Round up of housing law and news: October 2026
Legislation
Housing injunctions and youth injunctions replace injunctions to prevent nuisance or annoyance (IPNAs).
Antisocial behaviour injunctions
From 26 October 2026, relevant bodies, including housing providers, can apply for a housing injunction, youth injunction, or respect order to stop antisocial behaviour or housing related antisocial conduct. Housing injunctions and youth injunctions replace injunctions to prevent nuisance or annoyance (IPNAs).
The provisions have been brought into force by the Crime and Policing Act 2026 (Commencement No. 3 and Saving Provisions) Regulations 2026.
Crime and Policing Act 2026 (Commencement No. 3 and Saving Provisions) Regulations 2026
Find out more about antisocial behaviour injunctions on Shelter Legal.
Case law
The County Court orders a tenant to provide access for electrical checks.
Access injunctions
The County Court considered a landlord's application for an injunction requiring the tenant to grant access for electrical checks, following unsuccessful attempts to gain entry.
The court made a 'rolled-up' order requiring the tenant to provide access for the checks, and allowing the landlord to force entry if the tenant did not comply within two days.
News and guidance
Amendments to the Social Housing Bill, Awaab's law in the private rented sector and vaccines for rough sleepers.
Social Housing Bill amendments
The Social Housing Bill has entered the committee stage in the House of Lords. New amendments to the Bill intend to stop domestic abuse survivors having to prove abuse where a protection order is already in place.
Other amendments include:
changes to domestic abuse possession grounds, so courts can take action where there is a court order for domestic abuse in place
a new 'duty to collaborate', requiring public bodies to take steps to identify households of risk at homelessness and take action to prevent homelessness
a new 'duty to offer', requiring housing associations to offer suitable accommodation to homeless households referred by the local authority
plans to exempt veterans from local connection requirements for homeless applications
Domestic abusers face eviction as survivors gain housing rights
Awaab's law: private rented consultation
Awaab's law was introduced for social housing last year, setting deadlines for landlords to fix emergency hazards and significant damp and mould.
A government consultation is now open to look at how Awaab's law will be extended to the private rented sector. The consultation will be open until 18 December 2026.
Clampdown on dangerous homes to protect more tenants and families
Vaccines for rough sleepers
Thousands of people experiencing homelessness can get a free NHS vaccine from this week, offering protection from flu and pneumococcal disease.
NHS protects thousands of rough sleepers ahead of winter with vital vaccines
Government funding for legal support
The government's multi-million pound Legal Support Grant launched on 1 October. The programme will support 48 frontline organisations across England and Wales to deliver legal support. It runs until March 2029.
£16m legal lifeline for families facing eviction and hardship
Renters' Reform in England
This House of Commons Library research briefing looks at the implementation of the Renters' Rights Act 2025.
Renters’ reform in England: What’s happening and when?
Further funding for rough sleeping programme
The government announced a further £432 million funding to ensure that all rough sleepers will be offered a route off the streets before Christmas. The additional funding will extend support beyond March 2027 and through to the end of the Parliament.
Data and trends
Cost of living impact on living standards and shared ownership issues.
High inflation impact on living standards
The Resolution Foundation published a briefing note, examining the impact of five years of high inflation on living standards. Key findings include:
a real median non-pensioner income would have been £2,900 a year higher in 2026-27 in the absence of the cost of living crisis
households cut their gas and electricity use by 13 percent across 2022 and 2023
the proportion of poorer renters behind on rent was 22 percent, double the 2020 level
Resolution Foundation: Thirteen years' worth of inflation in the past five has left households £2,900 worse off
Shared owners
New research commissioned by the Leasehold Advisory Service (LEASE) looks into the issues experienced by shared owners. The report shows that shared owners contact LEASE with problems relating to:
staircasing, such as difficulties staircasing to larger shares or 100% ownership
resale restrictions and barriers when selling
rising rents on the landlord's retained share
Leasehold Advisory Service: New report highlights the complex challenges facing some shared owners
Domestic abuse victims seek safe accommodation
The Local Government Association published results from a survey to mark five years since local authorities took on new duties under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021.
The survey shows that, in 2025/26:
responding councils received an average of 410 presentations for safe accommodation, equivalent to more than one every day
the most commonly reported barrier to meeting local need was a lack of suitable accommodation for people with specific needs
refuge accommodation is available in nine out of 10 responding areas
Local Government Association: Councils receive more than one request a day from domestic abuse victims seeking safe accommodation as housing shortages hamper support
The monthly round up of legislation, cases, news and data from Housing Matters