A Labour MP has introduced a Private Member’s Bill aimed at tightening regulation of short-term lets such as Airbnb. The proposal would give local councils powers to license all short lets, set health and safety standards, limit letting days, restrict them in certain areas, and penalise anti-social behaviour, with a Commons second reading scheduled for 11 September.
The Environment Agency has published statutory guidance for standard rules permit SR2008 No 9 covering the storage of asbestos waste. The guidance sets out strict conditions for how asbestos waste must be stored, including secure containment, segregation, time limits, and prohibitions on repackaging, loose storage, and certain handling methods.
The Environment Agency has consulted on a revised standard rules permit for the storage of asbestos waste under SR2008 No 9. The update is intended to improve the design and operation of permitted facilities, including a new condition addressing point source emissions to water, air or land and associated generic risk assessments.
Auction activity has increased markedly, with more lots offered and sold across the UK in June, alongside a higher total value of property transacted. The article suggests some landlords may be reviewing portfolios in response to the Renters Rights Act, while buyer demand for auction stock remains steady.
Manchester councillors are urging the government to devolve powers to test private rent controls in the city, with the proposal framed as a potential pilot for a wider national scheme. The debate cites affordability pressures in the private rented sector and references the Renters Rights Act as part of the policy context.
The Environment Agency has secured £517,000 from United Utilities following sewage discharge permit breaches into the River Tame, with the money to fund local environmental improvements through Mersey Rivers Trust. The case forms part of a wider increase in enforcement activity across the water sector, alongside inspections and legally binding undertakings aimed at preventing repeat pollution incidents.
Leeds-based Torsion Construction has filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators after experiencing liquidity pressures and project-related commercial difficulties. The notice provides temporary protection from creditor action while directors assess funding and restructuring options.
The article says Angela Rayner is returning to the housing brief and will lead on implementing house-buying reforms previously announced by Steve Reed. It also states that if private rent controls are tested or introduced through a devolution package, she would be responsible for that policy area, alongside wider local government reforms.
Angela Rayner has returned to the role of Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, placing her in charge of implementing previously announced house-buying reforms and potentially any private rent controls linked to devolution. The article also notes her responsibility for local government reorganisation proposals and wider devolution measures.
Andy Burnham has been asked to form the next government and has set out housing and cost-of-living priorities, including more council homes, ending rough sleeping and a 10-year plan for Britain. Industry responses from RICS, Jackson-Stops and Propertymark focus on housing supply, home buying reform, market confidence and the need for planning, regulatory and delivery capacity.
The Environment Agency has published updated business case templates for Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) capital grant claims. The templates are intended for local authorities and internal drainage boards, and are designed to support consistent, evidence-based submissions that meet the Agency’s assurance requirements.
The Environment Agency has updated guidance on appealing where a water company refuses a public sewer connection or disputes the timing of provision. The process involves first applying to the relevant sewerage undertaker, with appeals to the Environment Agency taking at least 12 months and sometimes longer in complex cases.
