The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero have updated the consultation outcome, setting out the government response and final-stage impact assessment for introducing Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) in the social rented sector in England, requiring a standard broadly equivalent to Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) Band C by 2030. The government will implement a dual-metric approach based on reformed EPC measures, prioritising fabric performance alongside either heating system improvements or smart readiness, and will enforce the standard through the Decent Homes Standard under the Regulator of Social Housing. A £10,000 time-limited spend exemption per property is confirmed, allowing delayed compliance for up to ten years where costs exceed this threshold, alongside transitional arrangements recognising existing EPC Band C compliance until certificate expiry. The final impact assessment concludes that the policy delivers net benefits, with average upgrade costs of £4,500 to £5,300 per property offset by annual bill savings of £96 to £165, significant carbon reductions, and the potential to lift approximately 350,000 to 400,000 households out of fuel poverty, supporting wider objectives on housing quality, affordability and net zero.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has updated its draft guidance on plan-making and local government reorganisation (LGR) following the government’s announcement on 7 September 2026 that the LGR programme would be paused and reviewed. The guidance confirms that the pause is not a reason to delay plan-making; authorities must start local plans and minerals and waste plans by the deadlines set out in regulations, and those that received local plan implementation funding should continue towards their agreed milestones. Surrey’s reorganisation is unaffected, and the department will continue work on transitional arrangements for plan-making in Surrey and any future reorganisations, subject to the outcome of the review. The guidance remains a statement of intention, with transitional regulations to be published in due course.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has updated its draft guidance on plan-making and local government reorganisation. The revisions reflect the Secretary of State's announcement on 7 September that the local government reorganisation programme will be paused.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has updated its guidance as applications opened for new Cladding Safety Scheme funding, administered by Homes England, for eligible multi-occupied residential buildings under 11 metres in England. Eligible responsible entities can now apply through the Building Remediation Hub during an eight-week application window closing on Friday 9 October 2026. Funding is targeted according to cladding fire safety risk, with high-risk buildings considered first and medium-risk buildings considered where funding remains. Applications must be supported by a Fire Risk Appraisal of External Walls conducted in accordance with Publicly Available Specification (PAS) 9980:2022, demonstrating that remediation or mitigation is necessary and proportionate. Homes England will review and audit assessments before determining eligibility. Funding is limited, and meeting the eligibility requirements does not guarantee an award.

The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 introduces a significant overhaul of the private rented sector on 1 May 2026, including the abolition of section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions, the transition to periodic tenancies, revised and expanded statutory grounds for possession, and strengthened enforcement powers and tenant remedies. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has updated a range of guidance to align government guidance with the new framework. The updates affect the following publications:

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has updated its collection of guidance for local planning authorities (LPAs) on preparing and updating local plans under the new plan-making system. The collection collates links to recently published guidance covering public engagement during plan preparation, issuing a requirement to assist notice, making local plan documents publicly available, publishing local plan housing requirements and statutory guidance on publishing plan data. It also includes a link to a template to assist LPAs in publishing plan data and plan timetable data.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has updated four guidance documents to reflect the amendments to leaseholder protections in the Building Safety Act 2022 (BSA 2022) that are now in force. The changes to the BSA 2022 are due to amendments brought in by the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024. The updated guidance documents include: ‘Leaseholder contribution caps’, ‘Remediation costs: what leaseholders do and do not have to pay’, ‘Making sure remediation work is done’, and 'Building safety leaseholder protections: guidance for leaseholders'.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has updated its guidance on the legislation and scrutiny of Mayoral Development Corporations in combined authorities and combined county authorities. Following sector consultation, the revised guidance clarifies the role of Mayors in appointing Chairs, offers advice on managing liabilities remaining after the closure of subsidiary companies, and refines the roles and responsibilities of officers in both mayoral combined and combined county authorities. Additionally, the update includes revisions to the list of statutory instruments that confer functions related to Mayoral Development Corporations on these authorities. This new guidance builds on the original publication, which was issued in response to a recommendation from the Tees Valley independent review report dated 29 January 2024, and it further clarifies legislation concerning oversight, reserve matters, and consent in relation to Mayoral Development Corporations.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has updated its guidance on the Planning Capacity and Capability Programme for England, providing the latest information on planning workforce recruitment and support. As of October 2026, the Pathways to Planning programme had placed 308 graduates in local planning authorities and statutory consultees under the current government, while Public Practice had placed 112 associates in 60 local planning authorities. The guidance also sets out current recruitment ambitions, including a target of around 1,325 planners by the end of this Parliament, with wider cross-government recruitment and investment expected to increase the total to approximately 1,400 across the planning system.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has updated its guidance on the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. The update includes new documentation, such as government amendments introduced during the House of Lords Committee Stage of the Bill, and correspondence between the Minister of State for Housing and Planning, Matthew Pennycook, and the Office for Environmental Protection concerning amendments to the Nature Restoration Fund provisions in Part 3 of the Bill.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG), in collaboration with the Department for Education (DfE), have jointly revised their statutory guidance on the provision of accommodation for 16- and 17-year-olds who may be homeless or require accommodation. The update, reflects recent changes in homelessness and children's legislation. The guidance clarifies the respective duties of children's services and housing services in securing or providing accommodation for this vulnerable age group. Originally issued following the House of Lords judgment in R (G) v London Borough of Southwark (2009), this revision ensures that local authorities have up-to-date information on their legal obligations in light of legislative developments.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has updated its guidance on amendments to the Building Safety Act (BSA 2022) introduced by the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 (LFRA 2024). The guidance adds three measures, effective from 31 October 2024, pertaining to remediation orders (ROs), remediation contribution orders (RCOs), as well as clarification on ‘relevant steps’.