New Economics Foundation analysis says another £7bn could be needed to scale up council and social housebuilding, despite more than £40bn already committed.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readMPs demand answers over a third-party cyberattack on the Housing Ombudsman’s case management system amid concerns that residents’ contact details may have been copied.
Charlotte Mercer · 3 min readBank of England figures show house-purchase mortgage approvals fell to 53,443 in September, their lowest since December 2023, as new mortgage rates rose to 4.63%.
Staff member · 2 min readHouseholds across the UK can apply for government-backed low- or no-interest loans for solar panels, batteries and heat pumps, with maximum borrowing of £35,000 for ground-source heat pumps.
Staff member · 3 min readNHBC figures show UK new home registrations fell 13% year on year in Q3 2026, with affordable and rental registrations down 23%, ahead of the Autumn Budget.
Staff member · 2 min readThe Government has announced an additional £432 million for rough sleeping support in England, taking the programme to £874 million as the Prime Minister pledges a route off the streets or support for everyone before Christmas.
Staff member · 2 min readGuardian analysis finds the area of Greater Manchester land owned by UAE-linked companies rose 39% between 2016 and 2026, as separate scrutiny continues of regional development loans and partnerships.
Charlotte Mercer · 2 min readThe Treasury says Wednesday’s Budget will provide more than £1 billion for social and affordable housing in England, taking the ten-year programme above £40 billion.
Charlotte Mercer · 2 min readA 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 readCouncils 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 readThe 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 readMore 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 readThe 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 readThe 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 readThe 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 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 readThe 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 readThe 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 readAngela 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 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 readThe 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 readCouncils 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 readKemi 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 readAndy 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 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 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 readHousing 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