HM Land Registry (HMLR) has updated Practice Guide 6—Devolution on the death of a registered proprietor. HMLR has clarified the guidance in the third paragraph of section 4 concerning the death of a joint proprietor, where the legal estate vests in the surviving registered proprietor(s).

HM Land Registry (HMLR) has updated Practice Guide 8—Execution of deeds. Section 7 has been updated to provide further clarity on when a local authority must provide the attesting witness’ name or role.

Hunterston B (Power Station)

The Housing Ombudsman (HO) has issued a statement in response to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry’s ‘Phase 2 report’, which was published on 4 September 2024. In their response, Richard Blakeway, calls for national reflection, emphasising the pivotal role of the report for future housing practices. Blakeway further highlights the need for respect, transparency, and accountability in addressing residents' complaints; condemns the historical dismissal of their concerns; and advocates for a shift in societal attitudes towards social housing.

The House of Lords Appointments Commission (HOLAC) has taken on the new responsibility of collecting citations from political parties for House of Lords nominations. This followed a government announcement requiring parties to provide citations summarising reasons for nominations. HOLAC published guidance for parties on citation content and the first citations were released on 20 December 2024 alongside new peerage announcements. Earlier in 2024, HOLAC's chair urged party leaders to consider public service principles when nominating peers. Debate continues regarding potential statutory status for HOLAC, with the government indicating it will review the appointments system as part of wider Lords reforms.

The Housing Ombudsman Service (HOS) and the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) have announced the launch of aligned Complaint Handling Codes. The Housing Ombudsman's Code will become statutory on 1 April 2024 in line with the Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023. The Complaint Handling Codes are an update to the Housing Ombudsman Code and the LGSCO's Good Practice Guidance. Both the HOS and LGSCO consulted on one code in November 2023. The consultation received responses from more than 150 councils, 250 landlords and 360 members of the public. Housing Ombudsman, Richard Blakeway, said that the 'aim of the Code is to improve local complaint handling amidst us seeing yet again a huge rise in the volumes of complaints coming to us. Landlords should be using the Code to improve their complaint handling and reducing the number of complaints being upheld by us.'

The Housing Ombudsman Service (HOS) has revealed plans to publish its first good practice guidance later this year, focusing on relationship management between landlords and residents. This new power, introduced by the Social Housing (Regulation) Act, aims to provide a framework for maintaining and restoring effective relationships. The guidance will offer examples of successful landlord practices, encourage self-assessment, and support learning and improvement plans. The Ombudsman's Centre for Learning and Resident Panel will play crucial roles in supporting engagement with the guidance. This initiative seeks to reduce complaints and promote positive, lasting change in the social housing sector by sharing practical lessons and highlighting person-centred approaches to service delivery.

The Housing Ombudsman Service (HOS) has launched a consultation on its Business Plan for 2024-25. The Business Plan outlines how the HOS will continue to develop focusing its casework activities and helping to improve landlord services. The consultation seeks views on how to support the earlier resolution of complaints by landlords and whether there is scope for a future change to the fee regime. The consultation is open until 5 April 2024.

The Housing Ombudsman Services (HOS) has announced that it is launching a special investigation into Wandle Housing Association due to a 89% maladministration rate. The investigation will look at improving policies and processes to enable Wandle's staff to deliver better services for residents. HOS will also assess if the Wandle Housing Association is compliant with the Complaint Handling Code.

The Housing Ombudsman Service (HOS) has launched a call for evidence to inform HOS's next report, on repairing trust in housing maintenance. This follows a significant rise in complaints concerning disrepair, as well as an increase in costs and skills shortages, consequently impacting residents’ safety in their homes. HOS is seeking views from residents, repair operatives, as well as landlords and their contractors. HOS is also seeking views from MPs and councillors for the first time. The call for evidence closes on 25 October 2024.

The Housing Ombudsman (HOS) has published its Annual Complaints Review 2025–26, finding that complaint handling across the sector is improving overall but repairs remain the main area of concern. The Ombudsman upheld 62% of complaints, down from 71% in 2024–25, while severe maladministration decreased to 470 findings, or 2%, from 714, or 5%, the previous year. A change introduced in October 2025 means complaint handling is now examined in every investigated case, but the Ombudsman states that without these findings the uphold rate would still have fallen from 68% to 65%. Complaints about local authorities had a higher uphold rate than those about housing associations, at 72% compared with 59%. The Ombudsman states that the difference is accounted for by higher rates of reasonable redress among housing associations. Responsive repairs accounted for 75% of all severe maladministration findings. The Ombudsman identifies repairs, particularly damp, mould and leaks, as the priority area for landlords and encourages them to audit their readiness for the extension of the Hazards in Social Housing (Prescribed Requirements) (England) Regulations 2025, SI 2025/1042 (Awaab’s Law). It notes that early 2026–27 cases suggest landlord teams are struggling to identify relevant cases and respond within appropriate timescales.

The Housing Ombudsman Service (HOS) has published its latest Spotlight report on relationship of equals, in which it looks at vulnerabilities, reasonable adjustments, discrimination, contact restrictions, investigation allegations and complaints handling. The HOS’s report assesses vulnerability in social housing in 2024, and how landlords can improve their responses to the needs of vulnerable residents. In its recommendations, the HOS has called for a new Royal Commission, independent of the government and ‘not impeded by politics’, to create a long-term plan for social housing. The HOS has also asked for landlords to implement a vulnerability strategy in line with the Equality Act 2010, the Human Rights Act 1998, and the Care Act 2014. It has also recommended for landlords to introduce minimum staff training requirements, implement a specific reasonable adjustments policy and ensure that residents have access to and awareness of complaints procedures.