The latest updates and insights from RIAMS Chief Editor Jeremy Manners 

Welcome to the May 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. 

The Housing Roundtable took place on 22 April, where guest speaker Al Mcclenahan was joined by 260 practitioners discussing civil penalties and the changes expected through the Renters’ Rights Bill. The webinar slides, recording and answers to any outstanding questions can be found on the Housing Professionals Communities group. All attendees to the free webinar receive 1 hour of CPD.  

Our next Housing Roundtable will be on 12 June at 11 a.m. and we are delighted to have Ben Reeve-Lewis join us to talk about a multi-disciplinary approach to illegal eviction and harassment – something which is going to be so important for housing practitioners when the RRB is enacted, later this year. 

Our RIAMS Northern Ireland User group met on 29 April and had a productive meeting, discussing ongoing support and developments to keep NI practitioners up to date with the latest legislative changes.  

I have been working with DASH Services to develop landlord e-Learning on the new provisions of the RRB, which will be released shortly by DASH. This will support landlords with understanding what is expected from them and, in turn, support LAs with the message. It was also great to join the ‘DASH in conversation with’ series exploring the potential impact of the RRB on homelessness and the wider PRS. 

And to support Mental Health Awareness Week (12–18 May), we have our ASB Enforcement and Mental Health training course taking place on 20 May, supporting practitioners to address ASB complaints confidently in circumstances where the subject has challenging mental health issues. 

It’s wonderful to see that Operation Jigsaw is back to support partnerships and collaboration between MHCLG and local authorities as they prepare for implementation of the RRB. Regional meetings are being organised across England thanks to the excellent leadership of Alison Farrar and all the local reps, so keep an eye on RIAMS Communities for further updates.  

Legal and regulatory insights 

• The Renters’ Rights Bill is being examined line by line in the House of Lords at the committee stage; the last sitting is scheduled for 14 May. The bill will then move to the report stage, where all members of the Lords will have a further opportunity to examine it and make amendments. 

•  MPs have been considering the Crime and Policing Bill, which is currently at the committee stage in the House of Commons. It is likely to bring in new powers for tackling anti-social behaviour.  

On 23 April I attended a meeting arranged by ACEHO, where the FSA presented their thoughts and justification for exploring enterprise-level regulation, something which they stressed was not to be confused with self-regulation. The slides from the event can be found on the ACEHO RIAMS communities group. This event was for England. Similar sessions have also been held for Wales and Northern Ireland.   

What’s new on RIAMS Libraries?  

We have welcomed five more local authority subscribers to Libraries, so their officers can now access our comprehensive knowledge area of procedures, notices and guidance.   

Ninety-seven procedures have been reviewed and updated on RIAMS Libraries during April, as well as further updates to letters, forms and national guidance across England, Northern Ireland and Wales.  

We have published a new guidance document on PFAS: Contaminants of Interest in Private Water Supplies and our England and Wales Licensing procedures are being updated to include further details on enforcement. These will be published over the coming weeks. Furthermore, we are working with Northern Ireland councils to bring their consumer protection documentation up to date. And, not forgetting the Renters’ Rights Bill – our RIAMS specialists are keeping an eye on developments and working hard in readiness for its enactment later this year. 

Taking a look behind the scenes, our developers continue to work on RIAMS libraries, preparing the system for further exciting upgrades. . . more to come on this over the coming months.  

What’s new on RIAMS Communities?

The conversation continues! More local authority practitioners have joined our public discussion groups on Communities, enabling them to network with colleagues and stay up to date with the latest developments in their specialist areas. 

The dedicated forums of Operation Jigsaw help colleagues communicate and organise forthcoming events. Get in touch with your local rep for more information.  

Our ‘Question of the Month’ feature with Tim Everett is taking place throughout 2025. April’s consideration, No Address, No Excuse, is available now. If you have a burning question for Tim, please send it to me: [email protected]. 

We have also released another Upper Tribunal decision: Daisy Ojukwu v Chukwunyere Onuoha, where rent repayment orders and reasonable excuse were considered by the UT, who didn’t hold back on criticising the First-tier Tribunal.  

Stay engaged, stay informed – upcoming events and training 

• 19–23 May (10:00–12:15) – PWS Explained

• 19 and 21 May (9:15–13:00) – Planning Consultations: ‘A Survival Guide for Professionals’ 

• 20 May (9:00–12:30) – ASB Enforcement and Mental Health 

• 22 and 23 May (8:45–13:00) – HHSRS Identification and Rating of Hazards 

• 29 May (11:00–11:45) – The Noise App Drop-in Session 

• 3 June (10:00–11:30) – Enforcement on Single-use Vape Legislation in Wales 

• 4, 11, 18 & 25 June (9:15–12:40) – Investigation Skills and PACE 

• 12 June (11:00–12:00) – RHE Global Housing Roundtable  

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

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