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.
Local authority interim duty to accommodate
1 September 2026
From 1 September 2026, a local authority has a duty to notify certain public bodies when a child is placed in interim accommodation. The authority must notify the child's school, GP and local health visiting services if it obtains permission.
View amended articleRent increases for assured tenants
24 August 2026
An assured tenant can apply to the First-tier Tribunal to challenge a rent increase. In Choudhury v Madej [2026] UKUT 302 (LC), the Upper Tribunal found that the First-tier Tribunal must explain why it rejected material evidence, such as comparable rent level evidence.
View amended articleLocal authority HHSRS enforcement
24 August 2026
A local authority can serve an improvement notice where there are hazards in accommodation under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System. The recipient can appeal to the First-tier Tribunal against an improvement notice. The Court of Appeal held that the First-tier Tribunal must consider the facts at the date the notice was served, not the facts at the appeal hearing date.
View amended articleFitness for habitation in rented homes
7 August 2026
A home is unfit for human habitation if it is defective to the point where it is not reasonably suitable for occupation. In Joseph Harvey & Anor v Polly Louise Heaver & Anor [2026] EWHC 1671 (KB), the High Court held that a property is unfit where the living conditions either present a risk to the occupier's health and safety, or have a sufficiently negative effect on the occupier's comfort and convenience.
View amended articleCrisis payments
24 July 2026
A crisis payment is a discretionary payment made by a local authority to someone on a low income facing a crisis or sudden financial shock. This new page covers the rules on crisis payments from local authorities, including when payments can be granted, what payments cover and who can apply.
View amended articleCourt and tribunal fees
13 July 2026
From 13 July 2026, the Ministry of Justice has increased certain court fees in line with inflation. This includes the fee to vary or set aside a judgment, or to suspend enforcement. This page has been updated with the new fees.
View amended articleRecovery of universal credit overpayments
26 June 2026
From 24 June 2026, the DWP can make a direct deduction order for universal credit and housing benefit overpayments. Where the claimant is not in receipt of benefits or it is not reasonably possible to recover through deductions from earnings, the DWP can make direct deductions from a person’s bank account to recover an overpayment.
View amended articleHHSRS definition of hazards
23 June 2026
The Housing Health and Safety Rating System (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 and updated Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) Enforcement and Operating Guidance came into force on 23 June 2026. The regulations condense the list of hazards under the HHSRS to 21 from 29 and reduce the number of hazard bands. Government guidance has been updated with new hazard descriptions and new guidance on fire safety assessments. This page has been updated with the updated hazard descriptions.
View amended articleLocal authority steps in personalised housing plans
2 June 2026
In AA, R (on the application of) v London Borough of Waltham Forest [2026] EWCA Civ 626, the Court of Appeal held that steps to secure social housing under Part 6 are not steps that an authority can include in a personalised housing plan. The authority did not act unlawfully by failing to include help with a social housing application in a personalised housing plan.
View amended article