A SOCIAL HOUSING BILL was introduced on 14 May 2026. Part 1 relates to RIGHT TO BUY, and Part 2 to protection of tenants from domestic abuse.
SOCIAL HOUSING : PERSONAL PLAN
May 21st, 2026 by James Goudie KC in HousingA LHA’s Personal Plan under Part 7 of HA 1996 for a HOMELESS applicant should NOT contain steps relating to the ALLOCATION of social housing under Part 7 of the Act. So held in R (AA) v WALTHAM FOREST LBC (2026) EWCA Civ 626.
HOUSING BENEFIT
May 21st, 2026 by James Goudie KC in HousingCLO v BOLSOVER DC ( 2026 ) UKUT 166 (AAC) holds that when considering whether a payment falls within Regulation 12(1) of the Housing Benefit regulations 2006 there is NO MATERIAL DISTINCTION between payments made between TENANTS IN COMMON and payments between joint tenants.
SOCIAL HOUSING : PERSONAL PLAN
May 21st, 2026 by James Goudie KC in HousingA LHA’s Personal Plan under Part 7 of HA 1996 for a HOMELESS applicant should NOT contain steps relating to the ALLOCATION of social housing under Part 7 of the Act.
BUILDING SAFETY
May 18th, 2026 by James Goudie KC in HousingThe Building Safety ( Wales ) Act 2026 has been enacted. Part 1 relates to safety of buildings containing 2 or more residential units, Part 2 to fire safety in certain houses in multiple occupation, Part 3 to enforcement and investigatory powers, and Part 4 to remediation of certain defects.
MEANING OF “ HOUSE “
May 12th, 2026 by James Goudie KC in HousingZAMAN v LEEDS CITY COUNCIL (2026) UKUT 180 (LC) is concerned with financial penalties for failure to licence four flats in a converted building. The Tribunal holds that the fact a building is a HOUSE IN MULTIPLE OCCUPATION within the meaning of Section 254 of the Housing Act 2004 does not prevent each of the dwellings in the building from being treated as a “ house” for the purposes of the SELECTIVE LICENSING SCHEME in PART 3 of that Act.
BUILDING SAFETY
April 28th, 2026 by James Goudie KC in HousingThe Building Safety ( Wales ) Bill has received Royal assent. It makes provision for the safety of people (1) in or about buildings containing 2 or more residential units and (2) in or about certain houses in multiple occupation.
HOMELESSNESS
April 22nd, 2026 by James Goudie KC in HousingA House of Commons Committee Report published on 22 April 2026 warns that homeless households are still placed in poor and unsafe temporary accommodation. The Report makes various Recommendations.
HOMELESSNESS AND SOCIAL HOUSING ALLOCATION
April 13th, 2026 by James Goudie KC in HousingThe Homelessness and Social Housing Allocation ( Wales ) Act 2026, to reform the law on support to prevent and end homelessness, and to reform the law about the allocation of social housing, has been enacted by Senned Cymru.
FIRE SAFETY
March 26th, 2026 by James Goudie KC in HousingThe HEALTH & SAFETY EXECUTIVE has on 25 March 2026 published a CONSULTATION document, seeking views pn proposed changes to STATUTORY FIRE SAFETY GUIDANCE, (1) updating external wall guidance, and (2) recommending new provision of evacuation lifts.