We have a huge crisis in many of our housing markets, but we want a housing system that works for everyone.
CIH’s foundation as a social purpose organisation provides opportunities for us to challenge thinking and decisions, in a constructive and evidence-based manner.
What we do
- Publish research and briefings on important housing issues, including the annual statistical publication UK Housing Review
- Work closely with senior policy makers in all parts of the UK to shape the housing agenda
- Strive to improve the media’s coverage of housing issues and inform the public
- Draw on the expertise and opinions of our members to shape our views, arguments and priorities.
Get in touch
If you've got a question for the policy team, you can send us an email to policyandpractice@cih.org and a member of the team will get back to you shortly. You can also follow us on Bluesky and LinkedIn for all the latest CIH policy updates.
The UK Housing Review
Published annually, The UK Housing Review brings together the most important housing statistics for England (and its regions), Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, alongside analysis and commentary on the most topical and pressing housing issues.
A crucial resource for housing professionals, leaders, learners and policymakers across the UK's public and private housing sectors. It's now a free resource available to download.
England policy developments summary tracker
This tracker aims to highlight recent and ongoing headline policy and legislative changes in England, relevant to the housing sector.
CIH’s responses and further updates can be found on our latest news and publications section. For further information or feedback into our responses, please contact policyandpractice@cih.org.
Last updated 7 April 2026
Announcements, consultations and inquiries
Consultation closed March 2024
| Item | Policy area | Timeline | Further information |
| Autumn Budget 2025 | All | Deadline: 26 November 2025 | Member briefing CIH reaction CIH submission |
| Government strategies: Long-term housing strategy Homelessness strategy Child poverty strategy Violence against women and girls strategy |
All | Long-term housing strategy: waiting on an update Homelessness strategy: published 11 Dec 2025 Member briefing CIH reaction Child poverty strategy: published 5 Dec 2025 CIH reaction Violence against women and girls strategy: published 18 Dec 2025 CIH reaction See specific updates on these announcements for migrants in our Housing Rights newsletter |
|
| Social and Affordable Homes Programme | Development | Bids open 24 February and close 15 April 2026 | Announced at Spending Review - June 2025 Prospectuses launched - November 2025: Homes England Greater London Authority Member briefing Homes England guidance |
| National Housing Bank | Finance | Opened 1 April 2026 | |
| Future Homes Standard | Sustainability Development |
Government response published 24 March 2026 CIH member briefing |
|
| Local government reorganisation | All | Government information and timeline Government updates on areas for LGR published 25 March 2026 |
|
| Warm homes plan Fuel poverty strategy Private rented sector (PRS) minimum energy efficiency standards (MEES) Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) reform |
Sustainability | Warm Homes Plan: published 21 January 2026 Member briefing Fuel poverty strategy: published 21 January 2026 Government consultation response and decision: published 21 January 2026. Partial government consultation response and decision: published 21 January 2026. |
|
| Housing conditions in England inquiry | All | Closed: 15 August 2025 | Committee inquiry report: published 9 February 2026 CIH reaction to report
|
| How to implement Social Rent convergence consultation | Finance | Closed: 27 August 2025 Decision announced 28 January 2026 |
MHCLG consultation CIH/Savills analysis CIH response MHCLG January 2026 decision and CIH response |
| Consultation on a reformed Decent Homes Standard for social and privately rented homes | Asset management | Closed: 10 September 2025 Decision announced 28 January 2026
|
MHCLG January 2026 policy statement and CIH response. Member briefing guide |
| Improving the Energy Efficiency of Socially Rented Homes in England (MEES) consultation | Sustainability Asset management |
Closed: 10 September 2025 Partial decision announced 28 January 2026 Full decision announced 1 April 2026 |
Member WYNTK briefing guide (initial consultation) CIH response MHCLG and DESNEZ consultation outcome |
| New Towns | All | Task Force report and initial government response: 28 September 2025 Consultation closes 19 May 2026 |
Task Force report Initial government response Government updates on locations published 23 March 2026 CIH response New Towns Draft Programme consultation |
| Support for housebuilding in London | Planning and development | Closed: 22 January 2026 | CIH response to GLA consultation Confirmed measures published 25 March 2026 |
| Fair pay agreement in adult social care | Health and housing Supported housing |
Deadline: 16 January | |
| Casey Commission | Housing and social care | Open Commission under 2 phases, final reporting phase by 2028 |
|
| National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the planning system | Planning and development | Closed: 10 March 2026 | |
| Design and Placemaking Planning Practice Guidance consultation (accompanying NPPF) | MHCLG Consultation on design and placemaking guidance | ||
| RICS residential stock condition survey code of practice consultation | Asset management | Closed: 26 January 2026 | Consultation CIH response |
| Exploring the role of alternative clean heating solutions | Sustainability | Closed: 10 February 2026 | Consultation |
| Single construction regulator prospectus | Development Building safety |
Closed: 20 March 2026 | |
| Housing disrepair claims call for evidence | Asset management | Closed: 12 February 2026 | MHCLG and MoJ call for evidence CIH response |
| Enhanced protections for homeowners on freehold estates Reducing the prevalence of private estate management arrangements |
Leasehold Home ownership |
Closed: 12 March 2026 | MHCLG consultation: Enhanced protections for homeowners on freehold estates MHCLG consultation: Reducing the prevalence of private estate management arrangements |
| Older Persons Taskforce | All | Taskforce report – 26 November 2024 Waiting on government response |
|
| Census 2031 topic consultation | Statistics | Closed: 4 February 2026 | |
| Heat Network Technical Assurance Scheme (HNTAS) consultation | Sustainability | Deadline: 15 April 2026 | DESNZ consultation |
| Home Energy Model (HEM) consultation | Sustainability | Closed: 18 March 2026 | MHCLG and DESNZ consultation |
| Review of Approved Document B: Fire safety guidance | Building safety | Deadline: 17 June 2026 | Consultation |
| Improving proportionality and building safety outcomes in building control: categorisation of higher-risk building work | Building safety | Deadline: 28 May 2026 | Consultation |
| Construction Products Reform White Paper | Building safety Development |
Deadline: 20 May 2026 | Consultation |
| Fire risk assessors profession | Building safety | Deadline: 18 June 2026 | Consultation |
| Planning committee reform | Planning Development |
Planning committee reform: draft regulations and guidance consultation closes 23 April 2026 | Planning committee reform: draft regulations and guidance:
Reform of planning committees: technical consultation:
|
| Warm Homes Fund: call for evidence | Sustainability | Deadline: 1 June 2026 | Call for evidence |
| Exploring the role of alternative clean heating solutions | Sustainability | Closed | |
| Family Returns: Reforming Asylum Support and Enforcing Family Returns | Asylum support | Deadline: 28 May 2026 | Consultation |
| Social Housing Tenure Standard: Direction to the Regulator of Social Housing | All | Deadline: 28 May 2026 | Consultation |
Legislation and regulation
| Item | Policy area | Timeline | Further information |
| Awaab’s Law | Asset management | Phase one of implementation began 27 October 2025. Following phases in 2026 and 2027. |
|
| Renters’ Rights Act | Leasehold Private rented sector |
Royal Assent received on 27 October 2025 Part 1 commencement for private landlords: 1 May 2026 |
|
| Planning and Infrastructure Act | Planning Development |
Royal Assent on 18 December 2025 |
CIH written evidence (House of Commons committee stage) |
| English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill | Local authority Devolution |
Introduced 10 July 2025 | Currently in the House of Lords Bill and tracker Bill guidance CIH updated member briefing to be published shortly |
| Leasehold and Commonhold Bill – Draft Bill | Leasehold Home ownership |
Draft Bill and policy statement published 27 January 2026 |
White paper |
| Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 | Leasehold | Consultation was expected in summer 2025. This has been delayed due to legal challenges. | Waiting on an update following legal appeal process |
| Competence & Conduct Standard | Professionalism | Commences October 2026 Direction to the Regulator, policy statement, impact statement and government response published September 2025 Competence and Conduct included in the RSH consultation on a revised Transparency, Influence and Accountability Standard published 9 December 2025 and response deadline 3 March 2026. |
CIH website - Knowledge Hub |
| Social tenants access to information (STAIRs) | All | Consultation closed 2024 Commencement in two phases: October 2026 and April 2027 Included in the RSH consultation on a revised Transparency, Influence and Accountability Standard published 9 December 2025 and closed 3 March 2026. Housing Ombudsman’s consultation on its role in STAIRS complaints: Closed: 17 March 2026 |
Initial consultation CIH response to the RSH consultation |
| Electrical safety standards guidance | Asset management | Regulations were updated in 2025 to include the social housing sector Guidance published 1 November 2025 RSH consultation on a revised TSM Direction to include electrical safety published 9 December 2025 and closed 3 March 2026 - [BS06] [Electrical safety checks] |
|
| Draft revised HHSRS operating and enforcement guidance (Section Nine of the Housing Act 2004) | Asset management | Government confirmed implementation of the review of HHSRS: waiting on an update | |
| Residential PEEPS | Building safety Asset management |
Regulations laid on 4 July 2025. Final guidance published 2 December 2025 Will come into force 6 April 2026 |
MHCLG guidance Member briefing
|
| Building safety regulator - establishment of new body and transfer of functions | Building safety Asset management Planning and development |
Regulations laid November 2025. In force from 27 January 2026. |
The Building Safety Regulator (Establishment of New Body and Transfer of Functions etc.) Regulations 2026 - Transfer of BSR functions from the Health and Safety Executive to a newly established statutory body. |
| Building Safety Levy (England) Regulations 2025 | Building safety Planning and development |
Regulations laid November 2025. In force from 1 October 2026. |
Building Safety Levy (England) Regulations 2025 |
| Approved Document B – removal of national fire test classifications (BS 476 references) | Building safety | In force 2 March 2025 – then September 30, 2026 Amendments booklet for second stair provisions in residential buildings over 18m - then takes effect 2 September 2029 (following transition period) Consultation launched on the Review of Approved Document B: Fire safety guidance on 25 March 2026, closing 17 June 2026 |
Approved Document B Consultation on the Review of Approved Document B: Fire safety guidance |
| Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023 | Supported housing | Received Royal Assent 29 June 2023 Consultation closed 15 May 2025 |
Full Act Guidance for local supported housing strategies: published 10 February CIH reaction to local supported housing strategies |
Rooted in Resilience - CIH presidential campaign
Rooted in Resilience is a CIH presidential campaign, by Julie Haydon.
In housing today, resilience isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity. With pressures mounting across every corner of the sector, housing professionals are navigating one of the most demanding periods in recent history. Yet in the face of challenge, we continue to show something extraordinary, courage, compassion and an unwavering commitment to the people and communities we serve.
That spirit is at the heart of Julie Haydon’s presidential campaign: Rooted in Resilience.
Find out more about our campaign work
