The Legal Services Board has concluded that inconsistent guidance following the Mazur case was driven by insufficient cross-regulator engagement and differing interpretations of the Legal Services Act. It said regulators updated guidance constructively after the judgments, but earlier advice lacked clarity and consistency, creating risks of uneven outcomes for regulated professionals.
The article critiques the government’s consultation on quid pro quo ground rents alongside the draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill, arguing that the proposed exemption test is likely to be difficult or impossible to satisfy in practice. It also questions the proposed fixed valuation approach for a £250 annual ground rent cap, suggesting it transfers value away from freeholders through a prescribed regulatory mechanism rather than case-by-case assessment.
The Environment Agency has published updated templates and supplementary guidance for sampling and inspection plans required under extended producer responsibility (EPR) for packaging. Reprocessors and exporters of packaging waste in the UK must use these templates when applying for registration or optional accreditation, and exporters must also complete the overseas reprocessing and interim sites log (OSR) form.
The Environment Agency has carried out an 18-week enforcement campaign, Operation Unite, targeting firms involved in construction waste and asbestos. The article notes that Watford-based PB Donoghue Construction was among the companies inspected.
West Lancashire Council has confirmed that an environmental impact assessment will be required for Northern Trust’s proposed outline residential scheme for 360 homes in Aughton. The site lies within the Green Belt on land described as a mix of grade one agricultural land and urban classification, and the proposal is at screening stage with no detailed plans yet submitted.
Liverpool FC’s application to make the closure of Anfield Road behind the expanded Anfield Road stand permanent was refused by Liverpool City Council’s planning committee, despite an officer recommendation to approve. The committee instead backed concerns about traffic flow, residential amenity and environmental nuisance, and also asked for a highways report to be taken to cabinet.
A court has overturned a decision that had approved a scheme for a Spurs women’s football academy. The council’s new Conservative administration welcomed the ruling after having campaigned against the development during the May local elections.
National Highways has flagged supply-chain disruption as a material risk to delivering projects efficiently, citing economic volatility, geopolitical pressures, labour constraints and shortages of critical components. Its annual report also highlights risks from ageing assets, network capacity pressures and recruitment challenges, while noting improvements in worker-safety metrics and some operational performance measures.
Two landlords operating in Norfolk have been fined more than £216,000 in total after council inspections found serious hazards in rented homes, including unsafe electrics, damp and mould, overcrowding and fire risks. Breckland Council said the action followed repeated non-compliance, including failures to carry out electrical safety checks and to comply with improvement notices.
Labour’s Greater Manchester mayoral candidate Bev Craig has set out a housing platform focused on tighter controls in the private rented sector. Her proposals include expanding Article 4 Directions for HMOs, strengthening the Good Landlord Charter, linking local funding for retrofitting to charter compliance, and exploring rent caps or controls through a new commission.
Florence Eshalomi has been appointed a minister in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government after previously chairing the housing select committee. The article indicates she has consistently argued for tougher private rented sector regulation, including stronger enforcement of the Renters Rights Act, earlier adoption of the Decent Homes Standard, and faster implementation of Awaab’s Law and the Private Rented Sector Database.
Handelsbanken’s latest Property Investor Report says rising operating costs and the Renters’ Rights Act are prompting many professional landlords to increase rents, tighten tenant selection and reassess portfolio strategy. The survey also suggests some investors are delaying upgrades, selling assets or taking properties out of the rental market, although most still expect to expand holdings over the next year.
