Briefings and responses

Research commissioned by the LGA and partners at the National Federation of Almo’s (NFA), Charted Institute of Housing (CIH), Association of Retained Council Housing (ARCH), and Councils with Almo’s Group (CWAG) looks at social housing providers preparation for Awaab’s Law and issues of no access.

Local authorities and the communities they represent are critical to the success of local and national inclusive growth, and the delivery of much-needed infrastructure.

Councils are on the frontline of tackling and preventing homelessness, but rising demand and spiralling costs mean the system is at crisis point.

Our call on Government to support the goal of ending homelessness for good.

The government held a consultation on reform to the Decent Homes Standard which currently applies to social housing. The new standard will also apply to privately rented housing. It was open from 2nd July to 12th September 2025. This consultation seeks to update the Decent Homes Standard implemented in 2001.

The Government held a consultation on improving the energy efficiency of socially rented homes in England through the introduction of a Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard of EPC Band C to tackle fuel poverty and lower carbon emissions. This consultation was open from 2 July to 12 September 2025.

This Government held a consultation seeking views on how to implement Social Rent convergence, as part of the government’s 10 year rent settlement for social housing. It was open from 2 July to 27 August 2025. This follows the consultation on future social housing rent policy that the government carried out between October and December 2024.

This open letter on permitted development rights was sent to the Secretary of State on 26 August 2025 and published on the 1 September.

The LGA’s response supports proposals to streamline BNG but we want to retain key parts of the policy to protect the investment in environmental improvement.

The Government held a technical consultation on their proposed reforms to planning committees, seeking views on the delegation of planning functions, the size and composition of committees, mandatory training for planning committee members, and improving delegated decision making.