New Local Authority Investigatory Powers - What Landlords and Letting Agents Need to Know
As from the 27th December 2025, the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 will introduce a new enforcement framework intended to improve standards across the private rented sector. At the heart of these reforms lies a set of investigatory powers being granted to local authroities in England.
Investigatory Powers
The purpose of the updated investigatory regime is to give councils the power to enforce legislation. These powers are not designed to be intrusive, they create a structured legal framework that ensures evidence is gathered lawfully, inspections are conducted professionally, and both letting agents’ and landlords’ rights are respected throughout the process.
Clarification on Mandatory Grounds 1 and 1A of the Renters’ Rights Act
The Renters’ Rights Act brings some of the biggest changes to the private rented sector for over 30 years. Among those changes are the amended Ground 1 of Section 8 and the introduction og Ground 1A. These Grounds will be relied upon if a landlord intends to sell, or where the landlord or a close family member wish to move into the property.
The Origins of the Twelve Days of Christmas
The Twelve Days of Christmas form one of the key elements of the festive season, yet the precise dates and significance of this period are often misunderstood, because the Twelve Days begin on Christmas Day and not before. The last day is the 5th January, known as Twelfth Night. and following day is the Epiphany, an important Christian feast marking the end of Christmastide.
Autumn Budget 2025: Key announcements
After months of discussion, speculation and U-turns, Rachel Reeves finally unveiled her second Budget, not before the contents had accidentally been leaked!
With a black hole getting worse and worse, structural tax measures to raise revenue were put forward, but there were also frozen thrsholds with specific time-frames, a kind of prior warning. The Chancellor abandoned the planned increase in income tax rates, which would have been the first rate rise since 1975.
The two-child benefit cap will be removed from April 2026, and welfare benefits will rise in line with inflation. This and other spending announcements will be paid for by freezing income tax thresholds, taxing pension contributions, charging electric cars per mile, a mansion tax for high end properties, a gambling tax, a tourism tax, etc, A mix of measures to add more another layer of complexity to the tax system.