We recently launched the RHE Global Podcast, a new platform designed to open up meaningful conversations around community safety, anti-social behaviour (ASB), policy changes, training and more.

The podcast was launched during ASB Awareness Week, where we kicked things off with a special five-episode series hosted by our Community Safety Director Jim Nixon. The episodes feature a number of special guest speakers, offering a range of perspectives and expertise from across the sector.

ASB Awareness Week series:

• The ASB Case Review with ASB Help 

• Tackling Nuisance Motorbikes

• Using Community Protection Notices

• How to Use The Noise App Effectively

• ASB Enforcement and Mental Health 

Since then, we’ve continued the conversation, with an additional episode that focuses on the changes to the Crime and Policing Bill. In this episode, Jim sits down with Chief RIAMS Editor Jeremy Manners to explore the implications of the latest legislative updates and what they mean for those working in enforcement and public protection.

All episodes are now available to stream on Spotify, as well as making their way to our YouTube channel, and there’s much more to come. We’re currently planning a wide range of content, including discussions around housing, environmental issues, legislation and innovations across local government and community services.

Be sure to follow us and subscribe so you’re first to hear what’s next!

Earlier this week, we had the pleasure of attending a Preparedness Workshop on the Renters’ Rights Bill, organised by Operation Jigsaw and arranged by Emma Scotson (South West Regional Co-ordinator). The workshop was chaired by Rob Kelly and featured insightful presentations from Pauline Lloyd-Roberts and David Armstrong. Our very own Jon Williams also presented on The Housing App, demonstrating how it can support Local Authorities in investigating complaints as part of the Renters’ Rights Bill.

The event brought together professionals from across housing, environmental health, and local government, creating space for local authorities to share their own information and policies around the current draft guidance for the Renters’ Rights Bill. Operation Jigsaw is playing an important role in supporting delivery of the Bill, helping authorities upskill their staff and mitigate risks ahead of the phased rollout.

It was a fantastic opportunity to hear directly from those working on the frontline of housing and enforcement, as well as to share insights on how organisations like RHE Global can help. One of the strongest themes that emerged throughout the sessions was readiness. Whether it’s preparing for upcoming legislation, responding to new challenges in housing standards, or ensuring teams have the confidence to act decisively, readiness is at the heart of effective local authority work.

A few of our main learnings were:

• Consistency is crucial. Teams need clear processes and shared understanding to ensure fair and efficient enforcement.

• Knowledge gaps hold back progress. Many authorities highlighted the need for ongoing, accessible training to keep staff up to date.

• Technology and practical tools make a difference. From apps to online resources, authorities want solutions that save time and reduce uncertainty.

The conversations we had at the workshop confirmed what we already knew, local authorities are working under increasing pressure, and having the right training and resources is more important than ever.

At RHE Global, we’re committed to providing the tools, training, and resources that local authorities need to meet these challenges head-on.

RIAMS continues to be the go-to platform for housing enforcement professionals, offering a wealth of procedures and a guidance e-learning course to support consistency across teams. With the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 set to reshape the private rented sector, we are helping authorities prepare with detailed resources covering:

• Main provisions of the Act

• Financial penalties and investigatory powers

• The Private Rented Sector Database

• Rent increases and rent in advance

• Assured tenancies, grounds for possession, and statement of terms

• The new Private Rented Sector Ombudsman (Landlord Redress Scheme)
  
  

  In addition, we’re excited to soon be hosting Justice for Tenants’ model housing enforcement policy and model licensing conditions (developed by Al McClenahan and the team), ensuring every local authority has access to up-to-date best practice. We’ve also supported DASH in commissioning further landlord guidance, which will be available through RIAMS.

Useful links:

• Elearning
  Navigating Awaab's Law: Guidance for Social Landlords

  Renters’ Rights Bill: An Easy Guide for Private Sector Housing Practitioners

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The latest updates and insights from RIAMS Chief Editor Jeremy Manners

Welcome to the August edition of RIAMS Unpacked, where I’ll give you a quick update on what’s new, what’s been reviewed and anything significant that has come across my desk in the world of environmental health.

Five new subscribing organisations have joined RIAMS Libraries, and Communities continues to buzz with conversation.

Parliament is in recess, so any legislation in the pipeline will be at a standstill until September. This hasn’t stopped us from developing new documents and guidance for practitioners. I am currently working on some Awaab’s Law e-learning and procedures, as well as a learning resource to help admin users of RIAMS get the most out of the platform.

Of interest on the BBC is an article following an undercover investigation on illegal HMOs, which shone a light on the secretive goings-on in the private rented sector, specifically on a practice that is likely to be widespread across the UK. Illegal house-sharing exposed by BBC undercover filming showed that the number of HMOs local authorities know about is considerably lower than the actual number, where dangerous and overcrowded conditions are rife, putting vulnerable people without options at risk of serious harm. Speaking to practitioners working in local authority housing enforcement teams, this article has had quite an impact in raising public awareness of this matter, and subsequently an increased number of complaints are being received. With the Renters’ Rights Act on its way, will it support action to tackle this widespread unlawful practice or simply put more strain on already overstretched housing enforcement teams? When looking at the numbers of unlicensed properties quoted in the report and the anticipated increase in public scrutiny, I suspect the latter.

On the media front, I recently recorded a podcast with RIAMS Northern Ireland Editor, Aaron Lawson, exploring how AI can support environmental health students in developing their communication skills. We also discussed how realistic AI-generated scenarios can enhance learning and make the process more efficient for those delivering the training. It will be available soon on our YouTube channel, where we’re continuing to grow our content. In the meantime, you can check out my first-ever podcast with Jim Nixon, where we talked about the Crime and Policing Bill.

Legal and regulatory insights

• The government is looking for local authorities interested in helping to develop a short-term lets registration scheme; you can express your interest here.

• The Renters’ Rights Bill takes a break, while our parliamentarians enjoy their summer recess. It is scheduled back in the House of Commons on 8 September, and all the noise around this is suggesting the bill will become an act early in September.

MHCLG are continuing to consult on a reformed Decent Homes Standard and Energy Efficiency Standards in the social rented sector, and they are keen to engage with stakeholders. Please respond to the consultation or send comments to [email protected] and [email protected].

What’s new on RIAMS Libraries ?

During July, we reviewed 153 documents for England, Northern Ireland and Wales, including 134 procedures as well as notices, letters and forms. We’ve added 8 new documents to Libraries as well, including:

• Renters’ Rights Act 2025, Part 1, Chapter 3: Discrimination in the Rental Market (HP255E) in England

• Evidencing a Building as a Section 257 House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) (HP250W) for Wales, as well as finalising our e-learning resource on Pavement Licensing under the Business and Planning Act 2020, FREE to RIAMS subscribers.

We held our latest RIAMS Northern Ireland User Group on 29 July to discuss the latest reviews and activity in NI with representatives from the majority of the NI local authorities. Aaron Lawson gave an update on the huge amount of work that has taken place over the past few months to update NI content on RIAMS, and we heard back from EH managers on what their teams need from us to continue to support their frontline work.

What’s new on RIAMS Communities ?

Our environmental health forums continue to flourish across all areas of environmental health! Join the discussion and network with colleagues here.

Especially lively during July were the Private Water Supplies and Housing Professionals communities, home to over 2,000 practitioners.

Our Question of the Month with Tim Everett for July, Proceed with Caution, examines whether enforcing authorities can still use simple cautions rather than prosecuting. It also investigates whether diversionary and community cautions are available yet. Click on the above link or head over to Communities, where you’ll find this question answered, together with past QOTMs.

If you have a complex or niche question for Tim, please send it to me: [email protected].

There are a couple of new Upper Tribunal decisions in the Housing Professionals group:

• Kartal Cetin and Epping Forest District Council: This judgment explores what ‘person managing’ means in the context of licensing HMOs, and whether a letting agent instructed on a ‘let only’ basis meets the threshold for enforcement.

• Kemp & Ors v DIP Systems Ltd [2025] UKUT 233 (LC): Guest summary kindly provided by the brilliant Jamie McGowan, a tribunal advocate with Justice for Tenants. This decision confirms that the limitation period for applying for a rent repayment order begins when a defence of reasonable excuse arises, rather than when the essential elements of an offence cease.

I’ve also published a blog (courtesy of Tim Everett) in the Environmental Protection group, Less Is More: Save Time and Keep It Simple. It discusses the London Borough of Enfield v Anthony Beckford High Court case, looking at why it might be wiser to avoid unnecessary text in an abatement notice.

Stay engaged, stay informed – upcoming events and training

16, 18, 23, 25, 30 September and 2, 7, 9 October 2025 (10:00–12:15): Introduction to Environmental Noise [Online] (20 hrs 15 mins CPD)

23 September (11:00–12:00) Housing Roundtable, Responding to the housing enforcement skills shortage with Paul Oatt. Register for FREE here.

24 September, 1, 8, 15 October 2025 (09:15–12:40): Investigation Skills and PACE [Online] (12 hrs 35 mins CPD)

1 October (09:20–11:40): Plant Noise Complaint Resolution Best Practice [Online] (2 hrs 10 mins CPD)

Find all our training courses and events at RHE Training.

RHE Global supports environmental health practitioners across all specialisms to work smarter, network and share best practices. Visit RIAMS to stay up to date with the latest environmental health developments and discussions.

Don’t miss a thing – sign up to get public protection news and jobs straight to your inbox.

It’s been over a decade since the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 introduced the ASB case review, originally known as the community trigger. Designed to give victims of persistent anti-social behaviour a voice, the review was intended to ensure agencies stepped back, re-evaluated and asked: Have we truly done all we can?

Yet here we are, 11 years on, and this vital mechanism remains underused and widely misunderstood.

Too often, the review is mistaken for a complaints procedure – a perception that leads to reluctance among some practitioners to initiate it. But the ASB case review is not about assigning blame; it’s about collaboration, reflection, and problem-solving. At its heart, it’s a second chance to get things right for victims who have been let down by the initial response. Of equal concern is the inconsistency in how reviews are conducted across the country: some areas invite the victim to participate in the process, while others don’t. Some meetings are run with care, structure, and professionalism; others feel disorganised or lack focus. This variation can undermine trust in the process and further isolate victims.

Victim involvement isn’t just a box-ticking exercise; it’s essential. It is the thread that connects agencies’ decisions with real-life impact. Giving victims a voice in the review meeting ensures the human cost of ongoing ASB isn’t lost in paperwork or policy.

Changes are underway, with the Crime and Policing Bill proposing reform, particularly concerning accountability, meaning there’s an opportunity to breathe new life into the ASB case review. But legislation alone won’t drive change: culture, training and awareness must evolve alongside policy.

Consequently, RHE Global is launching a new online course this autumn, designed to support ASB professionals in delivering better reviews that have greater consistency. Led by seasoned expert Anna Smith, this training will explore what good practice looks like and how to engage with victims meaningfully, as well as provide tips for running effective and purposeful meetings.

If we want the ASB case review to fulfil its potential, we need to stop treating it as an administrative burden and start seeing it as a lifeline – a critical tool to ensure victims aren’t left unheard or unsupported.

Training details and course dates will be available from September 2025 and can be found here. 

It’s time to raise the standard and put the ‘review’ back into the ASB case review.