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.
Disrepair and safety responsibilities
27 October 2025
Awaab's law has introduced new duties for social landlords to deal with certain hazards within fixed timescales. This and related pages have been updated with references to The Hazards in Social Housing (Prescribed Requirements) (England) Regulations 2025/1042.
View amended articleHazards in social housing
27 October 2025
This new page explains the social landlord duties to investigate and make safe emergency hazards and significant damp and mould hazards within fixed timeframes under Awaab's law. It includes information about when a landlord must undertake preventative work, when alternative accommodation must be offered, and what enforcement steps can be taken by the tenant.
View amended articlePeople who are excluded from claiming housing benefit
23 October 2025
This page has been updated to reflect an amendment to the housing benefit regulations. From 21 October 2025, a housing benefit authority will not regard a claimant as a person from abroad or consider if they are habitually resident in the UK if they are already claiming universal credit. Regulation 10(3B)(k) Housing Benefit Regulations 2006 was amended by the Housing Benefit (Habitual Residence) (Amendment) Regulations 2025.
View amended articleTenants rights to remain when a fixed term AST expires
8 October 2025
This page has been updated. In Constantine v Bird [2025] UKUT 258 (LC), the Upper Tribunal confirmed that where a tenancy agreement provides for a right of renewal of a fixed term tenancy by the tenant, it is only effective for one renewal unless the contract states in unequivocal terms that the tenant can exercise this right to renew the tenancy multiple times.
View amended articleStatutory rules for rent increases for assured tenants
8 October 2025
Updated page to add Upper tribunal case of Deepak Shah & Anor v Julian Thomas & Anor [2025] UKUT 263 (LC). The upper tribunal found that where the first Tier tribunal wishes to exercise its power to delay a rent increase due to undue hardship, it must make a finding of undue hardship based on the evidence put before it. It cannot delay the rent increase "just in case" it might cause undue hardship to the tenant.
View amended articleRent lawfully due from the tenant
29 August 2025
This page has been updated. It covers what rent is lawfully due from the tenant, who is liable for paying rent, guarantor agreements and high or low rents.
View amended articleDeductions from universal credit for rent arrears
27 August 2025
This new page explains when the DWP can deduct an amount from a claimant's universal credit standard allowance to pay rent arrears or eligible service charge debts and what happens when a claimant has multiple deductions.
View amended articleCouncil tax disability reductions
27 August 2025
This new page explains when a local authority must reduce a council tax bill on a dwelling where a disabled person is resident and the property has certain features or adaptations. This page was produced in partnership with Shelter's Specialist Debt Advice Service.
View amended articleCouncil tax discounts
27 August 2025
This new page explains when a local authority must apply a discount to a council tax bill when there are less than two people who are classed as residing in the dwelling. This page was produced in partnership with Shelter's Specialist Debt Advice Service.
View amended articleDeductions from universal credit for fuel
27 August 2025
This new page explains when the DWP can deduct an amount from a claimant's universal credit standard allowance to make payments to an energy supplier towards a fuel debt.
View amended article