North East Derbyshire council is promoting the East Midlands Housing Conference 2026, where landlords, letting agents and housing professionals will receive practical guidance on the Renters Rights Act. The event will feature keynote presentations from housing law specialist David Smith and Suzanne Smith, alongside workshops and an exhibition for sector support organisations.
A landlord has been fined after pleading guilty to breaching gas safety regulations by failing to arrange annual gas safety checks at a rented home in Wirral for eight years. The case followed an HSE investigation prompted by a concern from Wirral council and involved a tenant living with five children.
The article reports that many landlords subject to Making Tax Digital for Income Tax do not understand when the rules apply to them, with awareness particularly weak among those due to join in later phases. It also highlights expectations of increased administrative burden and notes that Propertymark has encouraged letting agents to help landlords who are struggling with compliance.
The Mayor of London has announced an additional £400,000 over three years to support implementation of the Renters Rights Act in London. The funding will support tenant advice services and training for council officers to improve enforcement against rogue landlords and poor housing conditions.
The article criticises a Government proposal to shorten the qualifying period for Empty Dwelling Management Orders from two years to six months, arguing that this would significantly expand state intervention in privately owned empty homes. It notes that existing powers already allow councils to address derelict or problematic properties and suggests the policy would raise concerns about property rights and proportionality.
The article highlights renewed scrutiny of the leasehold sector, noting that service charges are rising. It also states that there are almost 5 million leasehold properties in the UK, underscoring the scale of the tenure affected.
The government has launched a consultation on extending Awaab’s Law to private rented homes, with the aim of imposing legal deadlines for fixing severe damp and mould in the private sector. The proposals could also be expanded in future to temporary accommodation, supported housing and accommodation for care leavers, with the consultation open until 18 December 2026.
The government has launched a 64-question consultation on extending a version of Awaab’s Law to the private rented sector, with several key policy details still undecided. The consultation also asks whether the proposed requirements should apply to some licence-based accommodation, including supported housing, temporary accommodation for homeless households and care leaver accommodation.
Stoke-on-Trent City Council has approved a city-wide Article 4 Direction that will remove permitted development rights for converting family homes into small HMOs without planning permission. The measure is intended to give the council greater control over HMO growth and to assess impacts on neighbourhoods, housing quality, parking, community cohesion and public amenity.
safeagent has backed the proposed extension of Awaab’s Law into the private rented sector, while stressing that any new duties must be supported by effective enforcement. The government is also consulting on whether the law should apply to certain licence-based accommodation, including supported housing, temporary accommodation and care leaver accommodation.
A landlord was fined £28,500 after a property occupied by a vulnerable household was found to have serious disrepair, including damp and mould, no heating or hot water, and electrical hazards. The case involved enforcement action by Durham County Council, including an improvement notice and prosecution for failure to obtain selective licences for multiple properties.
Cardiff council is proposing to renew its Additional HMO Licensing Scheme in Plasnewydd for a further five years, with a consultation expected shortly. The council says the scheme has improved housing standards and safety, with inspections indicating many licensed HMOs still require remedial works.
