Day: 18 September 2026

‘On 1st May 2026, the first phase of the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 (“RRA2005”) came into force (Chapter 1 of Part 1). Readers will be aware of significant reforms to the private rental sector that are intended to provide greater security for tenants, improved housing standards and transparency in the rental market. The headline change is the abolition of Assured Shorthold Tenancies, and with this the extinction of the section 21 ‘no-fault eviction’ notice. The last date for validly serving a section 21 notice was 30th April 2026, and a private landlord who served such a notice must issue possession proceedings by 31st July 2026 (or, if sooner, the limitation date specified on the notice) – section 21 possession proceedings are soon to be extinct.’

Full Story

Becket Chambers, 11th September 2026

Source: becket-chambers.co.uk

‘In Rehman, Master Davison considered applications by the Defendants to strike out twenty-three claims arising from deaths in care homes from Covid-19 during the pandemic. The claims were brought under the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1934 and the Fatal Accidents Act 1976. All but one of the Claimants alleged that the Secretary of State’s policy not to mandate 14-day isolation of asymptomatic patients upon discharge from hospital to care homes was negligent. The Claimants also alleged that there was a failure by care homes to ensure sufficient Covid-19 protection measures. On the Claimants’ case, these breaches of duty caused care home residents to contract Covid-19, which led to their deaths [1]. The Defendants sought to strike out the claims under CPR 3.4(2)(a) on the basis that the Claimants had no realistic prospect of success because they could not prove causation [6].’

Full Story

1 QMLR, 17th September 2026

Source: 1corqmlr.com

‘A former police officer has been jailed for misconduct in public office after he requested a sexually explicit video from a female suspect’s phone.’

Full Story

Crown Prosecution Service, 16th September 2026

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

‘The Church Appointments (Repeal of Discriminatory Provision) Bill was given its First Reading on 15 September 2026; a copy of the two-clause Bill is here and the Explanatory Notes (“the Notes”) are here. Whilst the historic legislation which prevents a person who professes either the Roman Catholic or Jewish faiths from advising the Sovereign on Church appointments is clearly discriminatory, there continue to be alternative arrangements which ensure that Church appointments can be made. Nevertheless, primary legislation is required to remove this restriction. The Explanatory Notes include information inter alia on the policy and legal background, the need to fast-track the legislation, and the territorial extent.’

Full Story

Law & Religion UK, 18th September 2026

Source: lawandreligionuk.com

‘Fred Holker sets out the lessons from a recent County Court case where a teacher making a Prevent referral was found to have subjected the pupil to direct discrimination.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 16th September 2026

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

‘A recent High Court ruling puts a spotlight on transparency notices under the Procurement Act 2023. Natalie Gorse and Claire Gamage look at the lessons for contracting authorities and suppliers.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 18th September 2026

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

‘Creation of the Business and Property Division (BPD) next month will provide a larger pool of judges and “opportunities to look at how we do things”, its first president has said.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 18th September 2026

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

‘A judge has warned litigants in person (LiPs) that, like lawyers, they need to take personal responsibility for the use of AI in drafting court documents.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 18th September 2026

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

‘A celebrity florist has succeeded in a trade mark infringement claim against a rival which took ‘unfair advantage’ of her company Flowerbx’s reputation by using similar names.’

Full Story

Law Society Gazette, 16th September 2026

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

‘A baby boy who was found with twine looped and knotted round his neck and wrapped in a 116-year-old newspaper was unlawfully killed, a coroner has concluded.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 17th September 2026

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘The founder of Addison Lee owes £20.5m in tax after a tribunal dismissed a claim that he should be treated as a nom-dom despite living in the UK since childhood.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 17th September 2026

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘A Ukrainian man has pleaded guilty to spraying abusive graffiti on mosques in east London, in a case linked to the Russian state network behind arson attacks against the former prime minister Sir Keir Starmer.’

Full Story

BBC News, 17th September 2026

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘A man has been jailed for 14 years for raping two teenage girls after encouraging them to drink alcohol at his flat.’

Full Story

BBC News, 17th September 2026

Source: www.bbc.co.uk