The King’s Speech outlined the legislation that the new Labour government intends to bring forward in the next session of parliament. In this post we will look more closely at the housing-related proposals and at what they might mean for everyone involved.

What will the new Labour government mean for housing, and particularly the PRS, housing compliance and enforcement?

A report saying it is an ‘Independent Review of the UK’s Private Rented Housing Sector’ has just been published by Labour Party-linked organisation The Private Rented Sector Commission. It presents some proposals on how the private rented sector might be regulated in future. In this post we will summarise what it proposes and offer a few thoughts on what it might mean for the PRS.

A recent working paper by the NRLA The Enforcement Lottery: Local authority enforcement 2021-2023 has provided some interesting information on how (and even if) local authorities enforce housing law.

The Housing Act 2004 charges local authorities with enforcing housing standards in rented property. In a recent legal case a landlord managed to defeat enforcement action taken by the local authority – alongside a £22,500 penalty. Might landlords be able to use the fact they have a reasonable excuse in order to derail action local authorities might take against them?

This article focuses on series of amendments that have been tabled to the Renters (Reform) Bill which could drastically change this proposed new law. In this post, we will summarise these amendments and look at what they could mean for the PRS.

Landlord charters are not entirely new and have been around in some areas for several years. In this post we will look more closely at landlord charters, at what is being described as a ground-breaking scheme in Greater Manchester, and at what landlords and agents need to know.

Housing standards, and the enforcement of them, are a key issue in the housing industry at the moment – and particularly when it comes to damp and mould. A recent report in the Observer claims that the compensation regime operated by the Housing Ombudsman is deficient. In this report we will look at this claim and at the realities behind it.

2024 is looking like it could be one of the most significant years for the lettings industry in recent history. In this report we will take a look at some of the most important developments that landlords, agents and others in the business need to know about.

A recent legal case has provided us with more insight on when banning orders can be imposed. Banning orders can be made after offences such as unlawful eviction, harassment, failing to comply with an improvement or prohibition order, fire and gas safety offences and HMO licensing and management offences. Banning orders are covered by the Housing & Planning Act 2016 and were introduced in April 2018.

December 2023 update. Following the publication of a white paper ‘A Fairer Private Rented Sector’ in 2022 the Renters (Reform) Bill was published this May. The government says that the Renters (Reform) Bill will support their manifesto commitment to deliver a better deal for renters and ensure tenants have access to a secure and decent home.