Significant Housing Law Reforms on the Horizon in England

England is preparing for a major transformation in housing legislation, following the announcement of three key bills in the Queen’s Speech: the Renters Reform Bill, Social Housing Regulation Bill, and Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill. Together, these legislative proposals aim to enhance tenant protections, improve housing quality, and streamline planning and development processes across the country.

The Renters Reform Bill proposes to abolish Section 21 of the Housing Act 1988, effectively ending so-called ‘no fault’ evictions. This reform is set to provide greater security for tenants in the private rented sector. The bill also introduces a legally binding Decent Homes Standard, a new ombudsman to handle disputes, and a national property portal to improve transparency and access to information for renters and landlords alike.

For the social housing sector, the Social Housing Regulation Bill is designed to improve accountability and empower tenants. The Regulator of Social Housing will be granted the authority to conduct inspections with just 48 hours’ notice and order emergency repairs where necessary. Additionally, landlords may face unlimited fines for failing to meet required standards, while new tenant satisfaction measures and greater rights to information will promote transparency and performance benchmarking.

The Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill aims to modernise the planning system and support community development. A key component is the introduction of a new Infrastructure Levy to replace Section 106 agreements, intended to ensure fairer and more predictable contributions from developers. The bill also includes enhanced powers to modify planning permissions, helping to accelerate housing delivery while maintaining oversight.

Beyond these three bills, the government has reaffirmed its commitment to continued leasehold reform. Future measures are expected to simplify lease extensions, increase transparency in service charges, and strengthen enfranchisement rights for leaseholders, building on the momentum of the Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Act 2022.

Collectively, these reforms represent a substantial shift in England’s housing policy framework. If enacted, they will reshape landlord-tenant relations, raise housing standards, and create a more responsive and transparent housing system for all stakeholders.