Citizens Advice is urging the government to unfreeze Local Housing Allowance, arguing that around a million private renters on benefits are facing a widening gap between housing benefit and market rents. The charity says the allowance has fallen behind recent rent increases, leaving low-income tenants with insufficient support and greater financial pressure.
Falconer Chester Hall has promoted three staff members as the practice expands its focus on high-risk and tall-building work under the Building Safety Act regime. The firm says it has secured multiple Gateway approvals and consents and is positioning itself to provide both architectural and principal designer services for compliant delivery of tall buildings.
Unite has accused Taylor Wimpey of using dismissal and rehire tactics to reduce bonus pay for 50 joiners and scaffolders in the North East, with the union alleging the cuts would exceed 30%. Taylor Wimpey says it is consulting on revising bonus calculations to align pay more closely with market rates and has stated that it has engaged ACAS and is continuing discussions with employees.
The Technology and Construction Court refused to delay enforcement of a £1.6m adjudication judgment against LUC Construction, despite its argument that immediate payment could threaten its business. The court held that a party claiming inability to pay must evidence why funds cannot be raised from shareholders or other sources, and found LUC had not done so.
The Environment Agency has updated its guidance on how it responds to planning consultations where proposed development also requires environmental permitting or other consenting regimes. The update clarifies the Agency’s approach, including the positions it may take in response, pre-application services, and how it considers Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects.
The article argues that blockchain and smart contracts could improve traceability, accountability and record-keeping in construction, particularly for safety-critical materials and compliance data. It links this to the post-Grenfell push for better information management, including the golden thread requirements introduced in England in October 2023.
The Environment Agency has updated its Climate Change Agreements Operations Manual to reflect the launch of a new CCA scheme in January 2026. The revisions include new target methodology, facility-level reporting, updated compliance and eligibility review processes, revised reporting tools, and removal of outdated guidance and templates.
A lettings software provider has questioned whether the forthcoming Private Rented Sector Database will effectively identify rogue landlords, arguing that compliant landlords and agents may bear most of the administrative and cost burden. The database is due to begin rolling out in December, starting in the West Midlands, with landlords required to register properties region by region over an 18-month period and pay an annual fee per property.
Glenbrook has secured Gateway 2 approval for its 44-storey, 364-home residential tower on Whitworth Street West in Manchester, alongside planning permission and funding arrangements. The scheme, designed by Sheppard Robson and due to be built by Domis, is now positioned to move toward a start on site in 2027.
East Staffordshire Council has approved a new selective licensing scheme for 16 streets in Burton upon Trent, due to start on New Year’s Day and run until 31 December 2031. The scheme is intended to improve housing conditions and management standards in an area with a high concentration of privately rented homes, and will require affected landlords to obtain a licence and meet mandatory conditions.
Research cited in the article suggests a significant proportion of letting agents lack confidence in identifying suspicious client money transactions, with more than a third saying they could not reliably spot fraud. The report also indicates that agents perceive fraud risk to be increasing, with AI-enabled impersonation and deepfake scams seen as a growing threat alongside more traditional phishing and landlord or tenant impersonation.
Independent Age says the freeze on Local Housing Allowance is leaving many older private renters unable to cover rent from Housing Benefit, forcing them to use limited pension income for essentials. The charity argues that rising rents, particularly for one-bed homes, are worsening affordability pressures and increasing the risk of poor health and homelessness among older tenants.
