A report chaired by Gavin Barwell recommends that the government freeze regulatory burdens for three years in order to stimulate the housing market and support new development. The article says the group views current regulations as a significant barrier to delivery.
McLaren has received Gateway 2 approval for the next phase of the Ebury Bridge housing scheme opposite Chelsea Barracks. The phase is reported to include 330 homes as part of a wider £350m development.
Preston City Council has approved a permanent car park use for the former Odeon Cinema site on Church Street, while also supporting future redevelopment hopes for the wider Stoneygate area. The committee also approved a 60-home scheme east of Tabley Lane, subject to a Section 106 agreement, and a storage unit conversion at School Lane.
Citizens Advice has reported a rise in roofing-related scam complaints, with rogue traders accounting for a significant share of scam alerts and many more complaints relating to poor-quality roofing work. The National Federation of Roofing Contractors has urged homeowners to use its directory and has renewed calls for regulation of the roofing sector.
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.
A landlord in Chester-le-Street has been fined after a vulnerable household, including a mother with a newborn baby and a disabled child, was left in a property with damp and mould, no heating or hot water, and electrical and carbon monoxide hazards. Durham council took enforcement action after repeated failures to complete repairs and after the landlord also failed to obtain selective licences for multiple properties.
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.
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.
Industry bodies and agents are warning that new housing delivery in Scotland is under severe pressure, with rising construction and finance costs, alongside additional policy burdens, pushing many schemes to pause or abandonment. The article also cites a decline in private sector new-build starts and says the housing emergency in Scotland is worsening, with Glasgow highlighted as particularly affected.
The government’s impact assessment for extending Awaab’s Law to private rented tenancies forecasts continued growth in England’s private rental sector, rising from 4.827 million households in 2026 to an estimated 5.378 million by 2035. It also notes uncertainty around landlord numbers due to limited recent data, while suggesting sector consolidation may support remediation work at scale.
The Conveyancing Task Force has warned that the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s proposed COLP/COFA changes could disproportionately affect small conveyancing firms, particularly those handling higher-value transactions. The SRA has paused implementation pending further review after concerns that the thresholds and role-separation requirements may reduce consumer choice and divert work to larger providers.
