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Fact sheet: Housing Health and Safety Rating System Regulations 2026
The 2026 Regulations, which came into force on 23 June 2026, amend the prescribed method for assessing the seriousness of hazards in housing and the prescribed hazard descriptions to make them easier to understand and apply. Local authorities can take enforcement action where a Category 1 hazard exists and are given discretion to act where a Category 2 hazard exists.
Rent guarantor: the importance of consumer choice
As the dust settles following the implementation of the Renters’ Rights Act, lettings agencies are finding alternative ways to mitigate uncertainty and financial risk for landlords. A range of services are growing in popularity that replace traditional, abolished methods like rent in advance, not least professional rent guarantor provision. This service offers reassurance for good tenants who can afford the rent but don’t quite meet the right criteria on paper, including students, self-employed people or those on benefits, or retirees.
Property identifiers will improve the accuracy of sales data
HM Land Registry will add property and spatial identifiers to its monthly Price Paid Data from 28 August 2026, helping estate agents provide more reliable information to buyers and sellers. Unique Property Reference Numbers (UPRNs) and INSPIRE IDs will be available in separate lookup tables alongside the dataset. The change will make it easier to connect sale prices with other property, address, and location data.
Clear and workable outcomes for property are needed from family law reform
Major changes to the financial rights of married and cohabiting couples when relationships end are being considered by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). Proposed reforms cover divorce and dissolution, cohabitants who separate, and inheritance when an unmarried partner dies without a will. A clearer framework is welcome, but courts must consider housing needs, individual circumstances, and each person’s contribution.