A year into the new Labour Government and 2025 is shaping up to be the pivotal year we were expecting. We have had the Spending Review setting out the financial resources for social housing for the next few years and a rash of announcements on the safety and quality of homes as well as the professionalisation of the sector. The ambition to deliver 1.5 million new homes over the next five years is clear but challenging, especially in the middle of restructuring local government and devolving power down to regional and local levels.

To help you navigate the coming months, we have published the HQN almanac – providing an at-a-glance guide to the key events and dates for the social housing sector. This page will be updated regularly as the year progresses.

Click here to see the key dates for the housing sector in Wales.

Oct

Nov

Dec

During 2025

The government will consult on:

The Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act (LFRA) 2024 – on the rates to be used in the calculations for the cost of a statutory lease extension or freehold acquisition. The rates will then need to be set out in secondary legislation
Options to restrict the sale of new leasehold flats
A draft Leasehold and Commonhold Reform Bill, so that it may be subject to broad consultation and additional parliamentary scrutiny
Legislative and policy options to reduce the prevalence of private estate management arrangements.

Expecting:

The government’s long-term housing strategy
The government’s response to the older persons taskforce report
Publish a new fuel poverty strategy
Publish plans to tackle child poverty
Consultation on the valuation rates used to calculate the cost of enfranchisement premiums in the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act after the outcome is known of the legal challenge by six groups of freeholders against the Government to challenge many provisions of this legislation
Legislation to fix the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act’s serious flaws in further primary legislation.

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October 2025

14 October

House of Lords to consider House of Commons amendments and/or reasons to the Renters Rights Bill before Royal Assent

27 October

Awaab’s Law comes into effect for all emergency hazards and damp and mould issues that pose a significant risk to health.

Expecting:

The government will publish a long-term vision for the housing market, including the biggest increase in affordable housing for a generation
Draft revised HHSRS operating and enforcement guidance (section nine of the Housing Act 2004) to be published alongside Awaab’s Law
Renters Rights Bill becomes an Act
Draft Equality (Race and Disability) Bill
September inflation rate published and this will decide rent increases and relevant benefit and pension uplifts for the following April
RSH sector risk profile published.

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