Tag: Housing and Communities

The press release issued by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on 11 December 2025.

The National Plan to End Homelessness has been launched today, and will support the most vulnerable people in our society.

• Launch of cross-government plan to prevent homelessness before it occurs.
• Informed by people with lived experience, frontline workers and the sector, it puts real world insight into action.
• £3.5 billion investment over the next 3 years will ensure action is taken towards ending homelessness and rough sleeping.

Today, the government launches a bold new National Plan to End Homelessness to support the most vulnerable in our society to find their feet and improve their lives.   

Unveiled today and backed by £3.5 billion of investment, this landmark strategy has been shaped by the voices of those who have experienced homelessness as well as those involved in the Inter-ministerial Group on Homelessness.   

As the coldest months of the year settle in and Christmas fast approaches, for many, the harsh reality of homelessness becomes harder than ever – whether for someone bedding down on the street, or children struggling in temporary accommodation. Currently a family is being made homeless or threatened with homelessness every five minutes.   

The National Plan to End Homelessness has three key pledges to be achieved by the end of this parliament – to halve the number of long-term rough sleepers, end the unlawful use of B&Bs for families and prevent more households from becoming homeless in the first place. It will be underpinned by clear, ambitious goals for lasting change, including a duty on public services to work together to prevent homelessness, a boost to the supply of good-quality temporary homes, and £3.5 billion – a £1 billion funding boost over and above previous commitments – to support rough sleeping and support services.  

Today’s announcement follows the Royal Assent of the government’s landmark Renters’ Rights Act, which puts an end to Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions that can often contribute to households finding themselves homeless. Alongside this, the government is investing £39 billion in the biggest boost to social and affordable housing in a generation, helping to give more people a secure roof over their head as part of our commitment to build 1.5 million homes.   

Housing Secretary Steve Reed said:   

Homelessness is one of the most profound challenges we face as a society, because at the heart, it’s about people. Families deserve stability, children need a safe place to grow, and individuals simply want the dignity of a home.  

This strategy is shaped by the voices of those who’ve lived through homelessness and the frontline workers who fight tirelessly to prevent it.   

Through our new strategy we can build a future where homelessness is rare, brief, and not repeated. With record investment, new duties on public services, and a relentless focus on accountability, we will turn ambition into reality.”  

Homelessness Minister Alison McGovern said:      

Everyone deserves a roof over their head.  And for those experiencing the worst of homelessness right now – our children – they deserve a place to play and a bedroom to do their homework in. It’s our collective responsibility to make that a reality, for anyone at risk of homelessness, be it sofa-surfing or getting stuck on the streets.  

By working together including government, local leaders, charities, and communities, we can stop homelessness before it happens and ensure that when people do fall into crisis, support is swift and effective.    

The prize is big.  Right now, taxpayers are paying the price of failure, with temporary accommodation costs skyrocketing.  And the next generation of British young people can’t succeed without the space they need.  This strategy sets us on a better path – to save money and change lives.”  

By the end of this Parliament, the National Plan to End Homelessness will:   

• Increase the rate of prevention to protect thousands more households from homelessness. Central to this target is a proposed ‘Duty to Collaborate’, which will be brought forward in legislation for public bodies to work together to prevent homelessness. This builds on cross-government efforts to cut homelessness linked to prisons, social care and hospitals. This strategy sets clear targets on this issue for the first time, including halving the number who become homeless on their first night out of prison and ensuring that no eligible person is discharged to the street after a hospital stay. It also sets a clear long-term ambition that no one should be made homelessness from a public institution.
• Halve the number of people experiencing long-term rough sleeping. For too long, people who have spent years on the streets, often with the most complex needs, have been left with no help. This strategy rewires the system to focus support where it’s needed most. A new £124 million supported housing scheme has been launched to get over 2,500 people across England off the streets and into more stable housing as well as preventing those from getting to the streets in the first place. The Plan also includes a new £15m Long-Term Rough Sleeping Innovation Programme, which will help councils develop fresh solutions, alongside £37 million of funding for a new Ending Homelessness in Communities programme which will increase support and improve the vital services that are provided by the voluntary, community and faith sector at the frontline of this crisis.
• End the unlawful use of B&Bs for families. This will bring relief to the 2,070 households trapped beyond the six-week limit in unsuitable conditions – often in one room and no cooking facilities. The builds on the commitment in the recently published Child Poverty Strategy, which ensures mothers and newborn babies are not discharged from hospital into this B&B accommodation.

The plan will boost the supply of good-quality temporary homes, backed by £950 million through the Fourth Round of the Local Authority Housing Fund. Our expanded £30 million Emergency Accommodation Reduction Programme will also prevent poor quality emergency accommodation being used. The government will work to improve the quality and suitability of temporary accommodation, enforcing strong protections against poor housing conditions, including out-of-area placements.   

An additional £50 million of in-year funding (25/26) is also to be allocated to local authorities through MHCLG’s Homelessness Prevention Grant. This funding is intended to focus on prevention, making sure individuals and households who are at risk of or experiencing homelessness are given the right help to stay in their homes.  

Preventing homelessness is everyone’s responsibility and this strategy makes that clear. Every council will now publish a tailored action plan alongside their local homelessness strategy, including setting local targets on key outcomes, with targeted expert support for areas facing the greatest challenges. The government is also calling on Mayors to lead with ambition, backed by new funding to drive collaboration between councils, services, and partners. This is backed by a stripping away of bureaucracy, simplifying funding for councils and ending bidding processes so they can focus on spending money on meeting local needs.   

To deliver lasting change, we’re launching a National Workforce Programme to equip frontline teams with essential training and expert advice. Progress will be tracked through national reports, overseen by the Inter-Ministerial Group, ensuring transparency, accountability, and momentum as we work together to end homelessness for good.   

This strategy is just part of the way government is supporting people to have a safe and secure roof over their head. Taken together, alongside the reforms to the private rented sector and drive to build the homes the country needs, the government is committed putting a stop to the threat of homelessness for families and individuals across the country.   

The press release issued by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on 4 December 2025.

More homes, better high streets and support for businesses are on the way as six fast-tracked devolution areas have secured multi-billion-pound funding.

• Six regions set to get their own mayors through devolution will share almost £200 million every year for three decades, to build more of the 1.5 million homes promised, enhance high streets and revive their communities.
• Ministers are also considering moving some inaugural elections to 2028 so areas can finish reorganising their councils and help mayors hit the ground running.
• This marks the latest steps forward in the government’s mission to empower local leaders to transform their areas as part of the Plan for Change.

More homes, better high streets and support for small and medium businesses are all on the way as six fast-tracked devolution areas have secured a multi-billion-pound long-term funding package.  

Ministers have confirmed almost £6 billion over the next 30 years, with almost £200 million to be shared each year by the places on the Devolution Priority Programme – which will see them get their own mayors.  

Mayors can spend this funding flexibly on local priorities to boost their area’s economy to create lasting jobs and opportunities. It can also be used to increase housebuilding, including accelerating regional housebuilding programmes and initiatives or bringing more social and affordable homes on the market – helping achieve the government’s 1.5 million homes commitment. 

Minister for Devolution, Faith and Communities Miatta Fahnbulleh MP said: 

“This money will help transform communities for the better as part of our Plan for Change.

“It will help new mayors achieve what their areas’ want most, from building more of the 1.5 million homes this government has promised to improving the green spaces that locals love – this is how devolution improves lives across the country.”

Once mayors are in post, the six areas will get the 30-year Investment Funds as part of a wider package of devolved powers and funding in areas like transport, planning and skills.

These are: 

• Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority: £21.7 million per year
• Cumbria Combined Authority: £11.1 million per year
• Greater Essex Combined County Authority: £41.5 million per year
• Hampshire and the Solent Combined County Authority: £44.6 million per year
• Norfolk and Suffolk Combined County Authority: £37.4 million per year
• Sussex and Brighton Combined County Authority: £38 million per year

All six regions will also receive £3m each as a minimum over the next three financial years, in addition to an initial £1m payment in the coming months, to help with the costs of establishing the new mayoral authorities.  

Four of the areas are currently reorganising their local councils into stronger unitary authorities, to create simpler, more effective structures that can better support mayors’ powers.  

These areas are Greater Essex, Hampshire and the Solent, Norfolk and Suffolk, and Sussex and Brighton. New unitary councils in the four areas are expected to be established in 2028.  

In order to make sure strong foundations are in place ahead of devolution, Ministers have today confirmed they are considering holding inaugural mayoral elections in these areas in May 2028, with areas completing the reorganisation process before Mayors take office. 

This would ensure that new mayors come into office with effective and empowered local government already in place, helping them hit the ground running from day one.  

The remaining two areas, Cheshire and Warrington and Cumbria, already have unitary councils in place. Mayoral elections in these areas will proceed in May 2027 as planned. 

Ministers will continue to work with both areas to bring forward the legislation to create their mayoral authorities.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on 13 November 2025.

Historic reforms as part of the Renters’ Rights Act will kick in from 1 May 2026, benefitting 11 million renters across England.

• Countdown begins for the biggest increase to tenants’ rights in a generation
• New protections will also end in-year rent rises, bidding wars and discrimination against families receiving benefits
• Clear timeline will support landlords and letting agents to prepare for these changes

Renting in England will be transformed with a raft of major changes coming into effect from 1 May 2026 for 11 million renters across the country.

Following the Renters’ Rights Act – now passed in law – the timeline for implementing these new legal protections has been published today, giving time for landlords and letting agents to deliver these changes for their tenants.

In just under six months, private renters will no longer face being served with a Section 21 ‘no-fault’ eviction notice – a practice leaving thousands vulnerable to homelessness every year. Tenants will be able to appeal excessive above-market rent increases that try to force them out and landlords can no longer unreasonably refuse tenants’ requests to have a pet.

Meanwhile landlords will have stronger legally valid reasons to get their properties back when needed – whether that’s to move in, sell up or deal with rent arrears or anti-social behaviour – delivering a fairer system for both sides. 

Housing Secretary Steve Reed said:

“We’re calling time on no fault evictions and rogue landlords. Everyone should have peace of mind and the security of a roof over their head – the law we’ve just passed delivers that.

“We’re now on a countdown of just months to that law coming in – so good landlords can get ready and bad landlords should clean up their act.”

Other changes which come into effect on 1 May will go further to tackle discrimination and financial exploitation, creating a more stable, fairer system for renters. It will become illegal for landlords and letting agents to:

• increase rent prices more than once a year
• ask for more than one month’s rent payment in advance
• pit prospective tenants against one another through rental bidding wars
• discriminate against potential tenants, because they receive benefits or have children.

Alongside the implementation timeline setting out when the changes will take effect, the government has also released advance guidance to support landlords and letting agents.

Councils across England will be legally responsible for overseeing these new rights from 1 May 2026, backed by stronger enforcement powers. This includes tougher fines of up to £7,000 for breaches, rising up to £40,000 if they repeatedly or continue to breach the rules or commit a serious offence. Tenants or local authorities will also be able to seek rent repayment orders, forcing landlords to pay back rent for offences.

After the first phase of changes in May, the Renters’ Rights Act will come in two further stages, with phase 2 (starting late 2026) introducing:

• The Private Landlord Ombudsman – a free, independent service helping tenants resolve complaints not dealt with by their landlord without going to court.
• A Private Rented Sector Database – a new central online place where all landlords must register themselves and the properties they rent out.  It will be rolled out in two stages and the need for landlords to sign up will be staggered by areas across England from late 2026.

More protections to improve conditions in private rented homes will come in phase 3, with public consultations informing their introduction.

This includes introducing a Decent Homes Standard to the private rented sector for the first time so tenants have safe, secure and warm housing. Extending Awaab’s Law to the private rented sector will also be consulted on soon, to protect all tenants from dangerous homes.

Alongside the Renters’ Rights Act, we will also see an improved Housing Health and Safety Rating System which will better assess health and safety risks in homes and making it more efficient and easier to understand – also supporting work to introduce the Decent Homes Standard to privately rented homes.

And there are also planned new standards to ensure privately rented properties are warmer and cheaper to run. The government has consulted on plans to require all domestic privately rented properties in England and Wales to meet Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) of EPC C or equivalent by 2030 unless a valid exemption is in place. Further details will be set out in the government’s response to the consultation.

Chief Executive of Generation Rent, Ben Twomey said:

“This new law is a vital step towards re-balancing power between renters and landlords and should be celebrated.

“Our homes are the foundation of our lives, but for too long our broken renting system has left renters staring down the barrel of poverty and homelessness. For decades, Section 21 evictions have forced renters to live in fear of being turfed out of our homes, preventing us from raising valid concerns with our landlords. At last we know when this outdated and unfair law will be sent packing.

“This Renters’ Rights Act is the result of years of tireless campaigning from the renter movement, alongside the dedication and strength of ordinary renters. With change on the horizon, I hope that renters across England can rest a little easier tonight in recognition of what we have achieved together.”

Director of the Renters’ Reform Coalition, which includes Shelter, Generation Rent, Citizens Advice and ACORN, Tom Darling said:

“Today’s announcement that the end of Section 21 evictions will come into force on 1st May is huge news for England’s 12 million renters. We have fought for this day for so long and to now have certainty about when the last ‘no-fault’ eviction will be is crucial for our members, who will be trying to ensure as many renters as possible are aware of their new rights.”

“In addition, it will be important that the government quickly implement the whole Renters’ Rights Act – including the Private Rented Sector Database and Awaab’s Law – so that renters can feel the full benefits of this once-in-a-generation upgrading of their rights as soon as possible.”

Chief Executive of Shelter, Sarah Elliott said: 

“Today marks a pivotal step forward for England’s 11 million renters as the government unveils its roadmap for implementing the landmark Renters’ Rights Act. This is the result of years of determined campaigning by renters across the country who refused to accept the injustices of a broken private rental system.

“For too long, renters have lived under the constant threat of no-fault evictions. Families have been torn from their communities, with record numbers pushed into homelessness. Too many have been silenced about discrimination and unsafe conditions. Today we celebrate that their voices have finally been heard, and change is on the way.

“But renters must understand that their rights will not change today. The current system remains in place until the new rights come into force from May 1, 2026. Until then, we stand ready to support renters and help them understand the vital changes the Act will introduce.” 

Chief Executive of Crisis, Matt Downie said: 

“The passing of the Renters’ Rights Act was a historic moment. It ushers in a fairer future for millions of renters, with more secure tenancies and protections like longer notice periods to help prevent homelessness. We are pleased to see the government moving quickly and implementing many important protections in the next six months. Evictions from the private rented sector have long been one of the biggest causes of homelessness and this landmark legislation will play a vital role in helping get the country back on track to ending homelessness.” 

Policy and Research Manager at Centrepoint, Ella Nuttall said:

 ”This path-breaking legislation will put renters and landlords on a fairer footing and ultimately lead to fewer people facing homelessness. 

“For far too long, young people have faced a private rental system that is often stacked against them. The Renters’ Rights Act promises to tackle long-standing problems in the rental market and create a fairer, more secure system for all, including young tenants.  

“Ending homelessness would not be possible without private rented sector reform, so this is an important first step, but ensuring there is enough funding geared towards supporting those currently in crisis and a clear strategy from the centre remain vital parts of the puzzle.” 

Chief Executive of St Mungo’s, Emma Haddad said:

“We are delighted that the Government has set an implementation date for the Renters’ Rights Act, so renters, landlords and homelessness organisations like St Mungo’s can plan and prepare for these long-awaited reforms. 

“Homelessness is spiralling, with many people being pushed into homelessness due to the way the private rental sector is currently operating. But from next Spring, renters will gain vital new protections, including an end to unfair ‘no fault’ evictions, which we hope will prevent more people becoming homeless.

“The private rented sector is an important part of the housing system for people moving on from homelessness. At St Mungo’s, we see how difficult it can be for people to secure an affordable private tenancy,  which is why we particularly welcome the Act’s move to end the practice of discriminating against tenants receiving benefits so  everyone has  a fairer chance to find a safe and decent home.  We also warmly welcome the Act’s provisions on allowing pets, which we know can be really important to our clients.

“The Renters’ Rights Act is one important part of the picture, and we look forward to the publication of the Government’s Homelessness Strategy to provide the overarching framework, direction and focus for national and local government and charities like St Mungo’s.  

“St Mungo’s stands ready to work with the Government and the wider sector to create a system that prevents homelessness at all costs, while continuing to provide support to those who need it.” 

Further information

The Renters’ Rights Act Implementation Roadmap will be published on gov.uk on Friday 14 November 2025. Advance guidance for landlords and letting agents will also be published on gov.uk on Friday 14 November 2025.

To ensure landlords comply with their new duties, councils will get:

New investigatory powers to:

• get information from landlords, letting agents and banks or contractors.
• enter business premises and sometimes homes to check compliance.
• seize documents if they suspect wrongdoing.

Expanded powers to penalise offenders:

• with bigger fines for breaches, tougher consequences for repeat offenders and strengthened orders for landlords to pay back tenants (rent repayment orders).

Local housing authorities will receive a share of over £18 million additional funding this year to help them prepare for the changes, with advance guidance to be published on Friday 14 November 2025.

The justice system will also be supported with extra funding to ensure the courts and tribunals have the resource and capacity required to handle these new reforms. This includes developing a new online digital service to simplify the possession process for landlords and tenants.

The government will publish guidance for tenants before their new rights kick in on 1 May 2026.

The government will soon respond to a consultation on extending the Decent Homes Standard to privately rent homes, confirming more details on the standard and an implementation timeline.

Private landlord possession claims using the Section 21 process that are going through the courts on the commencement date will proceed as normal.

After 1 May 2026, the courts will still be able to process Section 21 possessions that are ongoing, for example:

• if a private landlord served their tenant with a Section 21 notice before 1 May 2026, any court possession proceedings must be made in line with the usual rules and no later than 31 July 2026, when using the Section 21 court process.
• after this date (31 July 2026), the landlord will not be able to use the Section 21 process and must use the new grounds for possession.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on 13 October 2025.

Pro-growth changes to the government’s landmark Planning and Infrastructure Bill to get Britain building faster.

• New measures to slash delays and get Britain building faster through landmark Planning and Infrastructure Bill 
• New powers for Secretary of State could stop councils rejecting planning permissions, tackle blockers in the courts, alongside plans to accelerate reservoirs, windfarms and large housing schemes   
• Turbocharging the Plan for Change to create high-paying jobs, put money back into people’s pockets, and secure more homegrown clean energy

New homes, more clean energy, and greater water security will be within reach for hundreds of thousands of working people and families, as the government vows to sweep aside blockers standing in the way of growth and dismantle barriers to get Britain building.   

A pro-growth package announced by the government this week (Tuesday 14 October) will look at supporting the full potential of the landmark Planning and Infrastructure Bill – a key driver for growth to slash planning delays currently shackling the UK economy.    

If voted through, Ministers will get new powers to prevent applications being rejected by local councils while they consider using ‘call-in’ powers to decide whether or not they should be approved. Currently some councils are dragging their feet to get on and build with nearly 900 major housing schemes blocked in the past year alone.    

New proposed measures would greenlight reservoirs faster, pumping fresh water into the taps of people’s homes, and unlocking new opportunities for housebuilding after more than 30 years without a new reservoir in the UK.  

Pro-growth changes will pave the way for cleaner energy, including onshore windfarms, to drive millions of pounds of investment into local areas, prevent bill hikes and create thousands of new jobs.  

Allowing Natural England to streamline its role by freeing it up to make sensible choices on when to provide advice to local authorities will free up valuable resources. This will enable the organisation to focus on higher priority planning applications and nature recovery, helping to accelerate approvals for new homes and infrastructure.   

Under government plans builders will also receive a helping hand to stop planning permissions from being timed out on vital housing projects tied up in the courts, accelerating and unlocking stalled schemes so money can be better spent on getting spades in the ground rather than starting back at square one. 

If passed, each of these pro-growth changes will accelerate the government’s Plan for Change to build 1.5 million homes, achieve clean power by 2030, raise living standards in every corner of the country and put more money back into working people’s pockets.

Housing Secretary, Steve Reed said:

“Britain’s potential has been shackled by governments unwilling to overhaul the stubborn planning system that has erected barriers to building at every turn. It is simply not true that nature has to lose for economic growth to succeed. 
  
“Sluggish planning has real world consequences. Every new house blocked deprives a family of a home. Every infrastructure project that gets delayed blocks someone from a much-needed job. This will now end.    
  
“The changes we are making today will strengthen the seismic shift already underway through our landmark Bill. We will ‘Build, baby, build’ with 1.5 million new homes and communities that working people desperately want and need.”

As the landmark Planning and Infrastructure Bill rapidly continues its way through Parliament and is set to become law this year, this week’s wide-ranging package fully embraces the government’s drive to go further and faster in unleashing the biggest era of building in the country’s history. Key changes include:

• Ministers will be able to issue ‘holding directions’ to stop councils refusing planning permission whilst they consider using their ‘call-in’ powers. Under existing rules, they can only issue these holds when council are set to approve applications. This will ensure Ministers can properly use their call-in powers where necessary to boost growth and build more homes.  
• Speeding up the approvals for large reservoirs by enabling non-water sector companies to build reservoirs that are automatically considered as nationally significant infrastructure projects.  
• Unlocking more onshore windfarms, securing around 3GW of onshore wind and up to £2 billion extra investment for UK based businesses, whilst safeguarding UK defence and seismic detection capabilities.
• Stopping planning permissions from being timed out for approved major housing schemes facing lengthy judicial reviews, building on existing measures to cut back meritless legal challenges for major infrastructure projects from three to one and slashing a year off the statutory pre-consultation period.    
• Securing a win-win across land and sea by allowing the Nature Restoration Fund to support the delivery of marine development, securing better environmental outcomes for marine habitats whilst accelerating the construction of coastal projects.  
• Natural England is currently wasting precious resources because they are required by law to respond to every query from local authorities that relates to nature. Streamlining Natural England’s role will speed up approvals for new homes and infrastructure by reducing unnecessary duplication and allowing greater discretion to focus on applications that pose higher risks or present stronger opportunities for nature recovery, with standard guidance provided to local authorities for straightforward cases.

Thanks to new pro-growth reforms, the government remains firmly on track to make 150 planning decisions on major infrastructure projects, with a record breaking 21 decisions in the first year of any Parliament, and has already greenlit projects including hot-off-the-wheels Gatwick airport expansion and the long-awaited Lower Thames Crossing.

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves said:

“The outdated planning system has been gummed up by burdensome bureaucracy and held to ransom by blockers for too long.  

“Our pro-growth planning bill shows we are serious about cutting red tape to get Britain building again, backing the builders not the blockers to speed up projects and show investors that we are a country that gets spades in the ground and our economy growing.”

This announcement follows the Housing Secretary’s commitment to ‘Build, baby, build’, as the government begins to embark on the next phase of reforms to remove every barrier to build 1.5 million homes this Parliament as well as accelerate the construction of major infrastructure including roads, railways, and solar farms.    

Planning reforms already made by the government will alone drive housebuilding to its highest level in over 40 years, and this does not account for measures to be brought forward through the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.  

The government’s own analysis confirmed earlier this year that changes to get Britain building could benefit the economy by up to £7.5 billion over the next 10 years.

Further information:

The government’s package of amendments to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill can be read in full here.

The landmark Bill is set to return to the House of Lords for its Report Stage on Monday 20 October.

John Foster, CBI Chief Policy & Campaigns Officer, said:

“The CBI welcomes the latest amendments to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill as an important signal that the government wants to go further and faster in reforming our inefficient planning system.  

“Action that cuts delays to planning processes and simplifies environmental approvals is critical to getting projects moving faster and unlocking the economic growth the country needs. 

“Allowing ministers to act decisively on major applications, streamlining Natural England oversight, and broadening investment to key assets like reservoirs will unlock significant investment across the country.” 

Vicky Evans, UKIMEA Cities, Planning and Design Leader, Arup, said:

“Investing in critical infrastructure, such as housing, clean energy, and water security, is crucial to unlocking economic growth and building a sustainable, low-carbon future. 

“The amendments put down by the government today are an important step forward in streamlining the planning system which will help significantly to speed up the delivery of water and energy infrastructure, and new homes.” 

Ana Musat, RenewableUK’s Director of Policy and Engagement said:

“We have ambitious targets across various clean technologies and our grid infrastructure to ensure we deliver the government’s Clean Power 2030 mission, and the measures outlined today represent a vital step towards realising these whilst protecting our environment and enabling local businesses and billpayers to directly feel the benefits. 

“Onshore wind is one of the quickest and cheapest technologies to build and we welcome these proposals to ensure we can fully capitalise on this through a more efficient planning process, potentially enabling up to 3GW of capacity and £2 billion in additional investment for local businesses. Additionally, we welcome the introduction of the Nature Restoration Fund, which will work alongside the upcoming Marine Recovery Fund to deliver a joined-up approach to protecting the UK’s precious species and habitats while we construct and connect our substantial pipeline of clean energy projects. This will dovetail with the reduced administrative burden on Natural England, which will be freeing up its resources to work collaboratively on solutions to support the deployment of renewables.”

The press release issued by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on 13 October 2025.

The Local Government Pension Scheme is one of the largest pension schemes in the world, with over 6.7 million members and £400 billion of assets.

Ministers are consulting on restoring access to the Local Government Pension Scheme for councillors in England and extending it to mayors. 

The proposed reforms would align England with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland where elected members already have access. 

The proposals will show locally elected leaders the respect they deserve as dedicated public servants. This comes as local government reorganisation and devolution continue to reshape councils across England, the responsibilities held by mayors and councillors are expanding significantly. 

Other measures being consulted on include: 

• Making it simpler for Multi-Academy Trusts to apply for their staff from different schools to be in the same pension fund; 
• Implementing new Fair Deal protections ensuring workers outsourced from local government keep seamless access to the Local Government Pension Scheme. 

The LGPS is one of the largest pension schemes in the world, with over 6.7 million members and £400 billion of assets under management. The scheme serves those who work in local government including waste collectors, school staff including teaching assistants and dinner ladies, library managers and parks workers. 

The consultation follows earlier reforms announced by the government this year focusing on investment pooling and local investment, designed to unlock the scheme’s full investment potential as it approaches £1 trillion in assets by 2030. 

The consultation will run until December 22.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on 5 October 2025.

Hundreds of thousands of first-time buyers set to save £710 on average when buying a home, along with vital time and energy, thanks to the biggest shakeup to the homebuying system in this country’s history. 

Proposals unveiled by the government today (Monday 6 October) will speed up the long-drawn out and costly process of buying a home by four weeks, saving people money and unnecessary stress, alongside wider reforms to rewire a chaotic system which has become a barrier to homeownership.  

It will see sellers and estate agents required under the plans to provide buyers with vital information about a property upfront, including the condition of the home, leasehold costs, and chains of people waiting to move. This will help end nasty surprises which result in last-minute collapses and give greater confidence to first-time buyers making one of life’s most important decisions. 

Binding contracts could also be introduced to stop people walking away from agreements after buyers painstakingly spend months in negotiations. This will help halve the number of failed transactions, so precious time and money don’t go to waste, as well as avoid heartbreak and stress for hard-working people looking for the perfect home.  

Housing Secretary, Steve Reed, said:  

Buying a home should be a dream, not a nightmare. 

Our reforms will fix the broken system so hardworking people can focus on the next chapter of their lives. 

Through our Plan for Change we are putting more money back into working people’s pockets and making a simple dream a simple reality.

Thanks to new reforms proposed today, families could see clear, side-by-side information on estate agents and conveyancers – including their track record and expertise, alongside new mandatory qualifications and Code of Practice to drive up standards and rebuild trust in the industry.   

These proposals will speed up the sluggish housing market by halving the number of failed sales, costing the economy £1.5 billion a year, and the government estimates reforms could accelerate transactions by around four weeks. A full roadmap to fix the broken system will be set out in the new year.  

This follows the Housing Secretary’s latest pledge to ‘Build, baby, build’, leaving no stone unturned to build 1.5 million homes and break down the remaining barriers to development that stand in the way of meeting this target.  

The latest housing supply figures show some green shoots of recovery, with a 29% increase in housing starts compared to last year, and the government is going further and faster to unleash the biggest era of housebuilding in the country’s history.   

Rightmove CEO Johan Svanstrom said:  

We welcome the announcement today aiming to drive forward that much needed change and modernisation. The development of technology means transformation is possible, with the right collaboration and considerate planning. 

The home-moving process involves many fragmented parts, and there’s simply too much uncertainty and costs along the way. Speed, connected data and stakeholder simplicity should be key goals. We believe it’s important to listen to agents as the experts for what practical changes will be most effective, and we look forward to working with the government on this effort to improve the buying and selling process.” 

Paul Whitehead CEO at Zoopla said,  

The homebuying process in the UK remains far too long, too complex, too uncertain and has seen far less digital innovation than many other sectors.  

Consumers are clear in their desire for greater transparency and confidence when making life’s biggest purchase and improving the visibility of trusted information earlier in the buying process is a key part of speeding up the journey. 

The property industry recognises the benefits that greater certainty and digital transformation could bring. Introducing legally binding contracts alongside better use of digital solutions has the potential to unlock significant demand and reduce failed transactions.  

At Zoopla, we are committed to working closely with industry and government, and to investing our resources, to help build a modern property ecosystem that is faster, more transparent, and trusted by all.” 

David Morris, Head of Homes, Santander UK said:  

At a time when technology has changed many processes in our lives, it is incredible that the process of buying a home – an activity that is a cornerstone of our economy – remains much the same for today’s buyers as it did for their grandparents. Our recent report, “Fixing the Broken Chain” highlighted how our antiquated system is holding back economic and individual growth, causing property transactions to collapse, and deterring buyers and sellers from entering the market at all. 

This consultation reinforces our view that, as an industry, we have the opportunity to fix the system and now is the time to seize it. We’re ready to work together with Government and all those involved in the homebuying process to move this discussion into action and create a system fit for today’s buyers and sellers.” 

Henry Jordan, Nationwide’s Group Director of Mortgages, said:  

Buying a home is often complex and stressful, which is why the homebuying process needs to be simplified and streamlined for the benefit of consumers, brokers and lenders. But to tackle this issue effectively, we must collaborate. That is why we look forward to working closely with government and the wider industry to modernise the homebuying process, so that buyers are given certainty earlier and to help reduce any unnecessary costs. The measures being consulted on, along with digitalisation and technology, are a major part of how we will get there.

Paula Higgins, CEO of HomeOwners Alliance, said:  

We are absolutely delighted to see the government taking decisive action to overhaul the homebuying process. Requiring material information to be provided upfront will make buying and selling homes faster, fairer and less stressful — giving families and first-time buyers the confidence they need when making such a major financial commitment. This is something we at the HomeOwners Alliance have long campaigned for, as our own research shows how lack of upfront information leads to delays, failed sales and unnecessary costs. 

We also strongly welcome the commitment to raise standards through better regulation and qualifications for estate agents. These reforms will help rebuild trust in the industry and ensure consumers are properly protected.” 

Kate Faulkner OBE, Chair of the Home Buying and Selling Council, said: 

Buying and selling a home has never been more complex for buyers, sellers and the home moving industry. By working together we can turn today’s challenges into a better experience for the next million moves. There has never been a better moment to address these challenges positively, and I welcome the government’s commitment to driving the changes needed for consumers and the many dedicated professionals who support them to make it smoother, safer and less risky.”   

Justin Young, CEO at RICS, said:  

RICS has long supported reform of the home buying and selling process, which is too often stressful, costly, and uncertain for buyers and sellers. The Government’s commitment to an industry-wide consultation is a vital step forward, and RICS will bring its expertise to the table. By embedding transparency, professionalism, and innovation into the process, we can help build a housing market that works better for everyone.” 

Nathan Emerson, CEO at Propertymark, said:  

Propertymark welcomes the UK Government’s renewed commitment to reforming the home buying and selling process, with a clear focus on digitisation, transparency, and stronger consumer protection – all underpinned by mandatory professional qualifications for property agents.  

Embedding recognised standards is essential to raising professionalism, giving consumers greater confidence, and ensuring consistently higher levels of service. 

Equally, it is vital that reforms are evidence-based and informed by those who understand the realities of the sector on the ground. Agents work with buyers and sellers every day, and their experience will be crucial to ensure changes are practical, proportionate, and effective.” 

Mark Evans, Law Society of England and Wales Vice-President, said:  

We welcome and share the government’s commitment to improve the home buying and selling experience. We know that many feel that the conveyancing process is slow and complicated. It can also be confusing as to who should be doing what, and there is the risk of duplication of effort. Information is often not available as quickly or as easily as it should be. Making the right reforms would help address all of these issues. 

Improving the conveyancing process for buyers and sellers and making it fit for the 21st century involves making the appropriate changes to the whole system, not just one aspect of it. We are keen to work with our members, government and all those involved in the conveyancing market to make sure the right reforms are enacted.” 

Beth Rudolf, Director of Delivery at The Conveyancing Association, said:  

The Conveyancing Association welcomes these reforms, which we and other industry stakeholders have long campaigned for, in order to deliver a better home selling and purchase experience for all.  

By ensuring vital information is provided upfront, consumers and industry alike will benefit from greater certainty, reduced risk of fall-throughs and a faster, less stressful process. This is an important step towards the modern, transparent and efficient homebuying system that families and professionals have been calling for.   

These reforms have both the ability to enable conveyancing lawyers to be proactive, and to support estate agents to comply with the law.

Further information

• The government is consulting on new proposals to transform the homebuying and selling process and will work with industry, which include:
• Sellers and estate agents must publish information from searches and surveys before a property listing is published. This will enable buyers to see the physical condition, characteristics, and flood risk of the property online. It will enable buyers to make informed decisions sooner and sellers will benefit from faster transactions, resulting in fewer costly fall-throughs.   
• The full list of proposed mandatory upfront information includes: tenure, council tax band, EPC rating, property type, legal and transactional information such as title information and seller ID verification, leasehold terms, building safety data, standard searches, property condition assessments tailored to property age and type, service charges, planning consents, flood risk data, chain status, and clear floor plans.  
• Buyers and sellers will have the option to sign binding contracts that would end the practice of parties pulling out of agreements months into the process, costing families heartbreak and hundreds of pounds.  
• Deploying the use of digital tools – including digital property logbooks, digital ID verification, and standardised data sharing – enhancing transparency and security for buyers and sellers.  
• Introduce mandatory qualifications and ‘Code of Practice’ for estate, letting and managing agents, driving high standards in the sector and increase trust in the industry.   
• The government will publish information on the services of estate agents and property lawyers, so consumers are well informed on how and where to get help.  
• The average time from instruction to completion is over 5 months, and the government estimates these reforms could speed up transactions by around four weeks.
• The Home Buying and Selling Reform consultation launched today can be found here:Home buying and selling reform – GOV.UK.
• The Material Information Consultation can also be found here: Material information in property listings – GOV.UK. This further consultation will support estate agents with their legal responsibilities, including requirements under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act. This will aim to help provide explicit guidance for estate agents on what information they should include in property listings.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on 24 September 2025.

Local communities will be handed new powers to revitalise their high streets and restore pride in their towns.

• Communities will be handed unprecedented new powers to seize boarded shops, save derelict pubs and block gambling and vape shops on their high street. 
• Prime Minister to announce “Pride in Place” Programme with historic funding to invest in over 330 of our most overlooked communities. 
• The measures form the largest transfer of power from Whitehall to communities in history through the Plan for Change.

People will be given the power to revitalise their neglected high streets, create new spaces for young people and take back control of derelict pubs, to breathe new life into neglected communities up and down the country. 

Communities will be handed new powers to seize boarded up shops, save their treasured local pubs or libraries and clean up the eyesores in their area.  

Local people will finally have the powers to put things right after years of decline – an inheritance the government is determined to fix through the Plan for Change.   

This is about choosing a future where communities are empowered to come together, rather than be divided, and where renewal is chosen over decline. 
Prime Minister Keir Starmer will unveil the Pride in Place programme – an unprecedented programme backed by record funding – that lets local people call the shots on where and how money is spent in their communities, restoring local pride and helping them reclaim their streets.  

For far too long, communities have been dictated to rather than in control of their own destiny. This week marks a new way of governing. By choosing renewal over decline, this government is delivering lasting change working people will feel.

Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Steve Reed said:

“When people step out of their front doors, they know their communities are struggling. They see shuttered pubs, fading high streets and their local areas in decline.  

“Yes, communities have been stretched – but they haven’t given up. They’re working hard to make things better, and we’re backing them.  

“The Government is putting power into their hands so local people decide how best to restore pride in their neighbourhoods, not us in Westminster.  

“That’s what real patriotism looks like: building up our communities and choosing renewal over division.”

The nationwide Pride in Place programme – which will be unveiled by the Prime Minister (Thursday, 25 September) – will deliver a record investment and support over 330 communities in total. It will tackle deep-rooted deprivation and regional inequality through wide-ranging action, including:

• Community Right to Buy: handing local people the power to buy beloved assets, helping them turn around derelict pubs, create new parks and regenerate treasured spaces in the heart of their communities.  
• Compulsory Purchase powers: allowing communities in England to acquire assets and eyesores like boarded up shops and derelict abandoned businesses, allowing new local start-ups to thrive. For larger sites – like disused department stores or abandoned office blocks – it could even see new health centres opening up, or local housing to help reach our target of 1.5 million homes. 
• Power to block unwanted shops: empowering councils in England to say no to new betting shops, vapes stores and fake barbers.  
• Giving residents the power: we will only approve spending if community groups, local organisations and social clubs have been included in decisions on how the money should be spent – putting real power in local hands and giving them a proper say over their community.

Further information

We are looking at new powers that would give communities more control over where betting shops can open, and how many there can be in one area. This is about giving people a say over their high street, particularly where there are high numbers of these types of shop already, not blocking these shops altogether.  

We are also looking at accelerating ways communities can take ownership of empty shops – helping to give them a greater say over what’s on their high streets, so they don’t just end up with rows of vape shops, gambling shops and barbers. The government is already bringing in new laws to crack down on dodgy vape shops through the Tobacco and Vapes Bill. 

We will only approve spending if Pride in Place Boards have genuinely engaged their communities, so that community groups, local organisations and social clubs have been included in decisions on how the money should be spent. 

We are announcing a raft of new powers and programmes to empower communities across the UK. Please note that some powers and programmes will not apply in every nation of the UK.  

The Pride in Place funding will be delivered in England, Scotland and Wales, with corresponding funding provided to Northern Ireland. The government will be working closely with the Scottish and Welsh Governments to design specific programmes which put the principles of the strategy of community engagement at the centre. Further detail on Northern Ireland, including support for Belfast, will follow.