Regulation news: page 3
- May 2026
Renters' Rights Act increases ground 8 arrears threshold
From 1 May 2026 private landlords in England need three months of unpaid rent before using ground 8 to evict, up from two months under the Renters' Rights Act.
Rules on 'no fault' evictions changed
The rules on "no fault" evictions changed on 1 May 2026, according to StepChange, which says tenants who receive an eviction notice should act quickly and not leave straight away.
- April 2026
FCA opens consultation on simplifying consumer credit financial promotions rules
The Financial Conduct Authority has opened a consultation on simplifying consumer credit financial promotions rules and improving how the cost of credit is disclosed to consumers.
FCA publishes Research Note informing CONC 3 cost disclosure review
The FCA has published a research note on how consumers compare the cost of credit, findings from which it says informed its discussion paper on cost disclosure rules in CONC 3.
Warm Home Discount (Scotland) Regulations 2026 signed and consented
The Warm Home Discount (Scotland) Regulations 2026 were signed on 29 April 2026, continuing the Scottish scheme with a £150 rebate and a scheme period running to 31st March 2031.
90-day notice rule applies to accounts opened on or after 28 April 2026
Accounts opened on or after 28 April 2026 now carry a minimum 90 days' notice before a bank can terminate them, and the bank must give a clear reason for the closure.
Renters Right Act comes into force
The Renters' Rights Act came into force on 1 May 2026, abolishing section 21 no-fault evictions in England and replacing assured shorthold tenancies with periodic assured tenancies.
Bank of England publishes 2026 Q1 Credit Conditions Survey
The Bank of England's 2026 Q1 Credit Conditions Survey reports that secured credit availability to households rose while unsecured availability was unchanged, and secured default rates increased slightly.
Fair4All Finance opens Small Sum Lending pilot bidding with up to £25m of funding
Fair4All Finance has opened bidding for its Small Sum Lending pilot, publishing an application pack for lenders and setting out plans to allocate up to £25m of funding.
Tenant Fees Act 2019 tenant guidance first published
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has published GOV.UK guidance for tenants in England setting out the fees and payments landlords may charge under the Tenant Fees Act 2019.
COBS 15 cancellation rules updated
The FCA updated the COBS 15 Cancellation chapter of its Handbook on 6 April 2026, including the table of cancellable contracts, cancellation periods, disclosure duties and exemptions.
Energy bills to be cut as government removes policy costs from electricity bills
The government has removed some policy costs from electricity bills from 1 April 2026, cutting unit rates and standing charges for households on variable and fixed tariffs in Great Britain.
FCA Targeted Support to roll out from April 2026
The Government is working with the Financial Conduct Authority to roll out Targeted Support for consumers from April 2026, allowing authorised firms to suggest products to groups of customers.
National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates increase
The National Living Wage rose to £12.71 an hour on 1 April 2026, with the National Minimum Wage rates for younger workers and apprentices also increasing.
New payment account termination rules come into force
Rules taking effect on 28 April 2026 extend the notice payment firms must give before closing an account to 90 days for new contracts and require detailed reasons for the decision.
- March 2026
ECO funding to end from 31 March 2026
Government funding for the Energy Company Obligation ends on 31 March 2026 under Autumn Budget plans, with savings from scrapping ECO and shifting Renewables Obligation costs due to reach bills from April.
Treasury correspondence on proposed ISA changes published
The Economic Secretary to the Treasury wrote to the Chair of the Treasury Committee on 30 March 2026 about proposed changes to ISAs, with the correspondence published on 15 April 2026.
Chancellor meets lenders representing 75% of mortgage market and lenders reaffirm Mortgage Charter commitments
The Chancellor met lenders covering 75% of the mortgage market on 26 March 2026 to discuss rates and borrower support, after which lenders reaffirmed their Mortgage Charter commitments.
Current Warm Home Discount regulations end on 31 March 2026
The regulations underpinning the Warm Home Discount end on 31 March 2026, and replacement rules for England and Wales have been made to run the scheme to 2031.
FCA finalises revised motor finance compensation scheme
The FCA has finalised its motor finance compensation scheme, covering 12.1 million agreements made between 2007 and 2024, with an average payout of around £830 per agreement.
GB consequential regulations made and laid
The Social Security (Removal of Two Child Limit) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2026 were made and laid before Parliament on 19 March 2026, coming into force on 6 April 2026.
BBC corrects misreported energy bills saving figure
BBC News has corrected a live blog post that overstated the saving from an upcoming energy price cap reduction, putting the figure at £170 when the Prime Minister said £117.
New measures to modernise and transform the UK redress system
The Financial Ombudsman Service and the FCA have announced new measures to modernise the UK redress system, saying consumers should get fair and quick compensation when things go wrong.
Government publishes reforms following its review of the Financial Ombudsman Service in March 2026
The government has published reforms following its review of the Financial Ombudsman Service, with some measures carried in the Financial Services and Markets Bill introduced in the House of Lords on 19 May 2026.
- February 2026
Fair4All Finance launches credit union transformation programme for England
Fair4All Finance has opened a public consultation on a credit union transformation programme for England, backed by £30m of dormant assets funding and delivered with HM Treasury and ABCUL.
- January 2026
Government responds to Warm Home Discount consultation without increasing the £150 rebate
The Government has published its response to the Warm Home Discount consultation, extending the scheme to 2031 but leaving the £150 rebate unchanged and eligibility rules as they are.
Government announces ground rent cap and ban on new leasehold flats
The government has published a draft bill to cap ground rent at £250 a year, ban new leasehold flats and make commonhold easier, with the cap not expected before late 2028.
CMA opens consultation on draft revised unfair contract terms guidance
The Competition and Markets Authority has opened a consultation on draft revised guidance and a technical note covering the unfair contract terms provisions in the Consumer Rights Act 2015.
Consumer Scotland responds to Ofgem consultation on energy debt at change of tenancy
Consumer Scotland has published its response to an Ofgem consultation on energy debt at change of tenancy, tentatively supporting reform while warning about self-disconnection and pre-move liability risks.
Treasury Committee report warns current approach to AI in financial services risks serious harm
The Treasury Select Committee says the Bank of England, FCA and Treasury are exposing consumers and the financial system to potentially serious harm through their wait-and-see approach to AI.