The Week’s Best Property News: In Review

26th August 2026

Each week, we carefully review and hand-pick the most important and reliable property stories from across the media from the previous seven days.

So if you’re a buyer, seller, landlord, tenant, property investor, or property professional working within the industry, the latest roundup of news stories will help you understand what’s really happening in the UK property market now and what’s ahead…

#1 More than 70,000 social and affordable homes to be built across England over 10 years

Reported by Tarah WelshHousing correspondent and Jade ThompsonBBC News.

On 25th August, Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Secretary of State Angela Rayner announced the first major funding allocation from the Government’s ten-year, £39 billion Social and Affordable Homes Programme. Nearly £10 billion will go to 33 strategic partners including councils and housing associations, supporting the delivery of more than 70,000 social and affordable homes across England in several regions. 60% of these homes will be for social rent.

Read more about the Government’s first allocation of funding from the Social and Affordable Homes Programme here.

#2 Fire doors – what’s required from a legal perspective?

Reported by Lee Kennedy FIConstM, West Midlands Fire Door Inspections.

For landlords, third-party certification schemes and BS 8214:2026 can provide useful assurance and best-practice guidance, but they are not the legal test. The legal requirement is a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment under the RRFSO 2005, with fire doors properly maintained and kept in good working order where reasonably practicable.

#3 Buying or selling a home? Avoid Fridays and scams!

Reported by Hilary Osborne, The Guardian

“Friday afternoon fraud” sees criminals intercept or spoof emails between buyers, solicitors and estate agents, then trick people into sending deposits or purchase funds to a fake bank account. Buyers, renters and anyone moving large property-related sums should verify bank details by phone or in person, never rely on email alone, and contact their bank immediately if something goes wrong.

Read more about how to spot and avoid “Friday afternoon fraud” here.

#4 Could the new National Planning Policy Framework make it easier to build homes near stations?

Reported by Savills News

Savills says the latest planning changes bring stronger support for development, clearer density rules and a more growth-focused approach.

Read more about the new National Planning Policy Framework here.

#5 Could your next rent increase stand up at tribunal?

Reported by Tom Entwistle, LandlordZone

Under the new Renters’ Rights rules, landlords will need strong evidence of fair market rent, not just advertised prices, if a tenant challenges it. The first published First-tier Tribunal decision at 25C Skylark Point, 1 Portlands Court, London offers some useful insights into this.

Read more about evidence of rent increases under the Renters’ Rights Act here.

Are you a UK landlord who still has questions about the Renters’ Rights Act and how this works in practice? The remaining 2026 National Landlord Investment Shows will offer expert-led free Renters’ Rights Act training in Bristol on 30th September 2026, Manchester on 14th October 2026 and in London on 28th October 2026. Find out more about the live, in-person events here.

#6 Could a missed EICR repair escalate into an urgent safety hazard?

Reported by Marc Shoffman, The Negotiator

This case shows councils and tribunals are prepared to enforce electrical safety rules where urgent remedial work is not dealt with properly.

Read more about the importance of enforcing electrical safety checks and repairs here.

#7 Dreaming of a country cottage? Is now a good time to grab a cottage bargain?

Reported by Jane Denton, This is Money

Recent data from Zoopla suggests that the demand for countryside cottages in idyllic English locations such as North Devon and the Cotswolds has ‘dropped by a third since its peak in 2024’, so is this your time to grab a cottage bargain if you’re a home buyer?

Read more about cottage property prices here.

#8 £6 billion to be invested in social homes in London?

Reported by Nicholas Cecil, The Standard

Sir Sadiq Khan and City Hall have confirmed that £6 billion is to be invested in social homes and housing associations up until 2030 as part of the government’s ten-year £39 billion Social and Affordable Homes Programme from 2026 to 2036.

Read more about the Mayor of London’s housing announcement here.

If you want to understand more about what’s going on in the London Property Market and how housing supply needs to keep up with demand, our London Market Report offers an in-depth analysis here.

#9 Do renters really understand their rights in 2026?

Published by Housing Hand Research

New Housing Hand research suggests many tenants feel confused, financially underprepared, and unsure how the Renters’ Rights Act could affect them.

Read more about Housing Hand’s research in Understanding Renters in 2026 here.

#10 Nine in ten landlords have not received a single formal pet request since the right came into force on 1 May 2026.

Reported by Allison Thompson, Chief Lettings Officer, LRG

Yet more than half of tenants say pet policy actively influences where they choose to live, according to new research from LRG. Overall, the research finds the legal right to request a pet under the Renters’ Rights Act is ‘yet to be become a regular feature of day-to-day lettings’.

Read more about tenants’ requests for pets since 1st May here.

That’s your best property news for this week! Which story could have the biggest impact on you or your next critical property decision?

Want to hear more from leading property experts, explore the issues shaping the market and connect with the wider property community? Join the next National Landlord Investment Show in your area.

The Week’s Best Property News: In Review is curated by the UK Property News content team. Original reporting is credited and linked above.