Last updated: 29th January 2026
With housing legislation changes and regulatory updates expected across the board this year, from the Fire Safety (Residential Evacuation Plans) (England) Regulations 2025 and amendments to Approved Document B to phase two of Awaab’s Law and the Competence and Conduct Standard, 2026 is set to be a period of transition for landlords and housing providers.
For expert insights into the upcoming changes and to discover the answers to common questions from across the sector, catch up on our recent webinar, ‘Housing Insights for 2026: Looking Back and Moving Forward’.
With 2026 now in full force, it is crucial that you understand what is coming throughout the year and where to focus your priorities. This blog highlights the key updates expected this year, so you can put all key dates in your calendar, plan ahead, and stay compliant.
In this blog:
Phase one of Awaab’s Law came into force in October 2025, introducing strict time frames for addressing emergency hazards and damp and mould hazards that pose a significant risk of harm to residents. Phase two of the law, expected during 2026 with dates still to be confirmed, will extend these mandatory response times to a broader range of Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) hazards, including:
To find out more about your requirements under Awaab’s Law and how to stay compliant through 2026, download your free Housing Provider's Guide to Awaab's Law here.
Alongside this, in January 2026, the Government published its response on the reformed Decent Homes Standard consultation. The response confirms that it will apply consistently across both social housing and the private rented sector in England, with compliance expected from 2035. You can find out more about this update here.
A series of fire safety regulation changes will come into force this year in an important step forward in protecting residents and clarifying Responsible Persons’ (RPs) duties.
The Fire Safety (Residential Evacuation Plans) (England) Regulations 2025 are set to come into force on 6th April 2026. This new legislation will apply to residential buildings that are 18 metres, 7 storeys, or those that are 11 metres + using simultaneous evacuation.
These regulations aim to support residents who may struggle to evacuate without assistance. RPs must prepare evacuation plans for residents with disabilities or impairments and keep plans available. They introduce the requirement for Person-Centred Fire Risk Assessments (PCFRAs) and Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) to be implemented by the RP for all relevant residents.
From 30th September 2026, all new residential buildings above 18 metres will require:
Full details of these amendments can be found here.
These changes are being implemented in addition to the requirements for all new care homes to have a sprinkler system throughout the building, regardless of the building’s height, which came into force in March 2025.
These upcoming requirements aim to protect residents when evacuating a building in an emergency. While this is crucial, it is also important that you prioritise your fire compartmentation to prevent the spread of smoke and fire before emergency evacuation is needed.
Looking for support to ensure your fire compartmentation is effective and compliant? Download your FREE Guide to Effective Fire Compartmentation to gain assurance on whether your compartmentation is robust.
In October 2026, the Competence and Conduct Standard will come into force. This standard aims to introduce a national framework for promoting high standards and professionalism within the social housing sector by requiring people who deliver social housing services to have, or gain, specific qualifications related to their work.
From 1st October 2026, Registered Providers (RPs) must proactively publish information about the management of their homes under the Social Tenant Access to Information Requirements (STAIRs), forming part of the Regulator of Social Housing’s consumer standards.
Following this, from 1st April 2027, RPs must respond to their tenants' information requests within 30 days. It is important that you are reviewing the consultation and policy documents now, and considering how the STAIRs align with the Transparency, Influence and Accountability Standard, as their key aims and requirements are closely aligned in showing a commitment to transparency and empowering tenants to hold their landlords to account.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) are consulting on amending the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. Their regulatory and non-regulatory proposals are to:
Have your say on the consultation before the 9th January 2026 here.
The HSE is conducting Call for Evidence (CfE) to review the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER) and the Pressure Systems Safety Regulations (PSSR).
The aim of this is to establish a comprehensive evidence base to inform viable opportunities for simplifying and streamlining regulatory processes. The review will reflect the current industry landscape, anticipate future innovation, and maintain workplace health and safety standards.
The CfE is now closed, with updates expected soon.
New electrical safety requirements came into force for new tenancies in November 2025 and will come into force in May 2026 for existing ones. The following requirements will become law:
Find out more about the upcoming changes in our webinar, ‘Understanding Electrical Safety Requirements in Social Housing’, on-demand here.
From the second half of 2026, Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) ratings will be based on four metrics:
This is a change from just energy cost, as they are currently, and is intended to give a more accurate picture of building performance.
The Government has conducted a consultation on implementing a Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES) for the social rented sector at EPC band C or equivalent by 2030, set to be introduced in late 2026. It covers the following areas:
The changes coming into force in 2026 represent a significant step forward in improving safety, quality, and transparency across the social housing sector. By preparing now, landlords and housing providers can ensure residents live in safe, well-maintained homes and that their responsibilities are met effectively.
On 27th January 2026, the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) will officially separate from the Health and Safety Executive. This comes in response to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry's recommendations for a single construction regulator to reduce fragmentation and complexity in the way the built environment is regulated.
Additionally, towards the end of 2025, several announcements were made setting out upcoming changes to building safety regulations, highlighting the continued progress towards an overhaul of construction regulation in 2026. Two consultations are now planned:
Looking for support navigating these changes or adapting your practices to stay compliant? Reach out to get in touch with our experts who can provide tailored solutions to any of your compliance problems.