The Building Safety Regulator’s innovation unit has reportedly reduced approval times by half after a year of operation. However, the regulator is still not meeting its statutory requirement, with caseloads continuing to grow.
The Environment Agency has issued Regulatory Position Statement RPS 376 on the storage of waste PFOA-containing firefighting foams and related decontamination and replacement wastes. It explains when the Agency will not normally take enforcement action if these wastes are stored longer than permitted under non-waste framework directive exemptions, provided the stated conditions are met.
The Building Safety Regulator reported a rise of more than 100 cases in its live gateway two caseload in August, which it said may be linked to the forthcoming Building Safety Levy. It also said its inspection programme had identified a small number of departures from gateway two-approved designs, requiring remedial work, while approval times and approval rates improved across several application types.
The Law Society has criticised the SRA’s proposed changes to first-tier complaints handling, arguing they may add administrative burden without clear consumer benefit. The consultation follows record complaint volumes and concerns from the Legal Ombudsman about poor complaints handling in a significant share of cases, while the Law Society also highlights the growing impact of AI-assisted complaints.
CILEX has raised concerns about proposed increases to Legal Ombudsman fees, warning that a tiered charging structure could encourage firms to make unwarranted payments to complainants to avoid higher costs. The consultation also proposes stricter admissibility thresholds and new timing rules, while the Law Society has separately warned the changes could reduce confidence in the complaints process.
The Society of Licensed Conveyancers has reiterated strong opposition to the Ministry of Justice’s proposed interest on lawyers’ client accounts (ILCA) scheme, arguing it is unfair, operationally burdensome and should not proceed before the consultation outcome is published. It says the proposal could add compliance costs and uncertainty for conveyancing firms while setting an unwelcome precedent for the use of client monies.
A survey of lettings professionals found that the Renters’ Rights Act has increased administrative workload for most firms, with compliance and record keeping identified as the main pressure point. The report also highlights fragmented technology use, manual data handling and concerns about maintaining profitability while meeting new requirements.
Rightmove has added a rent review function to its Tenancy Manager platform to help lettings agents create and serve Section 13 rent increase notices from existing tenancy records. The update is positioned as a response to changes introduced by the Renters’ Rights Act and is intended to streamline administration and support compliance.
Landlords with rented properties in the designated Selective Licensing area of Grimsby are being warned to apply for licences by 8 October 2026 or face a £200 late fee. The article also notes that operating without a licence may trigger enforcement action and significant financial penalties.
Rightmove has added a rent review function to its Tenancy Manager service to help letting agents create and serve Section 13 rent increase notices from existing tenancy records. The update is positioned as part of its wider Lead to Keys suite, aimed at streamlining lettings workflows and supporting agents as they adapt to changes introduced by the Renters Rights Act.
The government has published a name-and-shame list identifying more than 600 companies that underpaid staff. The article indicates that property firms are among those exposed, highlighting ongoing enforcement around wage compliance.
The article argues that conveyancing firms should approach AI adoption from existing professional and data protection duties, rather than starting with tool selection. It highlights the SRA’s warning notice and sets out five core obligations: accountability, security, lawful basis, processor governance and professional duty.
