Government housing policy – HQN support - HQN

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Feeling overwhelmed by the avalanche of government policy announcements in recent weeks? Think you may have missed something? Need help digesting the detail and working out what to do next? Don’t worry, HQN is here to help with focused briefings, toolkits, events, training and consultancy support.

Below is a handy table of the recent announcements and a list of the HQN support available through our networks, events, training and consultancy.

Government announcement	What HQN can offer
Government announcement	Networks	Events	Training	Consultancy
10-year rent settlement of CPI plus 1%. Rent convergence Government consultation – deadline 10 September and announcement on way forward expected at the Autumn Budget late October/early November.	Housing Finance Network News: Housing Minister confirms 10-year rent settlement Briefing: Spending Review 2025 Consultation paper: MHCLG rent convergence consultation Briefing: The three way balancing act returns: Government plans for social rent convergence Updated HQN Formula rent spreadsheet model Inflation update monthly: June 2025 Rent Income Excellence Network Briefing: Spending Review 2025 News: Housing Minister confirms 10-year rent settlement Consultation paper: MHCLG rent convergence consultation Briefing: The three way balancing act returns: Government plans for social rent convergence Rent Compliance Hub Briefing: Spending Review 2025 Consultation paper: MHCLG rent convergence consultation Briefing: The three way balancing act returns: Government plans for social rent convergence	Affordability will be discussed at the RIEN conference 2025 – the future of income management – blending innovation with empathy. Rent compliance and the long-term rent settlement will be discussed at the Rent compliance hub summit on 12 November.	HQN finance training covers rent and is updated with changes in government policy: Advanced social housing finance – 15 October The essentials of social housing finance – 12 November Collecting with care 2025 – Mental health, housing income and rent arrears – 30 September	Rent compliance checks.
Residential PEEPs regulations published. Further guidance to be published by the government in the autumn.	Health and Safety Network Briefing from Birketts: Understanding residential personal emergency evacuation plans (PEEPs) and how the law is set to change News: Government regulations to address Grenfell Inquiry’s PEEPs recommendations Government publication: Residential PEEPs: Factsheet	Get ready for Residential PEEPs in high and medium-rise buildings – everything you need to know – 26 November	Developing training on RPEEPs. Please contact [email protected] for more information. Fire safety responsibilities in social housing – 9 September Fire Safety: FAA level 2 award – 20 October
Awaab’s Law: will commence 27 October 2025 for damp and mould and it will be extended to other hazards in further phases in 2026 and 2027. Finalised guidelines to be published in autumn.	Asset Management Network Model Awaab’s Law Compliance Procedure for Social Housing Landlords (August 2025). Free to asset management network members, £150 non-members, contact [email protected] for further information. Government outcome of consultation Government guidelines announcement Briefings: Preparing for Awaab’s Law – a checklist (July 2025) Understanding and addressing the health risks of damp and mould in the home (September 2024) Awaab’s Law: Shaping a brighter future for social housing (Feb 2024) The impact of Awaab’s Law on RP maintenance operations (Feb 2024) Damp and mould in social housing: learning lessons (April 2023) News: Ombudsman highlights housing horror stories in emergency repairs report ahead of Awaab’s Law (May 2025) Health and Safety Network Government outcome of consultation Government guidelines announcement Briefing: Preparing for Awaab’s Law – a checklist (July 2025)	Awaab’s Law – playback – 14 August and 4 September, also available on demand at a time of your choice. Will be covered in programme at Asset management A/C –Time to Act on 21 October in London.	An introduction to Awaab’s Law for non-technical staff – 8 October An introduction to Awaab’s Law for non-technical staff – 12 November Condensation, damp and mould: Causes, cures and the courts for technical officers – 18 September Condensation, damp and mould: Causes, cures and the courts for technical officers – 6 November	Health check to help people to prepare to implement Awaab’s Law
Decent Homes Standard (DHS) Government consulting on a new, improved standard to be brought in for the social and private rented sectors within 10 years with a focus on tenant safety measures. Deadline for responses – 10 September. The Government will publish the final standard before the end of the year, providing the certainty required to start delivering.	Asset Management Network Government consultation Briefing: Decent Homes Standard open consultation – social and private rented sectors	MHCLG to speak about it at the Asset Management Network Conference –Time to Act on 21 October.	Developing training on new Decent Homes Standard. Please contact [email protected] for more information.
Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES) Government consultation – to be incorporated into DHS.	Asset Management Network Government consultation	MHCLG to speak about it at the Asset Management Network Conference –Time to Act on 21 October.
Social Tenant’s Access to Information Requirements (STAIRs) Government confirmed it will come in from October 2026 for private RPs (HAs) – will publish directions for the RSH in the autumn. From October 2026, private registered providers will be required to proactively publish information relating to the management of their social housing. From April 2027, they will also be required to respond to information requests from tenants. The government will also seek to extend FOI rights to tenants of Tenant Management Organisations to the same April 2027 timetable.		Consumer regulation – how to drive performance to a C1 (Transparency, Influence and Accountability Standard part one) – 18 November Consumer regulation – how to drive performance to a C1 (Transparency, Influence and Accountability Standard part two) – 19 November Putting the new social tenant access to information requirements (STAIRs) into practice – 25 November with Roger Jarman, HQN Associate, Paul Mutch Scottish Information Commissioner and Louise Ivens, Sutton Housing Partnership.
Competence and Conduct Government has confirmed it is coming in from October 2026 with three year’s transition for people to have or working towards professional qualification. The standard is due to be published this autumn.	Leadership and Organisational Development Hub Briefing: Preparing for the new Competence and Conduct Standard Toolkit: Competence and Conduct Hot topic: Meeting the Competence and Conduct Standard			Supporting housing providers to get ready for the new Competence and Conduct Standard.
Supported housing Government to set out details of a new licensing regime to drive out rogue providers and improve standards for residents later this year following the consultation on the implementation of the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023.	Strategic Network Blog: Supported housing regulation consultation – was it worth the wait? Briefing: Supported housing regulation consultation – Housing Benefit implications for housing providers