SEPTEMBER 2025: A summary of the latest UK Government policy changes and news.

1. Awaab’s Law comes into force next month (applicable to Registered Providers only)

Awaab’s Law marks a significant shift in how damp and mould issues are managed in social housing.

It introduces stricter responsibilities for landlords and empowers tenants to demand safer living conditions. The law will come into effect on 27 October 2025 as part of the broader reforms under the Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023, which aims to improve the quality of social housing and strengthen tenants’ rights.

Key provisions of Awaab’s Law include:

  • Investigation: Landlords must investigate hazards within 14 calendar days of being notified.
  • Commencement of repairs: If a hazard poses a significant risk to health or safety, repairs must begin within 7 calendar days of the investigation report.
  • Completion of repairs: Repairs must be completed within a “reasonable time period”, depending on the circumstances.
  • Emergency repairs: Any emergency repairs must be completed within 24 hours.
  • Alternative accommodation: If repairs cannot be completed within the required timeframe and the hazard poses a significant risk, landlords must provide alternative accommodation for tenants.

These measures replace the previous guidance, which only required hazards to be fixed within a “reasonable time frame.”

  • The latest government publication on Awaab’s Law – the draft guidance for social landlords – is available here.
  • The legislation – The Hazards in Social Housing (Prescribed Requirements) (England) Regulations 2025 (or Awaab’s Law) can be found here.

2. Revitalising Trusts Programme

The Revitalising Trusts Programme was set up in 2018 to help charities that are classed as inactive or ineffective. Eligibility is based on the following classifications of inactive or ineffective:

  • Inactive – a charity that has either not submitted its Annual Return for 5 years or they have reported nil income and nil expenditure for 5 years
  • Ineffective – a charity that is up to date with Annual Return submissions but has spent less than 30% of its combined income over the last 5 years

There might be several reasons why charities find themselves in the above categories, such as:

  • struggling to find new trustees
  • struggling to identify suitable beneficiaries
  • struggling to spend income in furtherance of the objects
  • struggling to find time to run the charity
  • struggling to access funds in the charity’s bank account

From 4 September, The Programme will be proactively contacting charities. If you have not received an email or letter but feel your charity is struggling, please contact the Revitalising Trusts Programme as they may be able to help at: RevitalisingTrusts@charitycommission.gov.uk

3. Winter Fuel Payments – Information and Scam Awareness

On 9 June 2025, the Government announced that they are reinstating the Winter Fuel Payment for everyone over the State Pension age in England and Wales.

Residents with an income of, or below, ÂŁ35,000 a year will get the Winter Fuel Payment this winter, and do not need to submit anything to receive the payment. The payment of ÂŁ200 per household, or ÂŁ300 per household (where there is someone over the age of 80), will be made automatically to help with heating bills this winter.

However, there are reports of people being contacted regarding the upcoming Winter Fuel Payment. This is a scam!

Scammers are offering to help setup the Winter Fuel Payment and asking pensioners for their bank details. The government has confirmed that eligible residents do not need to do anything regarding the receipt of Winter Fuel Payments. These will be made automatically. Please do make your residents aware that noone will contact them directly. You can report suspicious texts at stopthinkfraud.campaign.gov.uk.

– Visit the UK Government website to learn more about eligibility and view the timetable of payments this winter.

4. Consultations

There have been several consultations that The Almshouse Association has responded to, with several more on the horizon.

  • Improving the Energy Efficiency of Socially Rented Homes in England – This consultation sought views on the implementation of new Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) for the social rented sector at Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) Band C or equivalent by 2030. It covered the following areas: setting a Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard, addressing Implementation Issues and longer-term Decarbonisation and Net Zero plans.

The Almshouse Association response is here.

The Almshouse Association response is here.

  • Modernising and improving the administration of council tax – This consultation was 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.

The Almshouse Association response is here.

posted 18 September 2025