The Building Regulations etc (Amendment) (England) (No 2) Regulations 2021 (SI 2021/1392) were laid before Parliament on 15 December 2021 and come into force on 15 June 2022.

On the 9 September 2021 the Environment Act 2021 became law and includes provisions to establish a set of statutory environmental principles and ensure environmental governance through an environmental watchdog, the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP). It also includes environmental provisions relating to waste, air, water and biodiversity.

As we move into the school holidays, we are seeing an increase in instructions for removing unauthorised encampments from land. Given the lack of affordable housing, traveller sites and, now, holiday accommodation in hot spot areas, we expect to see a big rise in unauthorised encampments across popular visitor sites.

Housing Minister Rt Hon Christopher Pincher has announced that a new National Model Design Code (NMDC) is being tested to make sure new developments are well-designed, fit in with local character and are locally-led.

The proposed design of a new tax on the largest residential property developers set to raise at least £2 billion to help contribute to the cost of cladding remediation work was announced by the government. Ministers announced the new tax in February as part of a £5 billion package of remediation of unsafe cladding on high-rise residential buildings, alongside wider support.

For many homebuyers, the idea of building your own home may seem an unrealistic prospect. Difficulties obtaining mortgage finance and a lack of funds for upfront costs mean that perhaps in the past this has been an option limited to wealthier buyers.

Mediation is a form of Alternative Dispute Resolution (‘ADR’) where an independent person, the mediator, helps both sides of a dispute come to an agreement. 

With Homes England opening bidding for new strategic partnerships as part of the Government’s Affordable Homes Programme (2021-2026), it is a pivotal time for affordable housing providers planning their development programmes for the next 5 years. Bidders have until noon on 18 May 2021 to submit their proposal online.

Stephen Burtchaell, head of our Affordable Housing team, gives an update on the latest Housing laws.

With the stay in possession proceedings ending on 24 August 2020 there is renewed uncertainty for the future.

Rural communities have felt the impact of Coronavirus and lockdown often more dramatically than more urbanised areas. With local businesses being the main focus point for employment and community, the loss of income and closing of them has hit local people the hardest.

Nearly two decades after the technology was approved in legislation, HM Land Registry has revealed plans to accept digital signatures to execute deeds.