R ( GRIFFITHS-FOWELL ) v BIRMINGHAM CITY COUNCIL ( 2026 ) EWCA 920 holds at para 109 that Section 193(6)(d) of the HOUSING ACT 1966 applies to a case where a person voluntarily ceases to occupy as his only or principal home accommodation which has been made available to him in accordance with Section 102, that is accommodation which is “ suitable “ for him. If the accommodation is UNSUITABLE then it has not been made available in accordance with Section 206 and the duty under Section 193 ( 2 ) is not discharged by virtue of Section 193 ( 6 ) ( d ).

R ( Howard de Walden Estates Ltd ) v Westminster City Council( 2026 ) EWHC 1731 ( Admin ) holds that designating an area for selective licensing under SECTION 80 of the HOUSING ACT 2004 by reference to ward boundaries was lawful. Every property in a designated area does not have to be inspected or benefit from improvement. It is sufficient that a significant number of properties be inspected and general housing conditions in the area as a whole be improved.

The SOCIAL HOUSING BILL aims  (1) to protect social housing stock, in particular by reforms to RIGHT TO BUY, and (2) to support social housing tenants who are VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE.

R ( Freedom from Torture) v SSHD (2026) EWHC 1278 ( Admin) holds that SSHD acted unlawfully by amending her allocation of ASYLUM ACCOMMODATION Policy without CONSULTING specialist Charities supporting SURVIVORS OF TORTURE & TRAFFICKING, contrary to established PRACTICE, and in breach of the PSED and the Tameside duty of inquiry.

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.

A 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.

CLO 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.

A 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.

The 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.

ZAMAN 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.