The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has concluded its consultation on the provisional local government finance settlement for the 2025 to 2026 fiscal year. The consultation, which sought views on proposals for local government funding allocation, ran for four weeks from 18 December 2024 to 15 January 2025. The department received 227 responses from various stakeholders. The feedback will inform the final settlement, which is essential for determining the financial resources available to local authorities across England.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has published its response to the 'Strengthening leaseholder protections over charges and services' consultation, which ran from 4 July to 26 September 2025. The government confirmed it will implement measures under Part 4 of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 (LFRA 2024) via a minimum of five statutory instruments to be laid in Parliament later in 2026, with changes anticipated to take effect during 2027. Confirmed measures include: (1) a prescribed annual report on building condition and planned major works; (2) a standardised service charge demand form with annual budget; (3) a future demand notice; (4) a right to request information going back six years; (5) a prescribed administration charge schedule; (6) building insurance transparency requirements extending existing Financial Conduct Authority disclosure rules; (7) standardised service charge accounts with ISRS 4400 as the default reporting standard and (8) reform of the litigation costs regime requiring court or tribunal approval for all service charge cost recovery, with a threshold-based exemption for administration charges and a new leaseholder right to recover litigation costs. Private landlords will receive 12 months' notice of most measures while social landlords receive 24 months. The government has also launched two consultations on enfranchisement reforms. These consultations close on 23 September 2026.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has confirmed it will bring forward further reforms to the Right to Buy scheme, which allows eligible council tenants in England to purchase their homes at a discount. The reforms include: (1) increasing the minimum eligibility period from 3 to 10 years; (2) amending discount rules so that discounts start at 5% of the property value and increase by 1% annually, up to a maximum of 15% of the property value or the applicable cash cap (whichever is lower) and (3) introducing a 35-year exemption period, preventing new social homes from being sold under the scheme for 35 years after construction. In July 2025, the government published its response to the consultation on reforming the Right to Buy scheme. Since then, further policy development and analysis have been undertaken, including consideration of more effective fraud prevention measures, safeguards to protect vulnerable tenants from pressure to purchase and a review of the scheme's application in rural areas. These changes will be brought forward when parliamentary time allows.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has confirmed that it will bring forward amendments to the Social Housing Bill. The amendments will give councils new powers to refer homeless households to private registered providers of social housing and introduce a disposals notification requirement intended to give councils and other social housing providers more opportunity to purchase social homes before they are sold outside the sector, with the government intending to extend the notification period to eight weeks. A new Duty to Collaborate will also require public services to work more closely to identify people at risk of homelessness and consider action within their existing responsibilities.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has published the outcome of the Building Safety Regulator’s (BSR) initial review, commissioned in response to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 recommendation to urgently reassess the definition of a ‘higher-risk building’. The review found insufficient evidence to justify any changes at this time. It examined height-based criteria, building use, vulnerability considerations, industry impacts and existing safety regulations, concluding that the current definition remains appropriate and proportionate. The BSR intends to, however, operate an ongoing risk-based review to ensure future amendments can be made quickly in response to emerging evidence, particularly concerning vulnerable residents.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has confirmed six regions for the Devolution Priority Programme (DPP), following the introduction of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill to Parliament , which aims to decentralise power and ignite regional growth, helping local people take back control of their regions. The programme will establish Mayoral Strategic Authorities in Cumbria, Cheshire and Warrington, Norfolk and Suffolk, Greater Essex, Sussex and Brighton and Hampshire and the Solent. Inaugural elections are scheduled for May 2026, while Cumbria and Cheshire and Warrington will hold elections in May 2027. MHCLG confirms thirty-year investment funds will remain part of the devolution package. Funding will also be standardised to increase transparency and fairness.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has confirmed that the Minister of State for Housing and Planning, Matthew Pennycook MP, has withdrawn his 25 June 2026 directions to the Planning Inspectorate concerning the City of London Corporation’s emerging Local Plan. Following further hearings, the Minister accepted the inspectors’ assessment that the plan’s heritage policies and requirements for site-specific Heritage Impact Assessments would provide substantial safeguards for the Tower of London World Heritage Site. He also cited recent changes to national planning policy. The examination of the plan can now proceed to its conclusion.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has confirmed £6bn in funding over 30 years for six areas establishing mayoral combined authorities through the Devolution Priority Programme. Each area is set to receive an additional £3m over the next three financial years, plus an initial payment of £1m to cover establishment costs. MHCLG is considering delaying the inaugural mayoral elections to May 2028 for Greater Essex, Hampshire and the Solent, Norfolk and Suffolk, and Sussex and Brighton to allow sufficient time to complete the council reorganisation into unitary authorities. In contrast, the mayoral elections for Cheshire and Warrington and Cumbria will proceed in May 2027 as originally scheduled.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has confirmed a £78bn Final Local Government Finance Settlement with a £440m Recovery Grant uplift to help councils most in need tackle deprivation and improve local services. The settlement provides multi‑year funding certainty and includes measures such as writing off 90% of historic special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) deficits, a £272m uplift for homelessness support and £39.6m in mayoral capacity funding to support vulnerable people at risk of homelessness and strengthen local outcomes. The MHCLG says using an evidence‑based approach including the latest Indices of Multiple Deprivation will ensure communities hardest hit by historic cuts receive their fair share.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has opened a consultation on a proposal to introduce a general safety requirement (GSR) for currently unregulated construction products. The proposal puts forward requirements that construction products placed on the market be safe and specific obligations be imposed on businesses. The regulations would also provide enforcement powers to the national regulator for construction products. This consultation take place in the context of the Construction Products Reform White Paper, which was published following the Phase II inquiry into the Grenfell Tower disaster, and which outlines a broad reform agenda aimed at strengthening public safety, supporting long-term investment and economic growth, reducing trade barriers, improving productivity, and enabling the delivery of high-quality housing and infrastructure. The consultation closes at 11.59 pm on 20 May 2026.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has launched a consultation proposing amendments to the submission and approval of plans in building control applications for new dwellings and buildings subject to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. The proposed amendments include : (1) requiring that all new dwellings using the local authority (LA) route must apply with an application for building control approval with full plans; (2) requiring that all new dwellings and all Fire Safety Order buildings using the Registered Building Control Approver route must receive a plans certificate at some stage prior to the giving of the final certificate and (3) a review of Fire and Rescue Authority consultation requirements. The consultation closes on 11 June 2026.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has launched a consultation on draft regulations for a supported housing licensing regime across England. The proposals include five-year licences, fit and proper person checks, accommodation and support standards, and enforcement measures including financial penalties of up to £40,000 and licence revocation. The regime aims to improve standards and protect residents while keeping requirements proportionate for providers and local authorities. The consultation closes on 10 December 2026.