JULY 2025: A summary of the latest UK Government policy news.

At last month’s spending review, social housing was firmly on the agenda. Whilst many details are still yet to be published, there have been some announcements:

  • Matthew Pennycook (Minister of State for Housing and Planning) published a letter to all social housing providers after the review, which detailed the main elements of the investment strategy for social and affordable housing. This included grant funding, rent settlements, building safety, the warm homes standard, homelessness and housing quality.
  • Over 500,000 homes to be built through new National Housing Bank which will reportedly unlock ÂŁ53 billion of additional private funding to help unlock a range of housing development sites.

A consultation is now available on Modernising and improving the administration of council tax.

  • It which seeks views on the administration of council tax, including how council tax is billed and how payments are collected and enforced.
  • It is focused on the administration of council tax and sets out the government’s proposals to make changes to council tax billing, modernising council tax disregards, reviewing the process for collecting council tax and the fees involved.
  • Deadline 12 September 2025.

The Government was seeking views on extending the Warm Home Discount scheme 2025 to 2026 to all recipients of means-tested benefits.

New draft guidance for social landlords has now been published.

  • This has been produced to help social landlords understand and navigate their responsibilities in relation to Awaab’s Law.
  • The guidance also provides examples of how Awaab’s law may apply in particular cases.
  • NOTE: This guidance is still in the draft stages, and MHCLG intend to continue to consult on Awaab’s Law ahead of its implementation in October 2025.

NOTE: The above items are currently in the planning/review stages and are detailed for your information. As and when they come into force, The Almshouse Association will advise members and confirm what applies by law to all almshouse charities and what applies to registered providers.

The HACT Fuel Fund distributes pre-payment meter fuel vouchers to social housing tenants via social housing organisations and charities.

  • Households will be eligible for up to six vouchers, each to the value of ÂŁ49.  
  • The support will be available until the end of December 2025.
  • This fund is open to housing associations, local authorities and charitable organisations who wish to register as referral partners and refer their residents for fuel vouchers.

Please note, the fund is strictly available to housing tenants, and supporting evidence must be provided with each application to verify eligibility.

To participate as a referral partner for this funding, you need to: