Legislation & rules: news and advice
Our latest legislation & rules news and advice for London and Hertfordshire.
Legislation & rules · 17 October 2026 · 8 min read
Waltham Forest landlord licensing: which schemes apply, fees and penalties
Waltham Forest runs selective licensing in 20 of its 22 wards until 30 April 2030 and HMO licensing borough-wide. Here is who needs which licence, the fees, how to apply, and the £40,000 civil penalty cap from 1 May 2026.
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Legislation & rules · 17 October 2026 · 7 min read
HMO licence in Enfield: who needs one, the fees and the penalties
Enfield Council licenses shared homes under two schemes: a mandatory licence for five or more people and a borough-wide additional licence for three or four. Here is what counts as an HMO, the fees, the conditions and the penalties.
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Legislation & rules · 17 October 2026 · 7 min read
Haringey landlord licensing: which schemes apply and what they cost
Haringey runs selective licensing in 14 wards until 17 November 2027 and HMO licensing across the borough until 16 June 2029. Here is who needs which licence, the fees, and the penalty cap that rose to £40,000 on 1 May 2026.
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Legislation & rules · 17 October 2026 · 8 min read
Section 8 Ground 1: ending a tenancy so you or family can move in
Since 1 May 2026 a landlord who wants to move in, or house a close relative, uses Ground 1 with four months' notice and a one-year bar. Here is who qualifies, what to prove, the re-let ban that runs until 12 months after the court date, and the penalties, with a dated example.
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Legislation & rules · 17 October 2026 · 7 min read
Can landlords refuse tenants on benefits or with children in 2026?
Since 1 May 2026 a landlord or agent in England cannot refuse a tenant because they claim benefits, and can refuse a household with children only for a proportionate, legitimate reason. See the £7,000 penalty, the insurance exception and what landlords can still check.
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Legislation & rules · 17 October 2026 · 8 min read
Section 8 notice: how landlords serve it correctly since 1 May 2026
Since 1 May 2026 a Section 8 notice on Form 3A is the only way for a private landlord in England to start possession of an assured tenancy. Here is what goes in it, the notice period for each ground, how to serve it and prove it, and why notices fail.
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Legislation & rules · 17 October 2026 · 8 min read
How to evict a tenant for rent arrears in 2026: Grounds 8, 10 and 11
Since 1 May 2026 Ground 8 needs three months’ rent unpaid (13 weeks if weekly or fortnightly), at notice and at the hearing, with four weeks’ notice. Grounds 10 and 11 are discretionary. A dated example shows how a payment before court changes the result.
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Legislation & rules · 16 October 2026 · 7 min read
The landlord register in London: what to have ready before 15 July 2027
The government says the legal requirement to register London rental properties starts on 15 July 2027, with a deadline of 14 October 2027 and a fee of £65 per property per year. You can register earlier. Here is what is settled, what is draft, and what to gather now.
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Legislation & rules · 16 October 2026 · 8 min read
Awaab’s Law and private rented homes: what applies now, what is only proposed
Awaab’s Law, with its fixed deadlines for damp and mould, is in force for social housing only. For private landlords the government says it will extend it, and is consulting on how until 18 December 2026. Here is what is law, what is not, and what you can sensibly do now.
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Legislation & rules · 16 October 2026 · 7 min read
Enfield selective licensing is live: what landlords need to do
Enfield Council’s selective licensing scheme started on 1 September 2026 and covers 17 wards, including Edmonton Green, Upper Edmonton and Lower Edmonton. Here is who needs a licence, what it costs and what to do this month.
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