The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) published a new Statutory Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions and Associations, which came into force on 5 August 2026.
The code applies to organisations that:
- Provide services to the public
- Carry out public functions
- Operate as membership organisations or associations.
For housing organisations, this means the code is relevant to the way services are designed, delivered and governed. Housing providers are increasingly expected to demonstrate that policies, services and operational decisions are fair, accessible and compliant with equality law. The code consolidates current EHRC expectations and provides practical guidance on how organisations can achieve this.
Key areas of focus
Learn more about the key areas from the code and what organisations should focus on across equality, accessibility and harassment.
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Positive action
As an organisation you may need to take steps to ensure that you meet the standards set out in the code. Find out more about some examples.
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Next steps
Who does this apply to and what should an organisations look to do next – we set out the next steps for action.
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