Tag: Housing and Communities

The press release issued by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on 18 June 2026.

New rules introduced to simplify homebuying and selling making the process easier and simpler.

• Families and first-time buyers set to save time, money, and stress under major changes to the homebuying process – supporting the next generation and those locked out by a slow and unfair system
• New sales packs to ensure buyers have the information they need upfront, earlier binding agreements, and digital tools will halve the number of sales that fall through saving millions
• Reforms will cut buying times by around four weeks, save first-time buyers an average of £650, and get the housing market moving more quickly

Buying and selling a home is set to become faster, cheaper, and less stressful under major reforms unveiled today (Friday 19 June) to cut delays, reduce and digitalise paperwork, and stop sales collapsing.   

At a time when families are feeling the squeeze, new changes will cut homebuying times by around four weeks, save first-time buyers an average of £650, and stop the nasty surprises that cost time, money, and heartbreak. This will ensure the chance to own a home isn’t determined by who can afford to take the biggest risk. 

Sellers and estate agents will have to provide key information upfront in ‘sales packs’ at the point of listing. This will set out a home’s condition, leasehold costs, and chain status so buyers can make informed decisions, and property professionals can get to work sooner – while creating a fairer, more transparent process for everyone involved. 

Changes will also see new earlier binding agreements to stop parties walking away months into negotiations without a legitimate reason. This will help to give young people confidence in the system and better plan for their next steps, not put them on hold. 

In addition, a new Code of Practice will raise standards for estate agents, alongside proposals for mandatory qualifications for the sector which could ensure agents are properly equipped to support efficient transactions and rebuild trust in the sector.   

With the average home purchase taking around 120 days, one in three sales falling through costing sellers around £400 million per year, and failed transactions costing the economy up to £1.5 billion every year – these reforms will fix a broken system.  

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: 

Getting the keys to a home you can call your own is one of the biggest events in anyone’s life. But right now, the system that should provide support instead turns it into a battle, leaving people in limbo and putting that opportunity out of reach. 

We’re turning the page. Our reforms will bring this outdated process into the modern age, saving people time and money, and giving them the certainty they deserve. 

This is about building a stronger, fairer Britain, one that works for the next generation and makes the dream of home ownership a reality for many more hard-working people. 

Housing Secretary, Steve Reed said:    

Buying or selling a home should be one of life’s great moments and not a drawn-out nightmare of delays, hidden costs, and failed deals.  

These changes will make the system faster, fairer, and more secure – giving families and first-time buyers the certainty they need all while saving them time and money.  

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves said: 

Delays, hidden costs, and deals collapsing at the last minute are not only bad for homebuyers, it’s bad for the economy too. 

Our reforms will cut those delays, cut costs and make the process quicker and more reliable – getting more people on the housing ladder while keeping more money in their pockets.  

We have the right economic plan – getting the housing market moving, building thousands more good-quality homes in every region, and transforming rights for renters.

At the heart of the reforms is a major shift to digital – replacing the outdated paper-based systems with faster, more reliable tools.   

Digital property logbooks and sales packs will allow trusted information to be shared securely between professionals and accessed by buyers and sellers in real-time, cutting out the back-and-forth that cause so many delays.   

The government will also back digital identity checks, electronic signatures and AI-assisted conveyancing to strip out duplication, reduce fraud risk and accelerate transactions from start to finish. Together, these changes will create a modern, end-to-end system where people can track and progress their move more easily.   

Phil Spencer, Property Expert & Move iQ Founder said: 

For as long as I’ve worked in property, one of the biggest frustrations I’ve heard from buyers and sellers is that the process simply doesn’t work as well as it should. It can be slow, stressful and uncertain, with too many transactions falling through after months of time, effort and expense. 

I welcome these proposals – they address many of the issues consumers have been grappling with for years, from a lack of upfront information to unnecessary delays and last-minute surprises. Giving people a clearer picture from the outset and creating greater certainty throughout the transaction process can only be a positive step. 

These have the potential to make moving home a far better experience for everyone involved. Having spent decades at the heart of the housing market, I’ve seen first-hand the emotional and financial toll that a failed transaction can take. Anything that helps buyers and sellers move with greater confidence and fewer obstacles is to be applauded. 

I look forward to seeing these changes brought forward and the difference they could make to the way we buy and sell homes.

Paul Whitehead, CEO, Zoopla said: 

Zoopla sits at the heart of the UK property market and over 6 million homeowners are tracking the value of their most important asset and planning their next move. They deserve better than a home-buying process that takes months, falls through too often, and leaves everyone poorer for it. 

These proposed reforms change that. Upfront sales packs, digital logbooks and binding contracts aren’t just technical reforms – they are the foundations of a market people can trust. Zoopla will continue to be an active partner to the Government and industry in building a faster more transparent system that makes moving simple. 

Johan Svanstrom, CEO, Rightmove said:  

This is an encouraging step towards a faster and more efficient property market, addressing some of the biggest frustrations that home-movers and industry participants face. By making more information available upfront, there is a clear opportunity to reduce fall-throughs and increase transparency. Our UK-wide data shows that it takes a lengthy 170 days on average to complete a transaction and that over one in five transactions initially falls through. Last year, fall-throughs alone meant that approximately £900 million in potential stamp duty receipts and estate agency commission in England was lost, and consumers lose both precious time, certainty and money when needing to repeat transaction processes. The implementation and phasing of these initiatives will be key to ensure consistency and adoption. It needs to be helpful to the vital role estate agents play in the marketplace, and to avoid any unintended consequences. 

Increased mobility, transparency and certainty is key to overall economic growth. We strongly believe that further digitisation and improvements to the home-moving process can help to speed it up and reduce friction. It will require cross-industry collaboration and innovation to achieve the aims set out today.

Countries like the Netherlands, Norway, and Finland have already shown that reforms like these deliver real benefits for buyers, sellers and the industry alike.   

The Netherlands uses a live tracking system for buyers and sellers to check their transaction status helping to achieve a final completion time of 20 days on average, whilst Norway’s efforts to streamline and digitalise the system has estimated savings of up to £1.4bn over 10 years.  

This package will inject fresh momentum into the housing market and help people keep more money in their pockets by cutting the hidden costs and delays in buying a home to ease cost of living pressures and support a fairer housing market that works for ordinary families. 

The press release issued by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on 17 June 2026.

Millions of homeowners could benefit from faster planning decisions, as 2 new AI tools are unveiled to modernise England’s planning permission system.

• New AI prototype that aims to halve decision times for routine planning applications is now being tested in three English counties
• Smart use of AI will support plans to modernise England’s planning system and build 1.5 million homes this Parliament
• Complements existing AI that converts decades of historic planning records into digital data in minutes, which is now available to every council in England

Millions of homeowners waiting for permission to extend their homes, convert lofts or make other improvements could see faster decisions, with 2 new AI tools unveiled today (Wednesday 17 June) to modernise England’s planning system.

The first is a new AI prototype that aims to halve the time it takes to process householder planning applications – down from 8, to 4 weeks in an average case.

It is in early stage testing with Barnet, Camden and Dorset councils. The prototype triages applications, summarises key information and provides planning officers with an initial assessment they can consider when making their decision. It has been created by government together with Google DeepMind, Google Cloud, Faculty and local planning authorities.

The second is that another tool, Extract, is now available to all councils in England as promised by the Prime Minister last year.  It uses AI to help planning officers convert decades-old planning documents and maps, sometimes with handwritten notes, into readily useable data in minutes.

Householder applications account for nearly 70% of planning applications each year. By reducing the time spent on straightforward cases, the prototype being tested in Barnet, Camden and Dorset could help planning officers focus more on complex applications, including new housing and major developments communities rely on.

If successful, the technology will be rolled out nationwide by 2027 – with every assessment reviewed and approved by a qualified planning officer before any decision is made.

The announcement marks another step in the government’s commitment to build 1.5 million homes and use technology to improve public services.

Minister for Data and Modern Digital Government Ian Murray said:

When someone wants to add a bedroom or convert their loft, they shouldn’t be waiting months for a straightforward decision. And planning officers shouldn’t be spending hours digging through decades of paper records when making the decisions that really matter.

These tools give planning officers better support to make quicker decisions – and give families the answers they deserve, faster.

This isn’t about replacing the expertise and judgement of planning professionals; it’s about taking admin off their desks so they can focus on the skilled work their communities need most.

Housing and Planning Minister, Matthew Pennycook said:

Our planning system remains heavily reliant on cumbersome paper-based processes that consume the time of expert planning officers and cause delays on even the most routine types of application.

We are dragging the system into the twenty-first century by harnessing the power of AI to streamline the planning application process, freeing up planners to make quicker and better decisions and reducing unnecessary delays.

Cllr Ross Houston, Cabinet Member for Homes and Regeneration at Barnet Council, said:

Barnet has one of the busiest Planning Departments in the country. This new AI-Augmented Planning Decisions tool could significantly reduce the time it takes the council to process householder planning applications submitted by residents. Early participation in this programme has given Barnet a direct influence on the design and development of the tool, which could fundamentally change how planning decisions are supported across England. It is also an important opportunity to gain hands‑on experience of AI‑assisted planning.

From today, Extract is now available to all local planning authorities in England. It will slash the estimated 250,000 hours a year spent by planning officers manually checking these documents. Digitising and publishing these documents, as data, helps officers and the public access high-quality planning data more easily, and create the right foundation for the next generation of tools that could dramatically reduce delays that plague the system.

Around 350,000 planning applications are submitted a year in England, yet the system remains heavily reliant on checking old documents. For every application, planning officers must check the local planning rules that apply, many of which are hidden away in hundreds of pages of documents, before reaching a decision.

This represents a step-change in productivity, freeing up thousands of hours for planning officers to focus on decision-making to speed up housebuilding. It will also accelerate the delivery of much-needed housing, improve reliability in the planning process, reduce costs and save time for councils and developers.

It comes as the government laid regulations in Parliament earlier this month to overhaul planning committees – speeding up decisions on small planning applications, such as larger home extensions and loft conversions, through a new National Scheme of Delegation. 

Marc Warner, CEO of Faculty, CTO of Accenture, said:

For decades, England’s gummed up planning system has slowed families seeking simple home improvements – like new windows, or attic conversions.

By using AI to support planning officers with clear recommendations – with humans retaining final sign off – we will help cut approval times on simple renovations in half.

This will give councils more time and resource to focus on the bigger infrastructure projects that will improve communities and drive economic growth.

Lila Ibrahim, Chief AI Readiness Officer, Google DeepMind said:  ​​​

The UK has an opportunity to build the homes our communities need, but local councils face a mountain of paperwork.

That’s why we’re co-creating a sophisticated planning tool directly with councils to solve real-world bottlenecks. This will help significantly cut decision times, freeing up planners to focus on the future to get Britain building faster.

Following trials across 20 local planning authorities in England including Exeter and Hillingdon, Extract is expected to save the average council around 255 hours of manual work digesting documents into digital form. This is down from more than 500 – giving staff more valuable time back to focus on complex work that delivers value for the communities they serve.

Last year the Prime Minister announced that Extract would be made available to every local planning authority in England by Spring 2026 – today the government is delivering on that commitment.  

Extract was developed by the government’s expert applied AI team, the Incubator for AI (i.AI), working with MHCLG’s Digital Planning programme. You can read more about i.AI’s work on https://ai.gov.uk/.

Notes to editors 

APD is being developed under an MHCLG contract with Google  Cloud, Google DeepMind, and UK AI company Faculty as delivery partners. Alpha trials began in May 2026.

MHCLG is funding APD (Augmented Planning Decisions) with an £8.2million contract with Google Cloud, Google DeepMind and delivery partner Faculty.

Subject to successful results, the government expects to expand trials to up to 10 additional councils later in 2026, with national rollout planned from 2027.

You can find out more about Extract at: Extract – Check and provide your planning data including a video demonstration. It is available for use by local authorities.. It is a specialist tool to support planning officers and council workers; it does not replace them.

As part of Extract’s rollout, the goal is that three national planning datasets – Article 4 Directions, Conservation Areas, and Tree Preservation Orders – will be published on the Planning Data Platform.

AI support for householder applications will help planning officers to make recommendations; people will remain the final decision makers.

Around 350,000 planning applications are submitted in England every year. Householder applications make up the majority of local planning authority workloads.

Maureen Costello, Vice President, UK, Ireland and Sub-Saharan Africa, at Google Cloud said:

True digital transformation happens when advanced innovation is built on a resilient, secure foundation. Google Cloud is proud to partner with the UK Government to bring AI out of the lab and into production-ready public services to deliver faster outcomes for councils nationwide.

Graham Stallwood, Interim Chief Executive at the Planning Inspectorate said: 

The Planning Inspectorate is following closely the work being led by MHCLG and Local Authorities to enable greater use of new AI-enabled tools like Extract and the Augmented Planning Decisions Prototype. 

 AI guidance provided by the Planning Inspectorate upholds public and professional responsibility for the information generated and supports human control and oversight. We will keep our guidance under review to maintain this ‘golden rule’ for AI use, as this technology improves and we understand more about the impact on any casework.

Mike Keily, Chair of the Planning Officers Society said:

The Planning Officers Society welcomes this key announcement along our Digital Planning journey. Extract is a game changing tool as it unlocks the data trapped in PDFs and makes it available in digital form to be used by AI and other systems. We look forward to future announcements from MHCLG as their investment bears fruit.

Sarah McLaughlin, spokesperson for the Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning and Transport (ADEPT) said:  

ADEPT welcomes digital advancements that support efficiency, transparency and effective decision-making. By embracing innovative technologies, local authorities can streamline processes and deliver improved outcomes for communities and businesses. Digital innovation enables more collaborative, accessible and future-focused planning, helping towns and communities adapt to changing needs, while supporting economic growth, environmental responsibility and high-quality place-making.

Dr Wei Yang OBE, CEO at the Digital Task Force for Planning said:

High-quality, standardised planning data is essential for a modern planning system. Extract can help local planning authorities accelerate the transition from document-based processes to data-enabled planning by making it easier to convert existing planning information into usable digital data. This represents an important step forward in improving efficiency, transparency and evidence-based decision-making across the planning system.

Rachel Fisher, Chief Executive of the Royal Town Planning Institute, said:

While some of the UK’s planning departments are ahead of the digital curve, not everyone is applying the most up-to-date technology. ‘Extract’ will therefore be a refreshing update to a local planning authority’s toolbox, which can sometimes feel out of date and unfit for purpose in today’s digital landscape.

With the ability to draw on robust datasets, this new tool could help planners make better-informed decisions. While a planner’s work should never be fully autonomous, tools that help alleviate pressure from hard-working local authorities while helping planners deliver better outcomes for their communities are always welcome.

RIBA President, Chris Williamson, said:

Given our research at the end of last year showed that 80% of practices were experiencing significant project delays due to planning system backlogs, with over 10% abandoning projects entirely, we welcome the Government’s willingness to experiment with AI to help speed up applications. This is an exciting opportunity for local planning authorities to benefit from the efficiencies AI can bring to digitise applications, while maintaining the critical human oversight of architects and planners within teams to ensure high-design quality.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on 16 June 2026.

£61m fund to encourage people to save treasured local assets announced as part of a set of reforms to put more power in the hands of communities.

• £61 million fund to encourage local people to step in and save pubs, shops and other community gems
• Communities Secretary Steve Reed announces cash boost in part of a wider £301 million package to support high streets, drive community control and back local people
• Package builds on wider £5.8 billion Pride in Place programme, handing real power and money to local people who know their areas best

Pubs, shops and other treasured high street gems will be saved from closure more easily thanks to a new £61 million package to back local communities announced today (16 June). 

This government’s latest Pride in Place initiative, a new Community Right to Buy Fund, will hand people in deprived areas the money they need to step in and take over community assets at risk of closure otherwise – allowing pints to continue flowing and community centres to keep bringing people together in their areas. 

Communities Secretary Steve Reed announced the investment at a speech in London earlier today as part of a package of measures, building on wider reforms in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act to allow people to take over treasured assets. This funding is part of the £301 million announced by the government to support our high streets and community spaces. 

Further action was committed to on tackling profiteering in the temporary accommodation and children’s social care sector, allowing councils to spend taxpayers’ money on what local people want to see, alongside making it easier for social housing tenants to take control over their homes. 

These reforms build on the government’s commitment to shift more power out of Westminster and empower communities, including through the £5.8 billion Pride in Place programme. 

Communities Secretary Steve Reed said: 

I am pushing power out of Whitehall and into the hands of the people who actually use these high streets. They know what they need better than any politician in Whitehall. 

We’re backing communities to step in and save these high street gems, building on our drive to give communities the key to their own future and power over what matters to them.

The Communities Secretary also announced: 

• Streamlining Right to Manage: Supporting social housing tenants to come together, take control of their homes and estates, and make housing managers accountable to the people who live there. Reforms include stronger enforcement action where serious mismanagement puts residents’ safety at risk, as well as calling on social landlords to encourage tenants to take up the Right to Manage.  
• Test and Learn funding: The Test, Learn and Grow programme is putting people at the centre, starting small and building on what works – empowering frontline staff and local places to respond to what users need. Crucially, it is also about growing this way of working. To build regional capability and ensure that learning from the programme is diffused across the country, a £10 million Test, Learn and Grow Capability Fund is being launched to support up to 20 places. The fund will first be targeted at those already involved in the programme, with a specific focus on extending learning beyond individual local authorities and across sub-regions, through Mayoral Strategic Authorities and clusters of local authorities working together. It will then expand to new locations later in the autumn. 
• Community Power Pilots: Supporting community groups and local authorities in up to 25 areas with £15 million in funding to transform services for residents with their input. 
• Commitment to tackling profiteering: The government will work with councils in London to compare the prices of temporary accommodation, stopping companies exploiting different parts of the state. Further action will also be taken in the children’s social care sector where profiteering off vulnerable children is leaving councils on the brink. 
• Commitment to support better use of local data: Ineffective data sharing is hampering local authorities from delivering better, more joined up services. To fix this, DSIT is developing standardised data sharing agreements for central government and wider public sector, including local governments to use, reducing administrative burdens and speeding up processes. 

The press release issued by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on 2 June 2026.

A new Development Corporation will give Greater Cambridge the powers and certainty to deliver infrastructure-first growth at scale.

• New regeneration body will end the cycle of homes coming first and services catching up years later by developing land faster
• £800 million already committed to accelerate new homes, jobs and infrastructure across Cambridge and Oxford

A new regeneration body will deliver thousands of new homes, jobs, and long overdue transport links in Greater Cambridge in a major move to unlock growth in the region.

Working in partnership with local leaders and communities, the region’s biggest Development Corporation will drive faster, more sustainable growth – ensuring transport and services are built alongside new homes, not as an afterthought. It will also rake in millions more in investment, cementing Greater Cambridge’s status as a world-leading centre for science and innovation. 

The Corporation will bring land together for development, invest in key sites and unlock stalled and derelict land – tackling housing affordability, cutting commuter delays, breaking down barriers to employment, and improving connectivity. 

Today’s announcement builds on the up to £800 million already committed to kickstarting development around Cambridge and Oxford, which will increase the supply of affordable homes, upgrade transport links, and provide more green spaces for residents. 

Housing Secretary Steve Reed, said: 

“Greater Cambridge is an area with huge potential that the new Development Corporation will help turn into more affordable homes, good jobs for local people and infrastructure that supports its communities.”

Chancellor Rachel Reeves, said:  

“Greater Cambridge is a powerhouse for regional growth – and we’re unlocking its full potential as part of the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor.

“We have the right economic plan – by working with local leaders to unlock stalled sites and invest in infrastructure, this Development Corporation will deliver homes, jobs and opportunity at scale, driving regional growth and supporting our science and innovation strengths in Britain.”

The Greater Cambridge Development Corporation will be a joint national and local body, with the powers and long-term leadership to turn ambition into delivery.   

It will bring sites ready for development together quicker, invest in critical infrastructure and bring forward sites that have sat idle for too long – building well-designed communities where people want to live and work. 

As well as new homes, it will create thousands of jobs for local partners and businesses, state of the art innovation spaces, bolstering Cambridge’s position as a global centre for science and enterprise. 

Local partners and businesses have backed proposals for the Development Corporation, recognising its role in unlocking growth and new jobs across the city, providing the certainty and momentum needed to bring forward strategic sites and attract private investment.

Progress is already being made to remove barriers to growth in Greater Cambridge, including government action to provide adequate water supply and wastewater capacity. This has enabled over 9,000 homes and more than 500,000 sqm of commercial space to come forward so far. 

Cambridge Growth Company Chair, Peter Freeman CBE said: 

“We welcome the government’s intention to establish a Development Corporation for Greater Cambridge. This provides the long-term certainty, status and coordination needed to deliver infrastructure at the scale Greater Cambridge demands.

“The real work begins now, and we are determined to deliver – making Greater Cambridge not only more economically vibrant, attracting world-class businesses, but more liveable, better connected and a place that genuinely works for all current and future residents.”

Chief Executive at Cambridge Ahead, Dan Thorp said: 

“In the 65+ years of the Cambridge Phenomenon, which is over half a century of world-leading innovation and exceptional economic performance, this could be one of the biggest moments. A Development Corporation can provide strategic direction, delivery capability, and financing in a way not previously possible and through this the Cambridge economy can deliver more for national and local benefit. 

“With over 80% of Cambridge industry leaders telling us that the UK Government’s commitment to the Ox-Cam Growth Corridor has either increased or maintained business confidence, it is evident that clear and consistent national policy is having a growth-positive impact on the ground in our high-potential region. 

“It will be vital that the Development Corporation truly works in partnership with local leaders, is set up to deliver good growth with certainty and clarity, and acts in the long-term interest of Cambridge and its region. Cambridge Ahead will continue to work with UK Government to build on today’s announcement and ensure that the momentum Cambridge has built translates into the jobs and homes this region and the country needs.” 

Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Paul Bristow said: 

“Our Local Growth Plan is intentionally the most ambitious in the country, and delivering it means tackling infrastructure constraints we’ve put off for too long. 

“A Development Corporation has the potential to help us deliver that plan, working as genuine partnership between local leaders, government and communities, all focused on the same plan. 

“As Mayor, I will work closely with a Development Corporation to support delivery at pace and make sure that collaboration translates into real progress on the ground.”

Further information

The Cambridge Growth Company was established by government as a subsidiary of Homes England, working closely with local leaders, communities and industry to develop and deliver an ambitious plan to remove barriers to growth in Greater Cambridge.  

Up to £800 million has already committed to kick‑starting development around Cambridge and Oxford to deliver tangible benefits to residents. These include:  

• Thousands of new, high-quality homes to meet local demand and tackle the housing shortage.  
• Creation of good jobs across a range of sectors, supporting economic growth and prosperity.  
• Improved transport links and infrastructure, making it easier for people to access work, education, and amenities.  
• Regeneration of key sites, turning long-stalled areas into thriving, sustainable communities.  
• Opportunities for business expansion and innovation, cementing Cambridge’s status as an engine for growth.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on 1 June 2026.

The government’s landmark Social Housing Bill is returning to Parliament for its Second Reading today.

• Landlords get new powers to evict domestic abuse perpetrators from social homes
• Decades of new-build social housing sell-off stopped as Right to Buy rules overhauled and tightened  
• Backed by the government’s £39bn investment in social and affordable housing – the biggest in a generation

Abusers will be evicted from social homes and victims will be able to stay safely in their communities, under a new landmark Social Housing Bill returning to Parliament for its Second Reading today (Monday 1 June).

Under new protections, landlords and courts will be able to evict perpetrators of domestic abuse from social housing – without the victim having to leave first. 

Currently, landlords can only evict a perpetrator after the victim has already left the home, and in joint tenancies, the only option for the victim is to end the tenancy entirely – potentially leaving them homeless.

The Bill also closes a loophole that let abusers serve a Notice to Quit to make victims homeless. Under the proposed new law, a Notice to Quit served by a perpetrator will not end the social housing joint tenancy while court proceedings are ongoing.  

In addition, for joint tenancies, courts will be able to transfer the tenancy into the victim’s sole name, or where staying is not appropriate, require the landlord to provide suitable alternative accommodation where available. 

Last year, around 15,000 households in England were forced to find a new social home because of domestic abuse. This Bill means victims can stay safely in their homes and communities, close to support networks, schools, and work. 

The news follows the swift introduction of the Bill earlier this month, which also includes the biggest overhaul of Right to Buy in a generation to reverse the decline of social housing.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

“No victim of domestic abuse should face the awful choice between staying in danger or losing their home. This government is putting that right, so perpetrators are forced out and survivors and their children can stay safely in the homes and communities they know and love.

“We’re also fixing the systemic issue of failing to protect and invest in social housing. I will never stand by as much-needed housing is sold off while families do not have a safe place to call home and children are growing up in temporary accommodation.

“This government will stop at nothing to get Britain building, invest in social housing, and restore pride in communities in every part of our country.”

Housing Secretary Steve Reed said:

“Victims of domestic abuse have faced an impossible choice – stay in danger or make themselves homeless. This is a moral failure this government is determined to end and these changes are deeds not words that put victims first, give landlords the powers they need, and make sure perpetrators can no longer use housing as a weapon of control. 

“But protecting tenants is only half the picture. We also need more social homes – and this Bill tackles the decades of sell-off that has left over a million families on waiting lists with nowhere to turn. Together, these reforms will make social housing safer, fairer and built to last.”

The Bill also addresses and fixes the long-term decline in social housing. More than two million homes have been sold under the Right to Buy scheme since 1980, with many never replaced, and between 2012 and 2025, around 133,000 council homes were sold against just 51,000 replacements.

Not only has this depleted much-needed stock, but it has also reduced the motivation and confidence of councils to build, and restricted broader investment in council housing. This has depleted supply, undermined councils’ confidence to build and restricted investment – at a time when 1.3 million households are on councils’ waiting lists and more than 175,000 children are living in temporary accommodation.

The Right to Buy scheme provides an important route for social housing tenants to own their own home, many of whom may not otherwise be able to access home ownership, boosting social mobility and opportunity for families across the country.

The Bill rebalances Right to Buy without closing the door on home ownership. Following extensive consultation, reforms will see eligibility rise from three to 10 years, newly built social homes protected for 35 years, hard-to-replace rural homes will be exempt, and discount rules will be updated to reflect the cash discounts cap introduced in November 2024. Councils will gain a stronger right of first refusal to buy back properties – helping recover homes lost to the scheme.

The Bill also strips out outdated and unimplemented requirements from the Housing and Planning Act 2016, including rules forcing councils to sell high-value homes, offer fixed-term tenancies and charge higher rents to higher-income tenants, giving providers the certainty they need to build for the long term. 

These reforms are backed by £39 billion through the 10-year Social and Affordable Homes Programme – the biggest investment in a generation. Together, they will protect existing social homes and build at the scale the country needs.

Domestic Abuse Commissioner, Dame Nicole Jacobs said:

“Sharing a social home with a perpetrator presents victims and survivors of domestic abuse with an impossible choice. Remaining in their home means facing further abuse but leaving could put them at risk of homelessness and struggling financially. 

“Alongside survivors and campaigners, I have been calling for action to be taken to stop perpetrators from weaponising joint tenancies – and I’m pleased to see that the government has listened. 

“People experiencing domestic abuse need safety and stability in order to recover and rebuild free from harm. This will be an important step towards that for many.”

Head of Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance, Nicki Clarke said:

“The Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance (DAHA) welcomes the Government’s tenancy reforms proposed within the Social Housing Bill. These changes represent an important and long overdue step forward, with the potential to transform the lives of many domestic abuse victims.

“Domestic abuse typically takes place in the home and it is where most women are killed. By enabling landlords to safeguard victims and hold the perpetrators of abuse to account, these reforms will enable domestic abuse victims, including children, to achieve safety, stability and long-term housing security. This is essential for all individuals impacted by domestic abuse to rebuild their independence and move forward with lives free from harm.

“We look forward to working with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to support the development and implementation of these measures, and to ensure that the detail of the reforms delivers meaningful, practical outcomes for those affected.”

Head of External Affairs at Women’s Aid, Veronica Oakeshott said:

“Today, the Social Housing Bill has received its second reading, and we are pleased to see that it contains measures to protect some survivors of domestic abuse in joint tenancies, which Women’s Aid, along with sector colleagues, have long campaigned on.

“For too long, survivors have been faced with impossible choices – either staying with their abusers or risking homelessness – all because of outdated practices. The measures introduced in this Bill begin to change that picture by enabling social landlords to transfer a tenancy to a survivor in certain circumstances or, where needed, evict perpetrators and prevent them from unilaterally ending a tenancy. While ultimately we hope the measures will go further to enable more survivors to qualify, this is an important start.”

Chief Executive of the National Housing Federation, Kate Henderson said:

“This Bill demonstrates the government’s commitment to safeguarding our social homes for future generations and to strengthening protections for survivors of domestic abuse.

“No one should be forced to lose their home to escape abuse. We strongly welcome new powers to evict perpetrators of domestic abuse from social housing. This will support survivors to remain safely in their homes where that is the right option for them and reduce their risk of homelessness.

“Reforms to Right to Buy are an essential step towards protecting social housing stock. The policy has led to the sale of over two million social homes in its lifetime, severely depleting numbers available for low-income families.

“We look forward to continuing to work in partnership with the government to deliver a decade of renewal for social housing and to build the new social homes our country needs.”

Further information

The Social Housing Bill was confirmed in the King’s Speech on 13 May 2026 and introduced to Parliament on 14 May 2026.

For further details on the full list of measures in the Bill are available here.

The Bill’s Right to Buy reforms build on the steps the government has already taken to date, including returning the maximum Right to Buy cash discounts to the pre-2012 levels, following a review of the impact of the higher discounts on social housing stock.

The government response to the consultation on Reforming the Right to Buy was published in July 2025.

The Right to Buy reforms in this Bill include:

• Extending the minimum period of secure public sector tenancy to be eligible for the scheme from 3 to 10 years
• Reforming the percentage discounts for the scheme, to start at 5% of the property value, increasing by 1% per annum up to a maximum of 15%, subject to the revised cash caps (whichever is lower).
• Exempting newly built social and affordable homes from the scheme for 35 years.
• Exempting rural properties from the scheme, which will include homes in National Parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and areas designated as rural.
• Preventing tenants who have previously benefitted from the Right to Buy from using the scheme again, with exceptions for victims of domestic abuse and in cases of irretrievable relationship breakdown.
• Exempting council homes for market rent from the Right to Buy.
• Extending the period in which, on resale of the property, the council has the right to ask for all, or part, of the Right to Buy discount to be repaid, from 5 to 10 years.
• Extending the right of first refusal, in which a former Right to Buy property when sold must first be offered to the former landlord, from 10 years after the original sale to in perpetuity.
• Allowing the Secretary of State to determine the rules governing the spending of Right to Buy capital receipts through issuing a determination.
• Amending the Right to Acquire scheme for housing association tenants in line with the changes to the Right to Buy, to better align the two schemes.
• Supporting councils with the administration of Right to Buy applications.

The territorial extent of the Bill is England and Wales, with all measures at introduction applying to England only. 

Eligibility for social housing remains unchanged. Asylum seekers are not eligible for social housing. 

The Bill does not make changes to the private rented sector. From 1 May 2026, the Renters’ Rights Act gives private renters greater security and stability.

For the social rented sector this Act will be implemented from October 2027.

Under the Bill, a Notice to Quit served by a perpetrator in a social housing joint tenancy will not take effect where a notice under the domestic abuse grounds is in force, or during ongoing court or eviction proceedings, preventing the misuse of such notices to force tenants out of their homes.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on 29 May 2026.

Housing and Planning Minister Matthew Pennycook has confirmed the appointment of Ben Alexander as the new Chair of the Planning Inspectorate Board. His appointment is expected to commence on 1 July 2026 and run for a period of four years. In addition, the Minister has confirmed a one-year extension to the terms of two existing Inspectorate board members.

Ben will take over from Trudi Elliott, CBE MRTPI, who is completing her second term as Chair. He will lead the Planning Inspectorate as it continues its vital role in the planning system, supporting timely, fair and proportionate decision‑making on nationally significant infrastructure projects, certain planning applications, local plans and planning appeals.

The Planning Inspectorate plays a central role in delivering the government’s ambitions to speed up planning decisions, thereby unlocking housing growth and economic development, while ensuring communities’ voices are heard and environmental protections upheld.

Alongside Ben’s appointment, the Minister has also confirmed extensions to the terms of two existing board members, Adrian Penfold and Oliver Munn, to September 2027, ensuring continuity and stability as the organisation continues to modernise and respond to the government’s ambitious agenda for planning.

Housing and Planning Minister Matthew Pennycook said:

“I’m delighted to confirm Ben Alexander’s appointment as Chair of the Planning Inspectorate Board.

“Ben has a proven track record of effective leadership, commercial expertise and successfully driving through organisation change in the public sector. He will make an invaluable contribution to ensuring the Inspectorate provides timely, high-quality and cost-effective decisions, recommendations and advice.

“I would also like to thank Trudi Elliott for her outstanding leadership over two terms, and to recognise the continued contribution of board members who have agreed to extend their service.”

Further information

Ben Alexander

Ben is currently Chair of the Industrial Development Advisory Board, an external member of the Cambridge University finance committee and serves as a commercial advisor at the Cabinet Office. He has previously held senior roles in international finance and asset management and brings extensive experience in governance, infrastructure and strategic decision‑making across both the public and private sectors.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on 28 May 2026.

Taxpayers to be protected from financial mismanagement in local government.

Powers will be used to prevent excessive borrowing, risky investments and poor financial decisions in local government.

Announced today (28th May), these powers will be switched on to help the government find early warning signs by tracking every council’s investments, debt, and revenue to spot financial risk before it becomes a crisis, allowing faster action to protect taxpayers. 

How these powers will work and what other measures could be used to find risks will all be considered in a consultation that has launched today.

In recent years, some councils have borrowed excessively in risky financial projects. Woking Borough Council amassed over £2 billion in debt, nearly 100 times its annual budget. And Thurrock Council built up £1.5 billion in debt through borrowing to finance failed investments, though both have curbed excessive borrowing since.

The new metrics will strengthen oversight and transparency and ensure that borrowing across local government is affordable and sustainable.

Local Government Minister Alison McGovern said:

In Woking, Thurrock, and other councils we’ve seen poor investment decisions leaving taxpayers footing a big bill.

We can’t afford to wait until a council is on the brink of collapse to act. That’s why we want to bring in new powers so we can identify the risks and act before its too late.

This is alongside making £78 billion available through the Fair Funding Review to get councils back on their feet through the first multi-year settlement in a decade.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on 27 May 2026.

The competition will be open to a single organisation, or group of organisations, that are willing to come together to deliver the project.

• Organisations can now apply for up to £970,000 to help design and build a first-of-its-kind national Muslim War Memorial
• The memorial will stand as a lasting tribute to the sacrifice of the hundreds of thousands of Muslims who served to help deliver peace across the world
• The successful applicant will also be tasked with driving interfaith dialogue and education about the remarkable story of Muslim soldiers

A search for an organisation to design and deliver a national memorial to mark the significant contribution of Muslims to the First and Second World War has been launched today (27th May).

The memorial will stand as a permanent tribute to the bravery and sacrifice of the hundreds of thousands of Muslim soldiers who served alongside Britain and its allies – travelling from across the Middle East, North Africa, and the Indian subcontinent – to help secure victory and promote lasting peace.

Despite there being an estimated 70,000 war memorials across the UK, including several prominent memorials to the sacrifice and contribution of other faith groups to the war effort throughout the 20th Century, this memorial will be the first prominent national tribute to the Muslim soldiers who selflessly fought and died for Britain.

The memorial will pay tribute to many of these remarkable stories. Among them is Khudadad Khan, the first Muslim to be awarded the Victoria Cross. At Hollebeke, Belgium in 1914, Khan continued firing his machine gun alone after all his fellow soldiers had been killed, despite being severely wounded. Left for dead on the battlefield, he crawled back to his regiment under cover of darkness and carried on fighting. He was later presented with the Victoria Cross by King George V at Buckingham Palace.

Another such story is that of Shahamad Khan, who earned the Victoria Cross for extraordinary bravery in Mesopotamia in April 1916. Manning a machine gun alone just yards from enemy trenches, he beat off three counterattacks after all but two of his men had become casualties. When his gun was knocked out, he held his ground with rifles until ordered to withdraw, and then personally carried back his gun, ammunition, and a severely wounded comrade who could not walk.

In the Second World War, Mohammed Hussain ran away from his home in Rawalpindi and volunteered for the British Indian Army at just 16. He went on to serve as a machine gunner at Monte Cassino – one of the war’s fiercest battles – before moving to the UK in 1960, where he dedicated himself to community service, supporting ex-servicemen and the families of former comrades until his death in 2025 at the age of 102.

Minister for Faith and Communities, Nesil Caliskan said: 

Our country is made up of a strong, diverse tapestry of different faith communities – and we owe that freedom to the bravery and sacrifice made by those who fought alongside us for a better future all those years ago. 

Muslim soldiers were a fundamental part of securing victory, but their story has been in the shadows for too long. This memorial will make sure their contribution stays in our memory now, and for generations to come.

The new memorial will also help to shine a light on the continued impact that Muslims make to British society – from politicians to athletes, and doctors to teachers, our Muslim communities continue to play a vital role in all aspects of our national life.

Beyond serving as a focal point for remembrance, the successful organisation will be expected to use the construction of the memorial as an educational resource to increase public awareness of this chapter of British military history, and encourage people of all backgrounds to reflect on the shared sacrifice that helped bring peace to the world.

The Muslim War Memorial complements the government’s wider Protecting What Matters strategy, which aims to build confident, strong communities and bring people of different faith backgrounds together.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Housing on 5 May 2026.

Government funding to tackle antisemitism and support Jewish communities.

• £1 million expansion of MHCLG’s Common Ground programme will support communities and places facing the greatest risk of antisemitism today
• Plus an additional £500,000 will be allocated immediately to Barnet Council, reflecting the recent serious antisemitic incidents in the borough, following their ask for government support
• Funding builds on the government’s commitment to work closely with Jewish communities to ensure actions work for them and drive real change on the ground

Jewish communities across England will receive a further £1 million of government funding to tackle antisemitism and strengthen community cohesion in those places facing the greatest risk.

An immediate £500,000 will also be allocated to Barnet Council, reflecting recent serious antisemitic incidents in the borough and the large number of Jewish residents there.

There has been an alarming rise in antisemitism both in this country and across much of the globe, including the horrific antisemitic terrorist attacks in Heaton Park and Bondi Beach last year, and an appalling spate of antisemitic attacks in North West London in recent weeks. 

To tackle this, the additional funding being announced today will expand MHCLG’s Common Ground programme – which is already providing more than £4 million to communities across the country.

The additional new government funding will power local efforts to counter antisemitism, support safer communities and respond to rising tensions in those towns and cities where our Jewish communities are most fearful and concerned.

The funding will help local people – especially those from Jewish communities and Jewish organisations who have been hit hardest recently – take rapid, visible action, ranging from community safety work and targeted youth and schools initiatives, to interfaith projects and programmes to challenge antisemitic narratives or hate crime.

The investment is in addition to the £25 million announced last week to boost police patrols, specialist officers, and protective security for Jewish communities – taking total funding to £58 million, as well as £7 million to tackle antisemitism in schools, colleges and universities.

Later today the Prime Minister will convene leaders from across society to call for everyone to play their part stamping out antisemitism.

Secretary of State for Housing and Communities said:

The horrific rise of antisemitism and anti-Jewish hatred in Britain and across the world is intolerable. I will not rest until Britain is a place where every Jewish person can live openly, safely and proudly.

Our Common Ground programme has already awarded millions of pounds into communities across the country, and today’s expansion of that programme builds on our commitment to tackle hate crime, promote integration and support communities most at risk.

While we know there is more to do, we believe that quickly channelling government funding directly to the communities and places facing the greatest risks today will help local partners to take early, practical action to keep people safe, strengthen communities and stand up to hate.

Under the expansion, councils, faith groups, schools, police, voluntary organisations and local people themselves – especially our Jewish communities – will work together to develop and deliver tailored local action which addresses the challenges they face in their own area today.

The funding forms one part a suite of measures from government to combat antisemitism across all corners of society, including the Protecting What Matters strategy which out plans to tackle extremism and antisemitism wherever it occurs.