Local authority round-up 21 November 2025
21st November, 2025
Our Local Authority round up provides brief summaries of topical information on a weekly basis, to keep you aware of the changes and updates relevant to you.
Planning & Housing
No-fault evictions to end by May next year
The no-fault evictions reform as part of the Renters’ Rights Act will come into force from 1 May 2026 along with other major changes, benefiting 11 million renters across England. By May 2026, private renters will no longer face being served with a Section 21 ‘no fault’ eviction notice, tenants will be able to appeal excessive above-market rent increases that try to force them out, and landlords can no longer unreasonably refuse tenants’ requests to have a pet.
Meanwhile, landlords will also be entitled to stronger, legally valid reasons to get their properties back when needed – whether that is to move into, sell or deal with rent arrears or anti-social behaviour – ensuring a fairer system for both landlords and renters.
Other changes which will come into effect from 1 May 2026 will go even further to tackle discrimination and financial exploration, helping to create a more stable and fair system for renters. It will become illegal for landlords and letting agents to: increase rent prices more than once a year; ask for more than one month’s rent payment in advance; pit prospective tenants against one another through rental bidding wars, and discriminate against potential tenants, because they receive benefits or have children.
For more information, please click here.
Housebuilding around train stations will be given a default ‘yes’
Housebuilding near well-connected train stations will receive a default ‘yes’ in future if they meet certain rules. This will ensure more high-quality, affordable homes are built in and around key towns and cities, enabling commuters to save time as well as boosting access to housing.
Housebuilders will be encouraged to build more homes near these transport links, and councils in England will be required to tell the government when they intend to reject new housing developments over a certain size, giving the Housing Secretary the final say in whether the building should go ahead. This initiative embarks on the second phase of reforms streamlining consultations with application decisions cut by 40% to deliver 1.5 million homes under the governments Plan for Change strategy.
For more information, please click here.
Education
SEND system faces ‘total collapse’ without major reform to services
Research carried out by County Council’s Network (CCN) has warned the SEND system is on the brink of ‘total collapse’, with local authorities facing deficits of £18bn by the end of this Parliament. The report, published 14th November 2025, claims that despite councils investing £30bn more on SEND services over the last decade, educational outcomes have still not improved.
As a response to this, the CCN calls on ministers to undertake a ‘two-pronged approach’ to prevent the system from collapse, to include wiping councils’ deficits alongside ‘root and branch change’ to the SEND system. Concerns regarding SEND system collapse have also been strengthened from last month, the government confirming a delay in the publication of its white paper on the reforms to SEND until early 2026.
Following CCN’s report, the network has warned that the government’s continuing inaction ‘only compounds the difficult experiences for families’. Amongst other things, the CCN report found that costs are being driven by a dramatic rise in Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). EHCPs have increased by 32% In the last four years, with now almost 840,000 young people being in receipt of them. Additionally, in March 2025, the debt accrued by councils for SEND services – money that had already been spent but is being kept off budget books via ‘statutory override’ – stood at £4bn. These deficits are projected to grow to a total and cumulative deficit of £17.8bn by 2029.
For more information, please click here.
Upcoming events
Subsidy control masterclass series
Subsidy control is one of the first considerations in public funded initiatives – but it can also be a significant cause of uncertainty and delay. This course will cut through those concerns by equipping attendees with the expertise to spot potential issues and to manage these within the law, noting recent case law and guidance. It will cover the basics, working up to a level of detail that will be useful to the most experienced practitioners.
This masterclass series is presented by Ward Hadaway Partner Alexander Rose – recognised as a national expert in this area of law – with five dates to choose from across our five offices:
- Manchester: Wednesday 3 December 2025, 1pm – 3pm
- Newcastle upon Tyne: Thursday 11 December 2025, 9am – 11am
- Teesside: Wednesday 17 December 2025, 10am – 12pm
- Leeds: Wednesday 14 January 2026, 1pm – 3pm
- Birmingham: Wednesday 4 February 2026, 9.30am – 11.30am
Book your place at any of these five sessions here.
Webinar: Data security
The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre is reporting a sharp rise in cyber attacks and notes the threat of supply chain attacks as well as the exploitation of various vulnerabilities. Not all cyber attacks result in personal data breaches but hacks often result in the theft of personal data.
During this webinar, our partners Phil Tompkins, Rob Eldon and Damien Charlton will look at the issue of data security for personal data, focusing on:
- What is meant by cyber security and data security
- What UK GDPR requires organisations to do by way of data security
- The requirements of the new Cyber Security and Resilience Bill
- How to handle data security breaches and the resulting claims
Join us between 10am – 11am on Tuesday 9 December by registering here.
Legal Services Forum: Transgender guidance
In the wake of the UK Supreme Court ruling For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers, which confirmed that the word “sex” in the Equality Act 2010 refers to biological sex, we have found ourselves in a state of flux, and without any guidance as to the practical implications of such a ruling.
As both a public-facing service provider and an employer, where does this leave NHS Trusts when considering single-sex facilities and in-patient accommodation?
Register here to join Caroline Shafar and Chloe Middleton between 10:00am – 11:00am on Tuesday 16 December 2025 as they provide guidance and answer your questions/topics for discussion, which you are welcome to submit ahead of this meeting.
Legal Services Forum: Hillsborough Law
On 16 September 2025, the Government laid before Parliament the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, commonly known as Hillsborough Law. The Bill introduces a duty of candour and assistance on public authorities and officials in relation to their involvement with public inquiries and inquests.
It ensures that families of victims in state-related deaths are able to access non-means-tested legal assistance and advocacy at inquests and inquiries where public authorities are interested persons. If enacted in full, the Bill is likely to have a significant impact on public inquiries and a large number of inquests.
We are pleased to invite Austin Welch, Counsel from Lincoln House Chambers to talk us through the main features of the Bill and its implications. Register here to save your place on Thursday 29 January between 10:00am – 11:00am submit and submit any questions/topics for discussion ahead of the meeting.
Webinar: Ward Hadaway Housing Management Law School – Autumn Term 2025
Join us for our Autumn 2025 Housing Management Law School, covering hot topics like the Renters’ Rights Act, which is expected to come into effect in 2026, as well as helping you ensure that your practices and procedures are fit for purpose.
You’ll also have the opportunity to put your questions to our speakers – either in advance via the registration form, or during the session using Zoom’s Q&A feature.
Book your place here to join us on Thursday 27 November 2025 between 10:00am – 11:30am.
Please note that this briefing is designed to be informative, not advisory and represents our understanding of English law and practice as at the date indicated. We would always recommend that you should seek specific guidance on any particular legal issue.
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