked certain Discretionary Financial Assistance legislation for England and amended the limits on discretionary housing payment expenditure for local authorities in Wales, effective from April 1, 2026.
These Regulations primarily amend provisions governing discretionary financial assistance and housing payments across England and Wales, coming into force on April 1, 2026.
The key actions involve revoking the Discretionary Financial Assistance Regulations 2001 and the Discretionary Housing Payments (Grants) Order 2001 in relation to England, while continuing their effect in Wales.
For Wales only, the Regulations amend the 2001 Order by removing the previous reference to English and Welsh authorities in claims procedure and, crucially, omitting the article that previously limited the total expenditure local authorities could spend on discretionary housing payments.
The Compulsory Purchase of Land (Prescribed Forms) (Ministers) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2026
A Statutory Instrument was made to correct the commencement date in the principal 2026 Compulsory Purchase Forms Regulations from February 2025 to the intended February 2026.
This Statutory Instrument corrects a commencement date error in the prior Compulsory Purchase of Land (Prescribed Forms) (Ministers) (Amendment) Regulations 2026, replacing the incorrect date of '18th February 2025' with the correct operative date of '18th February 2026' for those principal regulations in England and Wales, exercising powers granted under the Acquisition of Land Act 1981.