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.
The government has launched a consultation on extending a version of Awaab’s Law to the private rented sector, but many core details remain undecided. The consultation also asks whether the proposed rules should apply to certain licence-based accommodation, including supported housing, temporary accommodation and care leaver accommodation.
The Regulator of Social Housing has updated its guidance on how it engages with landlords when concerns arise, including how it assesses material issues, gathers evidence and decides whether to escalate or close engagement. The update also reflects the introduction of the Competence and Conduct Standard and sets out how responsive engagement may lead to inspections, investigations or landlord improvement work.
The Regulator of Social Housing has updated its guidance on how it carries out landlord inspections, including language changes to reflect the introduction of the Competence and Conduct Standard. The document explains that inspections are used to assess how landlords are delivering outcomes under relevant standards, with programmed inspections typically given six weeks’ notice and tailored to the risks and issues identified for each landlord.
The Regulator of Social Housing has updated its guidance on how it reviews landlord information between programmed inspections, including changes to reflect the Competence and Conduct Standard. The article explains how regulatory returns, annual accounts, business plans and Financial Forecast Returns are used to assess risk, inform inspections and support wider sector monitoring.
The Environment Agency has published guidance on meeting the operations requirements for intensive pig and poultry farming permits. It sets out limits on animal numbers and site boundaries, and explains when permit variations are needed for changes such as additional housing or expanded boundaries. The guidance also covers diet and nutrition planning to reduce nitrogen, phosphorus and ammonia emissions, alongside annual emissions reporting requirements.
The Environment Agency has updated its guidance on environmental permits for intensive pig and poultry farming, including changes to application steps, ammonia screening assessments and site inspection information. The guidance explains when a bespoke permit is required, the supporting documents needed, and the legal consequences of operating without a permit.
The Environment Agency sets out information and record-keeping requirements for intensive pig and poultry farming permits. It explains retention periods for records, reporting obligations including annual pollution inventory returns, and the need to notify the Agency immediately of incidents or permit breaches.
The Environment Agency sets out management requirements for intensive pig and poultry farming permits, centred on a written management system to identify and reduce pollution risks. The guidance covers environmental policy, site security, maintenance, accident planning, staff training and climate change adaptation, with an emphasis on keeping records and reviewing plans regularly.
The Regulator of Social Housing has updated its guidance on how it assesses issues of potential regulatory concern, including language changes to reflect the introduction of the Competence and Conduct Standard. The document explains that the regulator uses a risk-based, case-by-case approach and may seek further information from landlords and, where appropriate, other stakeholders when considering material issues.
The Regulator of Social Housing has updated its guidance on how it publishes regulatory judgements and gradings, including language changes to reflect the Competence and Conduct Standard. The guidance explains when judgements are issued, how grades are applied to large and small landlords, and how different types of regulatory engagement affect published outcomes.
The Property Ombudsman has expelled three registered property businesses after they failed to pay more than £1,000 in redress awards. The cases involved complaints about tenancy handling, a missing survey report and delays in transferring deposits and rent, with the Ombudsman stressing that compliance with awards is mandatory.
