The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has launched a consultation on implementing Awaab's Law for private rented tenancies in England and potentially extending its protections to accommodation occupied under licence, including supported housing, temporary accommodation for homeless households and care leaver accommodation. Awaab's Law is currently implemented for social housing through the Hazards in Social Housing (Prescribed Requirements) (England) Regulations 2025, SI 2025/1042. Under the Renters' Rights Act 2025, MHCLG seeks views on covering all Housing Health and Safety Rating System hazards except overcrowding in private rented tenancies, with requirements triggered by significant or emergency hazards. Using the existing social housing framework as a starting point, MHCLG seeks views on deadlines of 10 working days for investigating significant hazards, 5 working days for making them safe following investigation and 24 hours for investigating and making emergency hazards safe, with action taken as soon as practicable. The consultation also considers written summaries of investigation findings, landlords' responsibilities for hazards involving freeholders, alternative accommodation and phased implementation, with 2027 identified as the earliest feasible commencement date. The consultation closes on 18 December 2026.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has launched a consultation on implementing new planning powers for mayors of strategic authorities in England under the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 (EDCEA 2026). The proposals follow an announcement by the Prime Minister’s Office and the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, and are supported by ten mayors from different political parties. The proposals would enable mayors outside London to intervene in planning applications of potential strategic importance by directing refusal or calling in applications for determination. Applications involving more than 150 homes, over 15,000 square metres of commercial floorspace or buildings at least 30 metres high would be within scope. They would also allow mayors to grant planning permission through Mayoral Development Orders and raise funds for strategic infrastructure through a Mayoral Community Infrastructure Levy. Councils would continue to determine most applications, applicants would retain appeal rights and ministers would retain powers to intervene. Mayors would also have greater influence over how national housing funding is used in their areas. The measures are intended to support spatial development strategies, accelerate housing and infrastructure delivery and promote economic growth. The consultation also proposes changes to Local Development Orders, including removing restrictions on their use for development affecting listed buildings and preventing their use for minerals development. The consultation closes on 5 October 2026.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has launched a consultation on proposals to require Local Planning Authorities in England to consult the Secretary of State before issuing decisions on certain planning applications. The consultation seeks views on introducing new consultation directions that would apply where authorities are minded either to refuse, or in one case to grant, planning permission, in order to ensure that applications of strategic or national importance are considered for possible call-in by the Secretary of State before a formal decision is issued.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has launched a consultation on proposed changes to permitted development rights in England under the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015, SI 2015/596. The consultation seeks views on extending until October 2028 the temporary permitted development right that allows schools affected by reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) to use temporary buildings while remediation works are completed, and on removing assets of community value (ACVs) and future sporting assets of community value (SACVs) from the demolition permitted development right so that planning permission would be required before such assets can be demolished. The government states that these measures are intended to maintain educational continuity and strengthen protections for valued community assets.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has launched a consultation, seeking views on introducing permitted insurance fees for landlords, freeholders, and property managing agents, pursuant to measures in the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024, which addresses concerns over opaque and excessive charges imposed on leaseholders for building insurance. The proposals suggest replacing the current commission-based remuneration system with a transparent fee structure that reflects the work involved in arranging and managing building insurance. The consultation seeks views on the activities to be covered by the permitted fee, how it should be calculated, and additional criteria to ensure fairness and proportionality. The responses received will inform secondary legislation that will define the parameters of the permitted fee. The consultation closes on 24 February 2025.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has launched a consultation on whether the proposed cap on existing residential ground rents should include a limited exemption for 'quid pro quo' leases, where a leaseholder and freeholder explicitly agreed a higher ground rent in exchange for a corresponding reduction in the premium. The consultation seeks views on whether such an exemption is justified, how it should be defined, the evidence required to demonstrate that a lease qualifies, and how any exemption could operate without undermining the policy objectives of capping ground rents, simplifying the leasehold system and ultimately replacing most ground rents with a peppercorn after 40 years.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has launched a consultation on proposed technical reforms to the compulsory purchase process and compensation rules in England and Wales. The consultation seeks input on measures to streamline the process, reduce associated costs, and improve the fairness of compensation regulations. These proposals build on changes introduced by the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 (LURA 2023), which allows certain acquiring authorities to remove ‘hope value’ from compensation assessments for compulsory purchase orders (CPOs) in specific circumstances. The MHCLG proposes to expand this power to include CPOs made under section 125 of the Local Government Act 1972 (LGA 1972) on behalf of town and community councils, enabling directions to remove hope value where social and affordable housing is being built. Additional proposals include permitting electronic service of notices and simplifying land descriptions in newspaper notices, among other proposals. The consultation closes on 13 February 2025.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has launched a consultation on introducing remote attendance and proxy voting to local authority meetings in England. The consultation will last for eight weeks, from 24 October 2024 until 19 December 2024. Respondents can give their views through an online survey or via email.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has launched a consultation on revised statutory guidance under section 26 of the Local Government Act 1999 (LGA 1999) governing the best value duty for local and strategic authorities in England. The revised guidance replaces the May 2024 guidance and responds to the Lessons Learnt from Best Value Interventions evaluation of March 2026. The revised guidance reflects the government's public service reform principles of devolution, service integration and prevention. It emphasises self-monitoring, self-assessment and effective scrutiny, setting out seven best value themes, including: (1) continuous improvement; (2) leadership; (3) governance; (4) culture; (5) use of resources; (6) service delivery and (7) partnerships and community engagement. Alongside these themes, it sets out six guiding principles, including: (1) local accountability; (2) openness to challenge and support; (3) expectations; (4) prevention; (5) empowering local ownership and (6) meeting the cost of failure. The revised guidance describes a flexible framework of non-statutory tools, including early assurance letters and best value notices. It also describes three models of statutory intervention under LGA 1999, s 15, including: (1) directions only; (2) envoy-supported directions and (3) commissioner-led directions. The consultation closes on 7 October 2026.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has announced an extension of the existing cladding safety scheme to buildings under 11 metres with serious fire safety risks, shifting remediation prioritisation from building height to risk level. MHCLG has accordingly updated its cladding safety scheme guidance to include information on funding for buildings under 11 metres. It has also announced plans for a new single construction regulator, simplification of the Building Safety Regulator's Building Assessment Certificate process and a new consultation on emergency works. The government has welcomed a Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) review into insurance premiums for buildings with fire safety risks, examining how insurers' pricing approaches have changed since the FCA introduced rules in 2023, how firms are assessing fair value for leaseholders and how building remediation work is being factored into risk assessments.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has extended the consultation period for its leasehold enfranchisement valuation rates consultation by four weeks, with the closing date revised to 21 October 2026. The consultation seeks views on prescribing the deferment rates and capitalisation rates to be used in enfranchisement claims under the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024. MHCLG has also published a plain English explainer setting out the effect of the reforms on leaseholders seeking to extend their lease or acquire their freehold.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has granted Exceptional Financial Support to 37 local authorities for the 2026-27 financial year, with amounts ranging from £5m to £121m. The support, totalling over £1.5bn, allows councils to use capital funding including receipts from sales and borrowing to cover day-to-day costs, subject to rigorous conditions including complete financial assessments. Notable recipients include Shropshire (£121m), Croydon (£119m), and Warrington (£92m). The City of London receives separate £2.65m support for its Housing Revenue Account. Six councils remain under statutory intervention: Birmingham, Croydon, Slough, Thurrock, Woking, and Warrington. Birmingham's support profile for previous financial years has been revised, with 2024-25 support reduced from £491.1m to £405.7m and 2025-26 support reduced from £180m to £36.7m. The Exceptional Financial Support process, established in 2020, enables councils facing financial failure to set balanced budgets through capitalisation directions that will be formally issued once final amounts are confirmed.