InformationLatest Updates
Warm Homes: Local Grant scheme
Warm Homes: Local Grant is a government funded scheme to reduce the energy bills of low-income households living in poorly energy performing homes.
This scheme is open to households who have a low income (as defined by the scheme) and have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) of D, E, F or G.
Home owners in East Devon can register an interest at Warm Homes: Local Grant DCC - Energy Saving Devon
Renting is Changing
Reforms to the private rented sector in England are bringing new rights and responsibilities for landlords, letting agents and tenants. The Renters Right Act is aiming to make renting fairer and more secure for tenants while providing clarity for landlords. A guide for the Private landlords can be found here.
More information for tenants can be seen at Guide to the Renters’ Rights Act - GOV.UK and Renters Rights Act: private tenants - Shelter England.
Energy Company Obligation ECO4 scheme extended to 31 December 2026
The Government have consulted on and extended ECO4 for nine months until 31 December 2026 and the Great British Insulation Scheme will close on the 31 March 20206.
Please refer to this update for more information from the gov.uk website.
Hazards in Social Housing (Prescribed Requirements) (England) Regulations 2025, commonly referred to as Awaab’s Law
Awaab’s Law came into force for the social rented sector in 27 October 2025. From this point social landlords will have to address all emergency hazards and all damp and mould hazards that present a significant risk of harm to tenants to fixed timeframes.
Hazards are only in scope of Awaab’s Law repair requirements if they arise from a deficiency in the social home or other building or land for which the social landlord is responsible. An example such as a noise hazard caused by anti-social behaviour outside the building would therefore not be in scope.
If a hazard arises from a deficiency in a communal part of a mixed-tenure residential building for which the social landlord is not responsible, this would not be in scope of Awaab’s Law repair requirements.
Social rented tenants must let their social housing landlord know of any emergency hazards and all damp and mould in their home, as the social landlord know has a strict legal timeframe to deal with your complaint. Your social landlord should be able to tell you how to report the hazards in your home.
Make Things Right - Social Housing Complaints
Social housing should be safe, secure and well maintained. If you have an issue with your social housing landlord, it’s now easier to make things right.
How do I make a complaint?
If you’re unhappy with the service from your social housing landlord you should make a complaint to them first. Social Housing Complaints – If you're unhappy with the service from your social housing provider, make it right
Complaints could include:
- repairs and maintenance
- issues with communal areas
- health and safety issues
- anti-social behaviour
- customer service
Be assured, you shouldn’t be penalised for making a complaint and it will not affect your tenancy.
Your social housing landlord will typically have 2 stages to their complaint’s procedure, and each stage takes around 10-20 working days for them to respond. If you are unhappy with your landlord’s response you may contact the Housing Ombudsman Service.
Advice on how to make an effective Housing Ombudsman complaint can be found in this guide.
Park Home Residents Advice Service
If you have any questions or any other queries about your rights and responsibilities as a park home resident, please contact the Leasehold Advisory Service on 020 7832 2525 or book a park homes advice session: Contact – Leasehold Advisory Service (lease-advice.org)
Leasehold Advisory Service Ltd Registered in England no 3296985 Registered office: 2 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DF Telephone 020 7832 2500
Email info@lease-advice.org
Flooding in and around Private Water Supplies
Flood water can carry unwanted and potentially harmful pollution. These can enter your private water supply if the source and tanks are not protected against contaminated surface water.
If you think your private water has been affected by flooding, then there are options available to you:
- Temporarily boil water to kill any bacteria that may have entered the supply via the flood water.
- Check all source and storage chambers are tightly sealed and in good repair to prevent flood water gaining access to your water.
- Check the UV treatment is working; the bulb is lit; the quartz tube is clean and that the pre filtration is sufficient to protect the UV unit.
- If the pre filter cartridge is dirty following the flood, it must be changed.
- A water engineer can carry out a chlorinated flush of the system following the flood to ensure that any bacteria that could be in the pipework is killed.
- East Devon District Council can conduct sampling to ensure wholesomeness of the water.
For more advice and information and a list of Water Engineers please contact the Private Sector Housing Team.
Spray Foam Insulation Guidance
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has launched an impartial and comprehensive guide written by specialists to update residents on the latest guidance about the use of spray foam as a method of insulating residential properties.
Thermal improvements can be made to many homes. If your main goals are to reduce energy bills and carbon emissions, then installing insulation and draught-proofing can achieve this. Spray foam is just one type of thermal insulation, which can be applied to various parts of a building as part of a wider thermal improvement plan.
However, this popular form of insulation, which has been widely used for several decades, can all too often be marketed as an easy and simplistic fix. In fact the installation of spray foam should really be seen as a significant and fundamental alteration to a home which needs careful consideration and planning.
The RICS spray foam guide aim at homeowners and landlords on the pros and cons of spray foam installation. Following many years of research into the effects of foam insulation material, helping residents in making informed decisions.
This informative guide covers topics such as what effects spray foam might have on a property’s roof structure, thermal performance and value - do’s and don’ts when installing insulation to your home, and how RICS-accredited members can help assess your property.
RICS release new spray foam consumer guide
Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018
Guide for tenants: Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
The Act applies to the social and private rented sectors. It allows tenants to take their own actions against their landlord if their rented home is not fit for habitation. Landlords must ensure that their property, including any common parts of the building, is fit for human habitation at the beginning of the tenancy and throughout.
Landlords must make sure that their property is free of hazards which are so serious that the dwelling is not reasonably suitable for occupation. Most landlords take their responsibility seriously and do this already.
Where a landlord fails to do so, the tenant has the right to take action in the courts for breach of contract on the grounds that the property is unfit for human habitation. The court can require the landlord to take action to reduce or remove the hazard, and / or pay damages to compensate the tenant.
From 20 March 2020, everyone who has a secure or assured tenancy, or a statutory tenancy, or a private periodic tenancy, can use the Homes Act regardless of when their tenancy began. Anyone who is still on the fixed term of a private tenancy that began before 20 March 2019 cannot use the Act until the end of that fixed term.