A new package of rights for private renters has come into force.
11 million tenants are set to get new rights and protections.
The measures include a ban on Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions – ending the practice of evicting tenants without justification which will give renters greater security and help prevent homelessness.
Rent increases will be limited to once a year and upfront rent demands will be just one month's payment. Bidding wars are also banned and tenants can challenge unrealisable rent hikes.

The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill has received Royal Assent.

The Tobacco and Vapes has been granted Royal Assent, aiming to create a smoke-free generation.
The law will make it illegal to sell tobacco to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009.   
Smoking is the leading preventable cause of death, responsible for around 80,000 deaths a year in the UK and a major driver of cancer, heart disease and stroke, placing significant burden on the NHS.

4,000 staff at the Department for Work and Pensions have completed part of training designed to transform how the government supports autistic people and those with learning disabilities.
The Oliver McGowan training was established to ensure that staff working with autistic people and those with learning disabilities have the knowledge and skills to support them safely. The training is named after Oliver McGowan, a young man with autism and a learning disability who died in 2016 after being given antipsychotic medication against his and his family’s wishes.

The government has confirmed it will bring forward further reforms to Right to Buy, the scheme which allows eligible council tenants in England to buy their home at a discount.
Last year the government published its consultation response to overhaul Right to Buy that will support councils to better protect and rebuild depleted housing stock while maintaining a responsible route into homeownership for longstanding tenants.  

The government has published a new strategy, which describes how the Government Science and Engineering (GSE) profession will strengthen capability and leadership across departments.
The Government Science and Engineering profession strategy 2026 will place greater emphasis on how science and engineering capability is developed and sustained across government, with clearer priorities for existing programmes.

The government has launched a Digital Waste Tracking service to fight rogue waste traders.
The service will follow every piece of permitted waste across the country in real time.
Businesses will be required to create a real-time audit trail for the waste they handle, under new laws being laid in parliament.
Currently, waste consignments are tracked using a largely paper-based system.

The Local Government Association (LGA) is calling for social work funding support models to be aligned with nursing, allied health, and teaching.
A new survey from the LGA has revealed that 52 per cent of adult social workers experience increased severity and complexity of need in their caseloads, while capacity and resources do not keep pace with the demand.

The government has announced new measures aimed at making it easier and more affordable for households, particularly renters and those without driveways, to switch to electric vehicles.