A Cardiff landlord was fined after a council inspection found serious fire, electrical and general housing hazards in an HMO occupied by 10 people. The property was subject to an Emergency Prohibition Order after officers concluded there was an imminent risk of serious harm, and the landlord was also prosecuted for licensing and registration failures.
Ealing Council is consulting on a new borough-wide five-year additional HMO licensing scheme due to begin in April 2027. The consultation follows concerns identified in the borough about property condition, management and related issues in some HMOs, including fire safety, overcrowding and disrepair.
Prosper has launched a four-year, £500m framework for building safety works and services across the UK, covering consultancy, passive fire protection, active fire protection and principal contractor delivery. The framework is aimed at public sector bodies and social landlords, with regional sub-lots across England and Wales and contract awards expected in September 2026.
Sir Robert McAlpine is facing a High Court damages claim over alleged fire safety defects at a London mixed-use development, with the freeholder alleging the 13 residential units were not fit for habitation. The claim references EWS1-related review work, remediation already completed, and alleged breaches of contract, warranty rights and the Defective Premises Act 1972.
Tamworth Council has launched a consultation on introducing additional licensing for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), citing a rise in new four-bedroom HMOs and concern that the true number of smaller HMOs is under-recorded. The council says the scheme would support proactive inspections and stronger enforcement to improve safety, management and compliance standards.
Ealing Council is consulting on renewing its licensing scheme for smaller HMOs for a further five years, to 2032, after reporting significant numbers of hazards and enforcement actions in the sector. The council says inspections have uncovered serious safety issues, including a fire risk in a shared flat, and that the scheme has helped identify unlicensed properties and bring them into regulation.
