The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has published guidance on the Renters' Rights Act (RRA), which received Royal Assent on 27 October 2025. The guidance outlines the RRA's key measures, including the abolition of section 21 'no fault' evictions and the introduction of periodic tenancies with revised possession grounds. It also covers the establishment of a Private Rented Sector Landlord Ombudsman and Database, along with restrictions on rent in advance payments and prohibitions on rental discrimination and bidding practices. The guidance further outlines strengthened tenant rights in relation to pets, the application of the Decent Homes Standard to private rentals and the extension of Awaab's Law to the private rented sector. Additional measures include expanded local authority enforcement powers, strengthened rent repayment orders and enhanced investigatory powers for councils. The reforms are expected to affect 11 million private renters and 2.3 million landlords in England, with implementation timelines to be published separately.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has published guidance on the Renters’ Rights Bill, which was introduced to Parliament on 11 September 2024.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has published a guidance package on the Fire Safety (Residential Evacuation Plans) (England) Regulations 2025. The package includes a Residential Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) factsheet, an impact assessment, and a toolkit for responsible persons. The Regulations introduce new duties for building owners and managers of high-rise and higher risk residential buildings to address fire safety concerns for their most vulnerable tenants. Under these Regulations, residents with disabilities or impairments will be entitled to: (1) a person-centred fire risk assessment that considers their individual risks and ability to evacuate in the event of a fire; (2) reasonable and proportionate measures to mitigate those risks; (3) a written statement detailing the actions they should take during a fire; and (4) the sharing of relevant information with their local fire and rescue service to ensure that responders are aware of where the most vulnerable residents are located and can assist with evacuation or rescue if needed.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has published guidance on the new planning fees, which will be charged from 1 April each year. From 1 April 2025, these fees will be subject to annual indexation. The guidance outlines that planning fees will be adjusted annually based on the inflation rate, as measured by the Consumer Prices Index, from the previous September. MHCLG will publish the updated fees on its website in advance of 1 April each year.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has published guidance on the use of digital tools to support site identification and assessment in local plan-making. Drawing on learning from local planning authorities (LPAs) that participated in the PropTech Innovation Fund, the guidance covers digital mapping platforms, site assessment tools and digital submission systems. Several LPAs reported reductions exceeding 50% in time spent on early assessment tasks. The guidance states that digital tools do not replace professional planning judgement and identifies risks including data quality, over-reliance on automated output and governance and transparency requirements.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has published guidance, explaining how electrical safety standards regulations apply to landlords, tenants and local authorities in both the private and social rented sectors in England. The guidance covers the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020, SI 2020/312, which were updated in 2025 to include the social rented sector through the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) (Amendment) (Extension to the Social Rented Sector) Regulations 2025, SI 2025/978. Under the regulations, landlords must ensure that electrical installations in rented properties are inspected at least every five years by a suitably qualified professional. Social landlords who provide electrical equipment must also ensure that such equipment is tested. Landlords are required to provide tenants with proof that installations and equipment have been inspected, tested and checked.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has published three guidance documents on a new optional Microsoft Outlook automation system, designed to assist local planning authorities (LPAs) manage consultation responses for local plans. The system enables LPAs to automatically capture unread consultation response emails in a SharePoint database. The three documents comprise technical installation instructions for IT specialists; operational guidance for planning teams on accessing and updating the database; and an overview of the system’s capabilities. The MHCLG has also published a case study demonstrating the successful testing of the system during the City of London Corporation's City Plan 2040 consultation.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has published five guidance documents on fire risk appraisals of external walls (FRAEWs) for residential blocks of flats in England. The guidance covers when an FRAEW may be needed, how to commission one, what to expect in FRAEW reports and how to assess report quality. An FRAEW is a specialist assessment of fire risk associated with a building’s external wall system and may be needed where a fire risk assessment (FRA) identifies concerns about external wall materials or construction. FRAEWs may be needed for blocks of flats of any height, while buildings with traditional brick or masonry walls are generally less likely to require one. Assessors should follow PAS 9980:2026, which replaces PAS 9980:2022, and should have appropriate specialist competence. FRAEWs completed by competent assessors using PAS 9980:2022 should generally remain valid until review or update is needed. FRAEW outcomes are expressed as low, tolerable, medium or high risk, with any recommended further assessment, mitigation or remediation expected to be proportionate to the identified risk. FRAEWs support but do not replace the wider FRA.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has published guidance to support local authorities, Mayoral Strategic Authorities and partner organisations in delivering the homelessness and rough sleeping elements of the Homelessness, Rough Sleeping and Domestic Abuse Grant. MHCLG explained how the new consolidated grant, worth over £2.2bn between 2026–27 and 2028–29, replaces several previous funds and forms part of a wider £3.6bn investment in homelessness and rough sleeping. It confirmed that temporary accommodation funding will move into the Revenue Support Grant to ensure that prevention work is protected, and outlined how allocations will be determined using updated needs‑based formulas with transitional measures to ensure stability. The guidance also sets out the responsibilities of Mayoral Strategic Authorities, including arrangements linked to Integrated Settlements and the distribution of targeted funding for supported housing support services.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has published guidance setting out how councils in England should prepare and deliver local supported housing strategies under the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023. The guidance establishes a national framework requiring local housing authorities to assess existing supported housing provision, identify any unmet need and plan for future demand. The guidance also emphasises partnership working, encouraging local housing authorities to work with relevant partners, including health and social care services, local probation services, supported housing providers and residents.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has published guidance on new funding to support local authorities at the Regulation 18 stage of the local plan making process. This funding aims to help these authorities implement changes required by the revised National Planning Policy Framework and facilitate the submission of their local plans for examination by December 2026. This is in addition to the previously announced funding allocation in December 2024 for local authorities at the Regulation 19 stage. Eligible local authorities are invited to submit expressions of interest by 28 February 2025 to apply for a share of the funding. Local authorities that are successful will be informed about their funding allocation on or around 13 March 2025, with payments being made on or around 28 March 2025.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has published two technical guidance documents to assist local planning authorities (LPAs) in preparing datasets for conservation areas and Article 4 directions. Article 4 directions are issued by LPAs to withdraw specified permitted development rights within a defined area. Conservation areas are designated locations of special architectural or historic interest, with a character or appearance that must be preserved or enhanced.