Round up of housing law and news: August 2025
Renters' Rights Bill
The Renters' Rights Bill has been brought forward by the government to introduce major private rented sector reforms, including abolishing section 21 and assured shorthold tenancies.
The Bill is progressing through Parliament and is expected to become law in early 2026.
Track the progress of the bill
Track the progress of the bill and read the latest version on the UK Parliament site.
Case law
Mandatory order, deposit prescribed information, definition of stepchild for succession.
Temporary accommodation transfer list not discriminatory
A homeless applicant was owed the main housing duty and in unsuitable temporary accommodation. The local authority placed her name on a database it used to manage transfers for applicants in unsuitable accommodation.
The Court of Appeal upheld that the authority's use of the database did not discriminate against women. While single parent households were the largest group in unsuitable accommodation, the court held this in part reflected the demographic of applicants owed the housing duty.
Mandatory order to provide temporary accommodation
The County Court issued a mandatory order requiring the local authority to provide temporary accommodation to a homeless applicant pending the outcome of a section 204 appeal.
The Court found that the authority had failed to properly consider the Mohammed test, including the new fact that the applicant needs a machine to help her breathe at night. The Court held that refusing the house the applicant would prejudice her ability to pursue the appeal.
Reported on Nearly Legal, 3 August 2025: PB v Royal Borough of Kensington v Chelsea
Old email address on deposit prescribed information
A landlord moved a tenant's deposit from one scheme to another and served the tenant with new prescribed information. The prescribed information referred to the tenant's old email address. The tenant argued that she had not received compliant prescribed information and the section 21 notice was invalid.
The County Court held that the landlord had provided information substantially to the same effect as the prescribed information because it included other contact information such as the tenant's correct telephone number. The email error did not invalidate the section 21 notice.
The court also held that a deposit transfer gives rise to a new obligation to provide the prescribed information.
Ameera Macintyre v Cowdray Trust Limited and Rathbones Trust Company Limited [2025] EWCC 54
Disrepair pre-action protocol breaches
In two joined cases, the County Court dismissed a landlord's attempt to strike out a disrepair claim or exclude the tenants' expert evidence, despite breaches of the pre-action protocol.
The court found that the tenants had instructed experts prematurely. The failure to comply with the pre-action protocol led to cost penalties but did not prevent the claims proceedings.
Lancastle v Curo Group (Albion) Limited [2025] EWCC 48
Definition of stepchild for tenancy succession
In a case involving a local authority's discretionary succession policy, the Court of Appeal held that a 'stepchild' refers only to the child of a spouse or civil partner. The court held that excluding children of unmarried couples from the policy is proportionate.
Haneen Abdelrahman v The Mayor and Burgesses of the London Borough of Islington [2025] EWCA Civ 1038
News and guidance
Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman complaint handling code.
Ombudsman complaint handling code
The government urged local authorities to voluntarily adopt the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman's complaint handling code. It rejected making the code mandatory, emphasising that authorities should set their own policies while considering the code.
Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman: Triennial Review
Data and trends
Children in temporary accommodation, energy performance certificates, section 21 possession.
Children in temporary accommodation
A report from New Economics Foundation explores the impact of temporary accommodation on children's wellbeing, with a focus on London, using Southwark as a case study. The data showed that:
over 160,000 children in England currently live in temporary accommodation
Southwark saw a 77% increase in children in temporary accommodation between 2020 and 2024
at least 74 children died in temporary accommodation settings in the past year
The report highlights systemic issues, including housing shortages, under-resourcing, and fragmented services. Recommendations include better inter-agency communication, dedicated temporary accommodation family support coordinators, and rigorous suitability assessments.
New Economics Foundation: Nowhere to grow, The hidden harm of temporary accommodation on children
Nearly half a million homes received an EPC in three months
The government issued energy performance certificate (EPC) statistics. The data shows that, between April and June 2025:
495,000 domestic EPCs were lodged, a 21% rise on the same quarter in 2024
EPCs for new homes fell to 52,000, down 2% year-on-year, while existing homes saw a 24% increase
88% of new homes received an A or B energy rating, up slightly from 87% a year earlier
Gov.uk: Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) statistics: April to June 2025
Nearly 1,000 households at risk of eviction every month
The government issued mortgage and landlord possession statistics for the latest quarter. The data shows that:
11,400 households were evicted via no fault section 21 notices between July 2024 and June 2025, up 8% from the previous year
nearly 1,000 households are put at risk of eviction each month
Gov.uk: Mortgage and landlord possession statistics: April to June 2025
Stay up to date with the Renters' Rights Bill
August round up
Renters' Rights Act
Renters' Rights Act
The monthly round up of legislation, cases, news and data from Housing Matters