Welcome to the July 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 very warm desk in the world of environmental health.

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

Following customer feedback, we’ve updated some of our letter templates covering HMO management regulations and produced a new procedure document on diverting rent to the local authority following works in default. We have also advised on the use of cautions, updating our simple cautions procedure, which is covered further in our July question of the month.

Several consultations have been launched, and a big question mark continues to hang over the HHSRS, how it will be applied moving forward in social housing and whether it will ever be updated.

Director of Community Safety Jim Nixon hosted the Community Safety Roundtable on 18 June. Jim was joined by Charles Pasfield from MRI Software to discuss tackling community noise and ASB through smarter integration. 

I’ve recorded my first ever podcast with Jim and it has just been released on YouTube. Jim shares his insights on the Crime and Policing Bill and how it will impact the work of practitioners. You can view the podcast here.

• Legal and regulatory insights
  Crime and Policing Bill is waiting for its second reading in the House of Lords. A number of Government amendments have been tabled – these can be viewed here.

• Product Regulation and Metrology Bill is currently awaiting royal assent.

• Renters’ Rights Bill is scheduled for its third reading in the House of Lords. Lots of amendments have been tabled, which may or may not make their way into the final act. The Government has made some amendments, including removing the ability for landlords to require pet insurance. And it looks like LAs won’t be required to give 24 hours’ notice to landlords when inspecting for some offences under the RRB – watch this space. If only it could be rolled out to section 239 of the Housing Act 2004, it would be a wonderful improvement. Time is running out for royal assent before the parliamentary summer recess beginning on 22 July.

•  The Government has indicated its intention to introduce mandatory electrical safety checks into social housing in England from November for new tenancies and from May 2026 for existing tenancies. Social landlords will be required to inspect and test electrical installations every five years; provide a copy of the EICR to tenants within certain timeframes; carry out PAT testing on any electrical items supplied with the tenancy; and complete remedial works within 28 days.

• Awaab’s Law: Draft guidance and regulations have been laid out introducing Awaab’s Law into social housing in England. The Hazards in Social Housing (Prescribed Requirements) (England) Regulations 2025 and draft guidance for social landlords have brought some clarity on the requirements which will be phased in from October. The key points to note are:

  • The first phase will come in on 27 October 2025 for all damp and mould hazards and any ‘emergency hazards’ in social housing

  • Social landlords must investigate within 10 working days when they become aware of a potential hazard within scope, and provide a written summary of the findings to residents within 3 working days of concluding their investigation

  • Where a significant hazard is found, the social landlord must make the property safe within 5 working days after concluding their investigation, and any further work required must be started and completed within a reasonable time

  • In an emergency situation, the matter must be investigated and actioned as soon as reasonably practicable, and within 24 hours

  • Where a property cannot be made safe within the required timescales, suitable alternative accommodation must be offered to the occupants.

It’s also worth noting that the hazard assessment under Awaab’s Law takes a twist from that prescribed within the HHSRS and will require an assessment of the occupants and their potential vulnerabilities – not the vulnerable group. This is likely to lead to hazards being assessed as significant under Awaab’s Law, which will therefore require action by the housing association. Such an assessment is potentially contrary to that of an LA, which may, using the statutory provision defined by the Housing Act 2004, assess the same issue as a low-scoring hazard. It is going to be interesting to see how this plays out.

Consultations

• The Department for Energy Security & Net Zero are consulting on updated guidance for the assessment and rating of wind turbine noise. The draft guidance is available here and the government will issue a formal response on conclusion of the consultation.

• Consultation on Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards in the Social Rented Sector in England is currently underway. This follows the consultation for the PRS, which took place in February, with the expectation of maintaining a level of consistency with MEES across the two sectors.

• The Decent Homes Standard consultation proposes a single revised DHS for both the private and social rented sectors, focused on the standard of the property. The planned implementation dates for both tenures are either 2035 or 2037, and the standard will also apply to supported housing and temporary accommodation. New criterion for the DHS are proposed: free of Category 1 hazards; good repair (excluding the age of the building component); adequate facilities and services, including noise insulation; updated thermal comfort requirements; and a new criterion that properties should be free of damp and mould.

What’s new on RIAMS Libraries?

During June, we reviewed 168 documents for England, Northern Ireland and Wales, including 115 procedures as well as notices, letters and forms. We’ve added a few new documents to the libraries as well, including:

• Evidencing a Building as a Section 257 House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) (HP250) (England and Wales)

• Licensing of Primates (LP71) (England)

• Inspection Form (Housing) (HS160) (England and Wales)

• Recovery of Expenses and Interest from Occupiers for Works in Default under the Housing Act 2004 (HP252) (England and Wales)

• Renters’ Rights Bill guidance and procedures for England:

  • Renters’ Right Act 2025: Rent Increases and Rent in Advance (HP251)

  • Renters’ Rights Act 2025: Assured Tenancies, Grounds for Possession, Statement of Terms (HP253)

  • Private Rented Sector Ombudsman (Landlord Redress Schemes)– (HP254)

  All available in the Renters’ Rights Act procedures folder.

• Closure notices under section 19, Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001, are now available in the Licensing module.

RIAMS Northern Ireland – an update from our Northern Ireland Editor

Aaron Lawson joined us in December 2024 and has been leading a growing team of RIAMS specialists in the delivery of new and updated content to the RIAMS Northern Ireland Libraries.

• Overcoming various legislative challenges, Aaron and his specialist team have reviewed nearly 500 documents in the Libraries, including:
  226 procedures

• 60 documents

• 205 templates and forms 

A big thank you to all our RIAMS specialists and authors.

What’s new on RIAMS Communities?

The number of colleagues registering with our discussion groups continues to increase as debate and networking flourish across all areas of environmental health.

Our Question of the Month with Tim Everett for June, Out of Time? The Legal Limits and Leeway on Late Appeals Against Local Authority Notices, is available on Communities. And conversation about May’s question carried on throughout June - Two Worlds, Two Rules: Planning Permission and HMO Licensing. Easily our most popular question to date!

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

New tribunal decisions will be released shortly.

Stay engaged, stay informed – upcoming events and training

-  2, 3, 30 September (08:45–13:00): HHSRS Practitioner Training [Online] (11 hrs, 45 mins CPD)

-  16 September (09:30–12:45): Practical Use of Community Protection Notices [Online] (2 hrs 50 mins)

-  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)

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

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.