The Environment Agency has updated guidance on current and future bans on fluorinated gases (F gases) in new products and equipment in Great Britain. The notice sets out prohibited uses, enforcement consequences, reporting routes for banned items, and the process for seeking exemptions, including for certain air conditioning and heat pump systems, insulation foam, aerosols and refrigeration uses.
The article explains the difference between traditional client accounts and third-party managed accounts (TPMAs), noting that TPMAs have been permitted since 2017 but are attracting renewed interest as client money handling comes under closer scrutiny. It also highlights that firms using TPMAs still retain important responsibilities, including client disclosure, oversight, and checks on the provider’s regulatory status.
The Court of Appeal has suspended the prison sentence of a builder who pleaded guilty to fraudulent trading, replacing immediate custody with a suspended term, unpaid work and rehabilitation activity. The Insolvency Service said the builder took more than £200,000 from homeowners while his company was insolvent, leaving some properties with dangerous unfinished work and substantial repair costs.
safeagent is calling for stronger enforcement against rogue letting agents after a BBC investigation highlighted alleged failures involving tenant deposits and unpaid rent. The organisation argues that fragmented responsibility between authorities and limited resources are leaving compliance issues unresolved and consumers exposed.
Tenant advocacy groups are pressing the government to expand the forthcoming Private Rented Sector database so it includes more landlord and tenancy data, including rents, eviction grounds and enforcement history. They argue the database should support tenant challenges, improve transparency and help enforcement of the Renters’ Rights Act, while also proposing a landlord fee to fund local authority enforcement.
The NRLA says letting agent involvement in the private rented sector is at its highest level for at least two years, with 66% of private rentals in England and Wales managed by an agent in some way. It argues that growing reliance on agents, alongside lower reported satisfaction with repairs where homes are fully agent-managed, strengthens the case for minimum education and training standards for agency staff.
Spicerhaart has launched a new property management platform after a two-year development programme and says it will invest £1.7m over five years in technology. The system is intended to improve compliance handling, support landlords through regulatory change, and replace a legacy platform that no longer met the firm's needs.
Bolton Council has launched an investigation after reports that a number of historic building control certificates may be missing from its system. The council says it is working with its audit committee and the Building Safety Regulator to address the issue and review absent documents.
A BBC investigation alleges serious misconduct by a letting agent and his agency, including failure to return tenant deposits, unpaid rent owed to landlords, and concerns that deposits may not have been placed in a regulated scheme. The report also references staff departures and an alleged cannabis farm tenancy at one of the managed properties.
The Regulator of Social Housing has published new regulatory judgements for four housing associations, including two consumer upgrades from C2 to C1 for Livin Housing Limited and Community Gateway Association Limited. Amplius Living received a C2 judgement, with RSH noting strengths in health and safety systems but weaknesses in repairs, communication and compliance with the increased damp and mould requirements linked to Awaab’s Law.
Project Four Safety Solutions, a Liverpool-based building safety consultancy, has been acquired by private equity-backed Vadella Group while retaining its brand and operational control. The firm, which has supported more than 10,000 residential units through Gateway 2 approvals, says the deal will fund recruitment, digital improvements and wider growth across its regional offices.
The Environment Agency explains how packaging compliance schemes can apply for approval and registration, and the obligations they take on for packaging producers. The guidance also notes that approved schemes must meet ongoing conditions, use the report packaging data service, and may face withdrawal of approval or prosecution if they fail to comply.
