A property lawyer argues that reducing Stamp Duty on additional properties could help absorb the current backlog of former rental homes coming onto the market. The article links this supply overhang to the Renters Rights Act, the end of Section 21 no-fault evictions from May 2026, higher mortgage rates and weaker buyer demand, with Zoopla data suggesting flats are particularly affected in parts of England.
A London landlord, Nirpaul Riat, has reportedly been stripped of his OBE following a successful prosecution and lobbying by Hounslow Council. The case involved unlawful conversion of houses into flats and the letting of outbuildings in poor conditions to vulnerable occupants, with earlier enforcement action also recorded in 2009.
The Environment Agency has updated its guidance on registering waste exemptions, including revised charges, new digital registration processes and clearer instructions for multiple-site and linear network registrations. It also flags that waste exemption rules are due to change from January 2027, subject to Parliamentary approval, and clarifies renewal requirements and charity eligibility.
Manchester City Council has issued a formal decision notice for Oval Real Estate’s Albert Bridge House redevelopment, following completion of a Section 106 agreement. The scheme will replace the existing office block with two residential towers and a smaller office building, although start on site still depends on Building Safety Regulator Gateway 2 approval.
A luxury residential scheme in north Leeds, previously stalled after the original contractor entered administration, is expected to resume once a replacement contractor is appointed. The project’s lender has also moved to appoint administrators to the development company, adding another layer of restructuring around the scheme.
The Upper Tribunal Administrative Appeals Chamber refused permission to appeal in a case concerning the First-tier Tribunal’s jurisdiction under section 166 of the Data Protection Act 2018. The ruling reviews existing case law and confirms the limited scope of the FTT’s powers in this area.
The Environment Agency reports that water company chief executives have updated the National Drought Group on measures being taken to protect public supplies during severe drought conditions in parts of England. Actions include daily monitoring of reservoir and river levels, reduced overnight water pressure where appropriate, accelerated leak detection, and transferring water within networks to support low reservoirs.
BBC Panorama has reported alleged misuse and poor standards within the Supported Exempt Accommodation sector, focusing on managing agents in Birmingham. The report says some providers may be claiming housing benefit for non-existent or non-resident tenants, while regulatory reforms passed in 2023 have yet to take practical effect.
East Sussex Fire Authority has prosecuted a managing agent and his company after they allegedly failed to respond to fire safety correspondence and did not provide required information. The case followed a fire in Hastings where residents were trapped and fire officers later identified multiple fire safety deficiencies at the property.
An estate agency director and his company were fined after failing to provide information to fire safety inspectors following a fire at a managed property in Hastings. The case arose from an investigation that also identified fire safety shortcomings at the building, including issues with detectors, self-closing doors and resident fire information.
A survey reported by August suggests that most landlords are unaware of the forthcoming landlord register and ombudsman linked to the Renters’ Rights Act. Awareness of other tenancy reforms is higher, but the article highlights a significant communication gap ahead of the planned rollout from December.
A survey of 276 landlords suggests awareness of the Renters Rights Act is relatively high in broad terms, but knowledge of the new private rented sector database and landlord ombudsman is much lower. The article argues that this gap in understanding could leave landlords exposed to penalties once registration becomes mandatory in England.
