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What's new on Shelter Legal

The pages on Shelter Legal are updated regularly to reflect changes in the law.

This page lists the most recent updates to Shelter Legal.

  • People who qualify for local authority housing

    10 July 2025

    From 10 July 2025, some domestic abuse survivors and care leavers under 25 are exempt from local connection or residence requirements in a local authority's allocation scheme. The Allocation of Housing (Qualification Criteria for Victims of Domestic Abuse and Care Leavers) (England) Regulations 2025 amend the rules on qualifying persons in section 160ZA of the Housing Act 1996.

    View amended article
  • Preventing enforcement of a charging order

    27 June 2025

    This new page explains how a debtor can apply to attach conditions to a charging order at the application stage or by an application to vary an existing charging order to prevent enforcement by sale of the property. This page was produced in partnership with Shelter's Specialist Debt Advice Service.

    View amended article
  • Deductions from universal credit for non-dependants

    26 June 2025

    Amended to update the rate of housing cost contributions to the current rate for 2025/26 of £93.02.

    View amended article
  • Deductions from universal credit for debts

    26 June 2025

    This page has been amended to reflect changes to DWP policy introduced by the Autumn 2024 budget limiting most deductions to a total of 15% of the standard allowance, as well as to make several clarification regarding the right to appeal the decision to make a deduction. In Roberts v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2025] EWHC 51 (Admin), the High Court held that where the DWP is minded to make a deduction from the standard allowance to pay a rent arrears debt to a third party the claimant's consent is not required, but the DWP must notify the claimant and give them the opportunity to make representations before making the payments.

    View amended article
  • Rent repayment orders

    26 June 2025

    In Pearton v Betterton Duplex Limited [2025] UKUT 175 (LC), the Upper Tribunal held that that a rent repayment order could not include rent paid before the offence was committed. The tenants were unable to reclaim rent as their only payment was six months' rent in advance at the start of the tenancy, before the relevant offence.

    View amended article
  • Location and suitability of accommodation for homeless applicants

    17 June 2025

    Between 1 June 2022 and 1 June 2025, a local authority needed to consider different rules for the suitability of accommodation when the applicant made a homelessness application within two years of their arrival to the UK. These rules no longer apply as article 5 of the Homelessness (Suitability of Accommodation) (Amendment) (England) Order 2022/521 expired on 1 June 2025.

    View amended article
  • Housing rights of people resettled in the UK from Afghanistan

    9 May 2025

    This page has been updated to reflect the government's new guidance on the Afghan Resettlement Programme (ARP) including information on transitional accommodation. The ARP came into effect on 1 March 2025.

    View amended article
  • Council tax enforcement

    30 April 2025

    This page has been updated with information on council tax enforcement complaints, including links to the new practical guide for advisers to making an effective council tax complaint.

    View amended article
  • Complaints to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman

    30 April 2025

    This page has been updated with information about council tax complaints, including when a complainant should direct a complaint about enforcement agents to the Enforcement Conduct Board.

    View amended article