The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has launched a consultation on proposals to refine the application process for certain types of building work within the higher-risk building regime. The consultation covers fibre optic cabling installation and mobile mast building work, extending to local authority and registered building control approver routes for non-higher-risk buildings. It considers changes to existing building control processes for these types of work. The proposals are intended to address limitations in the current system and to ensure that regulatory processes remain proportionate, effective and focused on maintaining resident safety. The consultation closes on 24 March 2026.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has launched a consultation proposing reforms to council tax administration. The proposals include changing default payments from 10 to 12 months, revising debt enforcement procedures, updating the Severe Mentally Impaired exemption definition and reviewing support for care workers and apprentices. The consultation, open for 12 weeks, represents the largest reform to council tax administration since 1993. A parallel Ministry of Justice consultation on debt enforcement sector regulation runs until 21 July 2025.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has published a consultation on proposals to establish a single construction regulator, implementing the first recommendation of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 report. The consultation seeks views on creating a new regulator to consolidate functions currently dispersed across multiple bodies, with the aim of addressing fragmentation in the regulatory system and restoring trust in building safety. The consultation closes on 20 March 2026.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has launched a consultation on proposed changes to the emergency repairs route under the higher-risk buildings regime in England. The consultation invites views on several key issues, including whether the definition of emergency repairs should be expanded to cover additional types of building work, whether a new route for critical works should be established, the potential need for further guidance and which types of emergency works might be appropriate for self-certification through a Competent Person Scheme. The consultation closes on 3 September 2026.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has launched a consultation on proposals to reduce the prevalence of privately managed housing estates in England, where amenities such as roads, green spaces and drainage systems are not adopted by public authorities. The consultation sets out measures to increase the adoption of estate amenities on new developments, introduce common standards for adoptable infrastructure, consider mandatory adoption for certain public assets, remove financial incentives that encourage developers to avoid adoption, and improve transparency and data on estate management arrangements. It also seeks evidence on the impacts of these proposals on homeowners, developers, local authorities and management companies. The consultation closes on 12 March 2026.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has launched a consultation to implement Part 4 of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 (LFRA 2024) and is seeking views on further proposed reforms relating to leasehold charges and services. The consultation proposes a number of measures, including: (1) the introduction of new standardised service charge documentation (encompassing annual reports and demand forms); (2) enhanced transparency for building insurance policies; and (3) rebalancing the litigation costs regime and removing barriers for leaseholders to challenge their landlord. This includes proposals to implement LFRA 2024 litigation cost measures requiring landlords to obtain court or tribunal approval before recovering such costs from leaseholders. The consultation closes on 26 September 2025.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has launched a consultation on improving council tax enforcement and published Council Tax Information Letter 4/2026 to inform local authorities in England about the proposals and provide an update on the associated New Burdens assessment. The consultation seeks views on proposed amendments to the Council Tax (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1992, SI 1992/613 to introduce statutory pre-enforcement steps, including the timing, number and content of reminder and final notices before councils can take formal enforcement action. It also seeks views on non-statutory guidance covering best practice for recovering council tax debt, supporting taxpayers, identifying vulnerability, distinguishing between households experiencing financial hardship and those deliberately avoiding payment, and addressing operational and administrative barriers to implementation. Responses will inform the design of the legislation and accompanying guidance. MHCLG encourages all local authorities to respond, recognising that they are best placed to comment on the technical detail. MHCLG also confirmed that it is carrying out a New Burdens assessment to ensure councils are appropriately funded for any additional responsibilities arising from the proposals. The consultation closes on 29 July 2026.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has opened a consultation on reforming local authority building control services, proposing to expand charging powers to allow fuller cost-recovery from users. The consultation also covers amendments to notices and certificates frameworks, Building Safety Regulator charging regulations and data standards improvements, with intended outcomes including enhanced financial sustainability and improved building regulations compliance. The consultation ends on 25 January 2026.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has launched a consultation on proposed changes to guidance, public sector services and secondary legislation aimed at streamlining the infrastructure planning process for nationally significant infrastructure projects (NSIPs). Key proposals include: (1) new guidance on consultation and engagement following the removal of statutory pre-application consultation requirements under the Planning and Infrastructure Bill; (2) guidance to support the acceptance stage of applications; (3) guidance for public bodies on their role during examinations; (4) regulatory changes related to the examination of applications, including compulsory acquisition; (5) reforms and improvements to pre-application services provided by the Planning Inspectorate and the fast-track process; and (6) measures to support pre-application services through effective resourcing of statutory bodies, among other proposals. The consultation also seeks views on removing statutory pre-application requirements for onshore wind projects under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (TCPA 1990) guidance.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has launched a consultation on a proposed Direction to the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH), using powers under section 197 of the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 (HRA 2008). The consultation seeks views on requiring the RSH to set a revised tenure standard aligned with a new assured tenancy and regulatory framework. It also proposes that the Direction should apply to all social housing provided by local housing authorities, regardless of whether the stock is held within a Housing Revenue Account (HRA). The consultation closes on 28 May 2026.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has launched a technical consultation, seeking views on the introduction of a statutory build out framework. The framework would apply to eligible residential developments of 50 or more dwellings, using powers under the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 (LURA 2023) and the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (TCPA 1990). Under the proposed framework, developers would be required to: (1) submit a build out statement with their planning application to local planning authorities (LPAs); (2) issue a commencement notice to LPAs before starting development; and (3) provide annual development progress reports to LPAs on housing delivery. MHCLG also proposes to implement a new power introduced by the LURA 2023, s 113, enabling LPAs to decline to determine planning applications from developers who fail to build out previously authorised developments at a reasonable rate. Subject to the outcome of the consultation, MHCLG intends to bring forward the necessary regulations as soon as practicable, with the build out framework expected to come into force from 2026. The consultation closes on 7 July 2025.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has launched a consultation seeking feedback on proposals to enhance proportionality within the higher-risk building control regime in England. The consultation proposes changes to the definitions of category A and category B building work. These changes aim to ensure that documentation requirements more accurately reflect the scale and complexity of the work while maintaining safety standards, reducing unnecessary administrative burdens for applicants and enabling the Building Safety Regulator to concentrate on higher-risk and more complex cases. The proposals include specific adjustments to the categorisation system, aligning documentation requirements with the actual scale and complexity of building work. In addition to these core changes, the consultation seeks feedback on emerging supporting guidance and explores the potential for certain low-risk work types to be incorporated into future Competent Person Schemes. The consultation closes on 28 May 2026.