Government Introduces Unsafe Cladding Bill With Fines of Up to £500,000
A new Building Safety Bill would impose duties to fix unsafe cladding and allow tribunals to fine those who ignore remediation orders up to £500,000.
Peter Jackson · 2 min readLatest in Housing
Government Confirms New Council Tax Enforcement Rules From April 2027
Councils in England will have to issue a reminder and final notice before households lose the right to pay council tax in instalments under reforms due in April 2027.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readBadenoch pledges to abolish inheritance tax on family homes and raise tax-free allowance
The Conservatives would exempt main homes left to direct descendants and raise the individual inheritance-tax allowance to £500,000, allowing couples to pass on their home plus another £1 million tax-free.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readNEW WELFARE RULES — 325,000 people in supported housing to keep more of their earnings
More than 325,000 residents in supported housing and temporary accommodation are set to keep more of their earnings under new Housing Benefit rules which came into force on 5 October.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readConservatives pledge to slash new-build costs by £50,000 in huge deregulation drive
The Conservatives have unveiled a sweeping deregulation programme which they claim could cut the cost of a new-build home by up to £50,000, including abolishing the Environment Agency and Natural England as separate bodies.
Charlotte Mercer · 4 min readPolice send Grenfell files covering 54 people and 20 organisations to CPS for possible charges
The Metropolitan Police has submitted all Grenfell Tower investigation files to the CPS, covering 54 individuals and 20 companies and organisations, for independent charging decisions.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readBurnham Government revives Help to Buy with 2.5% deposits and 20% taxpayer-backed equity loans
The Government is reviving the Help to Buy equity-loan model with a new scheme offering eligible first-time buyers 2.5% deposits and Government equity loans worth up to 20%.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readCouncils to get stronger powers to take control of homes left empty for just six months
Councils in England are to be given stronger powers to take over the management of privately owned homes that have stood empty for six months, down from the current two-year threshold.
Charlotte Mercer · 2 min readGovernment announces £90m heat-network investment covering more than 750,000 homes
The Government has announced £90 million for new and upgraded heat networks, saying more than 750,000 homes will benefit from cleaner and cheaper heating.
Charlotte Mercer · 4 min readGovernment unveils first Nature Restoration Fund plan to unlock up to 15,780 homes
The Government has unveiled the first Environmental Delivery Plan under its Nature Restoration Fund, which ministers say could support up to 15,780 new homes in Norfolk while funding large-scale river and wetland restoration.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readRayner admits only 'slim chance' Government will deliver 1.5 million homes pledge
Angela Rayner has admitted there is only a slim chance of the Government meeting its target of building 1.5 million homes in England before the next general election.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readEvery landlord in England ordered to join national register as Government sets December launch date
Every active private landlord in England will have to join a national property register as the Government confirms a 15 December launch in the West Midlands and a nationwide rollout lasting 12 months.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readBurnham Government launches taskforce examining public control of water, energy, housing and transport
The Burnham Government has launched a cross-government taskforce to examine greater public control across housing, water, energy and transport, while stressing that detailed ownership models and any nationalisation plans have not yet been decided.
Charlotte Mercer · 5 min readNew legal duty begins for England’s 177,000+ homeless children
Councils in England must now notify schools, GPs and health visiting services when children are placed in temporary accommodation, as the Government says around 177,530 children are living in such housing — the highest number on record.
Charlotte Mercer · 5 min readBadenoch promotes Katie Lam as new generation enters Shadow Cabinet
Kemi Badenoch has completed her Shadow Cabinet reshuffle, promoting 2024 MPs Katie Lam, Rebecca Paul and Harriet Cross to major portfolios as the Conservatives bring a new generation onto the front bench.
Charlotte Mercer · 4 min readBurnham considers giving mayors power to suspend Right to Buy
Andy Burnham is exploring giving English mayors powers to suspend Right to Buy locally as ministers seek to protect council housing stock and accelerate social housebuilding.
Charlotte Mercer · 4 min readReform UK pledges social housing priority for British-born workers under 35
Reform UK has proposed giving British-born workers under 35, young families and veterans greater priority for social housing while pledging 50,000 affordable homes a year.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readLabour Introduces ‘Default Yes’ for Homes Near Railway Stations
Labour has introduced a new presumption in favour of suitable housing developments close to well-connected railway, tram and Underground stations in England, including some sites in the green belt.
Charlotte Mercer · 4 min readRayner Rules Out Rent Freeze as Part of Burnham's Cost of Living Plan
Housing Secretary Angela Rayner has ruled out freezing rents as part of Andy Burnham's cost of living measures, telling BBC Breakfast the government would not be pursuing rent controls.
Staff member · 3 min read