The housing minister has announced the first increase in shared ownership income eligibility caps since 2016, raising thresholds to £90,000 outside London and £110,000 in London. The government says the change is intended to keep the tenure accessible while it pursues wider reforms to improve affordability, transparency, staircasing, resales and customer experience across the shared ownership lifecycle.
The Government has announced Your First Home, a new equity loan scheme for first-time buyers purchasing new-build homes in England, backed by £4.7 billion of government-backed loans. The scheme is due to open for pre-registration by the end of December, with full applications from February 2027 and first loans from April, alongside changes to Lifetime ISA withdrawal rules and a future First Time Buyer ISA.
The article reports a mixed industry response to the Autumn Budget, with support for the Your First Home scheme and the First-Time Buyer ISA, but criticism that the measures do not address wider housing supply, planning and transaction-cost pressures. Commentators also highlighted the absence of stamp duty reform and warned that higher taxes on property income could increase landlord sales and add complexity to conveyancing work.
Bury Market has secured a £10m government funding commitment, which could enable the reopening of its indoor market hall after it was closed in October 2023 because of RAAC concerns in the roof. The council says it will now consider options for the building’s future use as part of wider town centre regeneration plans.
The article reports that the Chancellor has announced a further 2 percentage point increase in Income Tax on property rental earnings from April 2027, taking the basic rate to 24%, the higher rate to 44% and the additional rate to 49%. Industry commentators warn the change could reduce landlord confidence, push up rents and further constrain rental supply.
MPs have heard criticism of the draft Private Rented Sector Database Regulations 2026, with industry figures arguing that the proposed upload process would be highly time-consuming for portfolio landlords and managing agents. The service, to be called Register your Rental Property, would require annual per-property registration fees and compliance by 14 November 2027.
A company responsible for Solihull Heights has been fined £240,000 after failing to comply with a Birmingham City Council Improvement Notice requiring fire detection upgrades across three tower blocks. The council says the case is intended as a warning to landlords and notes that 26 other developments in the city are currently subject to enforcement action.
New YouGov research for Safeguard Europe suggests damp and mould remain widespread in UK housing, with reported incidence particularly high in the private rented sector. The article notes that the government is consulting on extending Awaab’s Law to the private sector, alongside evidence of tenant concern about landlord disputes and heating costs.
A Goodlord report on the private rental sector says the Renters Rights Act has had unintended consequences for landlords, particularly through the move away from fixed-term tenancies and the restriction on taking more than one month’s rent in advance. The survey suggests this is contributing to landlord exits, tighter supply and greater caution over tenant selection.
Goodlord’s latest State of the Lettings Industry Report says the Renters Rights Act is contributing to reduced rental supply, higher tenant enquiries and increased landlord exits from the private rented sector. The survey, based on 3,031 respondents, also suggests landlords are becoming more cautious about tenant selection due to restrictions on taking more than one month’s rent in advance.
The Budget includes additional funding for social and affordable housing, taking the Social and Affordable Homes Programme to more than £40bn over 10 years and supporting around 10,000 homes in England. It also confirms a new zero rate of VAT on land sold to registered social housing providers from 1 April 2027, alongside a first-time buyer equity-loan scheme and a proposed biodiversity net gain exemption for certain small brownfield schemes.
The Environment Agency has updated guidance for large producers on meeting packaging recycling obligations under extended producer responsibility (EPR) for packaging. The update clarifies how to acquire and use PRNs and PERNs, submit certificates or statements of compliance, and meet the 31 January deadline, alongside revised targets and fee guidance.
