Our policy work | Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH)

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.

View our policy tracker

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.

Meet our policy team

Learn more about the team behind the work at CIH and how they are stepping up to influence policymakers across the sector in the UK and Ireland.

Our policy team

Our policy networks

With a diverse range of networks to get involved with, we are dedicated to driving impactful change, shaping strategy and nurturing innovative solutions in the sector.

Our policy networks

Knowledge Hub

Our team work hard to ensure our Knowledge Hub is filled with useful resources and information on all the latest policy work and campaigns.

Knowledge Hub

The UK Housing Review 2025

The annual publication of the UK Housing Review is packed with statistics and analysis about housing, households and welfare benefits across the UK and internationally.

A crucial resource for housing professionals, leaders, and policymakers across the UK's public and private housing sectors. It's free for members to download.

Find out more

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 22.12.2025

Announcements, consultations and inquiries

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	All		Long-term housing strategy: waiting on an update Homelessness strategy: published 11 Dec 2025 CIH reaction Child poverty strategy: published 5 Dec 2025 CIH reaction
Social and Affordable Homes Programme	Development	Bids to open February 2026	Announced at Spending Review - June 2025 Prospectuses launched - November 2025 Member briefing
Warm homes plan	Sustainability		Waiting on an update
Housing conditions in England inquiry	All	Closed: 15 August 2025 Committee evidence sessions ongoing	HCLG Committee inquiry CIH response
How to implement Social Rent convergence consultation	Finance	Closed: 27 August 2025 Decision expected January 2026	MHCLG consultation CIH/Savills analysis CIH response MHCLG confirmed at the Autumn Budget 2025 that the government’s response on rent convergence will come in January 2026.
Building safety regulator inquiry	Building safety Development	Closed: 31 August 2025	House of Lords Industry and Regulators Committee call for evidence CIH response Report issued
Consultation on a reformed Decent Homes Standard for social and privately rented homes	Asset management	Closed: 10 September 2025 Decision expected early 2026	MHCLG consultation Member WYNTK briefing guide CIH response
Improving the Energy Efficiency of Socially Rented Homes in England (MEES) consultation	Sustainability Asset management	Closed: 10 September 2025 Decision expected early 2026	MHCLG and DESNEZ consultation Member WYNTK briefing guide CIH response
New Towns	All	Task Force report and initial government response: 28 September 2025 Full response to Task Force report due Spring 2026	Task Force report Initial government response
New Towns modular inquiry: Creating Communities	All	Closed: 1 December 2025	CIH response will be published when permissible
Updates to Part G of the Building Regulations (water efficiency)	Net zero Planning and development	Deadline: 16 December	DEFRA Consultation
Home buying and selling reform consultation	Home ownership	Deadline: 21 December	MHCLG Consultation
Material information in property listings consultation	Home ownership	Deadline: 29 December	MHCLG Consultation
Support for housebuilding in London	Development	Deadline: 22 January 2026	Consultations split between MHCLG and GLA: MHCLG Consultation GLA Consultation CIH reaction to announcements
Fair pay agreement in adult social care	Health and housing Supported housing	Deadline: 16 January	Department of Health and Social Care consultation
Casey Commission	Housing and social care	Open Commission under 2 phases, final reporting phase by 2028	Department of Health and Social Care guidance
Unlocking land for housing	Planning and development	Deadline: 23 February 2026	Public Accounts Committee inquiry
National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the planning system	Planning and development	Deadline: 10 March 2026	MHCLG 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.	MHCLG draft guidance for social landlords Updated WYNTK briefing
Renters’ Rights Bill	Leasehold Private rented sector	Royal Assent received on 27 October 2025	Full act Updated WYNTK briefing
Planning and Infrastructure Bill	Planning Development	Introduced 11 March 2025 Royal Assent expected by end of 2025	Bill and tracker WYNTK member briefing CIH written evidence (House of Commons committee stage) CIH parliamentary briefing (House of Lords 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 WYNTK member briefing
Leasehold and Commonhold Bill – Draft Bill	Leasehold Home ownership	Consultation and draft bill expected by end 2025	White paper WYNTK member briefing
Competence & Conduct Standard	Professionalism	Commences October 2026 Direction to the Regulator, policy statement, impact statement and government response published September 2025 RSH consultation on Competence and Conduct Standard expected in 2026	CIH website - Knowledge Hub Updated member briefing CIH response to government's direction to the Regulator
Social tenants access to information (STAIRs)	All	Consultation closed 2024 Commencement in 2 phases: October 2026 and April 2027	Consultation CIH response to consultation Member briefing
Electrical safety standards guidance	Asset management	Regulations were updated in 2025 to include the social housing sector Guidance published 1 November 2025	MHCLG guidance Member briefing

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.

Rooted in Resilience

Find out more about our campaign work

Better Social Housing Review

Information about the independent panel created by CIH and NFH to help the sector tackle the issue of poor quality homes.

Housing and dementia framework

The housing and dementia framework has been designed to help organisations support people to live well with dementia.

Make a stand campaign

Originally a CIH presidential campaign and relaunched due to its success, make a stand campaigns for the housing sector to do more to tackle domestic abuse. The pledge encourages housing organisations to sign up to make four deliverable commitments.

Back The Bill Road Map To Right To Adequate Housing

Right to adequate housing in Cymru

The Back the Bill Coalition has been campaigning for the incorporation of the ‘right to adequate housing’ into the Welsh legal framework since 2019. The coalition is a partnership between CIH Cymru, Shelter Cymru and Tai Pawb.

Housing rights for migrants to the UK

Our Housing Rights website gives recent arrivals and housing advisers up-to-date and accurate information about people's rights when looking for a home in the UK, based on their immigration status including European nationals.

CIH Cymru professional development toolkit

CIH Cymru released a professional development toolkit for member landlords using the CIH professional standards as a base point. Read more on the report.

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Housing education and professionalism in Scotland

The new Housing Bill presents a chance to influence the future of the housing sector and for us to consider what requirements for housing education to deliver housing services we think are appropriate. As such, we want your help to make sure we can make the strongest possible case for housing education in Scotland.

Social Housing (Regulation) Act

On Thursday 20 July 2023, reforms to social housing become law as the government’s new Social Housing (Regulation) Act receives Royal Assent.

Tyfu Tai Cymru

Our five-year housing policy project will be traveling around Wales to engage directly with housing professionals to help shape responses to some of today’s challenges.