Angela Rayner reaffirmed Labour’s commitment to its target of building 1.5 million new homes, describing it as a difficult but achievable challenge. In a separate interview, she said the government is not considering rent controls in England and pointed to the Renters’ Rights Act as already affecting the market.
A city council has begun enforcement action to remove letting boards after a court appeal against the crackdown was dismissed. The council said the boards had become a persistent feature of residential streets, contributing to visual blight and concerns about crime and anti-social behaviour, particularly in areas with a high concentration of student and privately rented housing.
The Planning Inspectorate has published a 2024 Pre-application Prospectus for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects, setting out a new pre-application service and three service tiers. The article notes that amendments to the Planning Act 2008 introduced by the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 have made some features obsolete, and that pilots are underway ahead of a further update expected by summer 2027.
Tenant campaign groups are urging Prime Minister Andy Burnham to introduce rent controls, including an emergency freeze on private rents, amid claims that affordability pressures are worsening. The article says Burnham had recently indicated he was considering rent controls as a short-term measure, but reports over the weekend suggested his team may now be discounting the idea.
The article reports that the Home Office is tightening right-to-work rules, with draft guidance set to expand liability beyond direct employers to firms higher up the contractual chain from 1 October 2026. Construction businesses are being urged to review due diligence, subcontractor oversight and contract arrangements now, as the sector’s reliance on layered labour supply chains increases exposure to penalties.
A survey of around 200 landlords and property investors suggests the Renters’ Rights Act has already added a median £5,000 in costs, with respondents citing higher borrowing, maintenance, insurance and compliance expenses. The findings also indicate that some landlords are responding by raising rents, prioritising lower-risk tenants, delaying upgrades, selling properties or taking homes out of the rental market.
Chestertons’ Quarterly Market Report suggests landlords responded to the first month of the Renters’ Rights Act by increasing initial asking rents, with more than a third raising prices and fewer cutting them in May 2026. The report also indicates tenant demand in London remained resilient, although applicants are taking longer to compare options and are submitting more enquiries before registering interest.
The article reports that a significant proportion of landlords and sole traders earning £50,000 or more have not yet signed up for Making Tax Digital ahead of the first filing deadline on 7 August. It highlights low awareness of the deadline and filing frequency, alongside concerns about the administrative burden of compliance.
Propertymark has published a report arguing that leasehold remains problematic for many homeowners despite recent legislative progress. The report says rising costs, complex rules and market uncertainty continue to affect existing leaseholders, and calls for further reform alongside the transition to commonhold.
HM Land Registry data shows SDLT-related requisitions remain a recurring source of registration delay, with 39,967 unique requisition numbers recorded in the year ending 2025. The article highlights that many issues arise from missing or inconsistent SDLT evidence and supporting documentation rather than the tax calculation itself.
The Glasgow School of Art has announced plans to remove the external scaffold around the Mackintosh Building and replace it with an internal support system from 2027, alongside a temporary roof, selected permanent steelwork and internal repairs. The first phase is intended to stabilise the Category A-listed building after the 2018 fire, but it will not make the building usable and further reinstatement phases will still be required.
Prosper has launched a four-year, £500m framework for building safety works and services across the UK, covering consultancy, passive fire protection, active fire protection and principal contractor delivery. The framework is aimed at public sector bodies and social landlords, with regional sub-lots across England and Wales and contract awards expected in September 2026.
