A slew of fresh regulations are on the horizon for 2026, impacting waste management, travel, and labor laws. Households will have new bins for food waste collections and updated recycling guidelines. Additionally, measures against unethical landlords and employers will affect individuals nationwide.
The Renters’ Rights Bill, effective May 1, will bring significant changes for tenants, including the prohibition of no-fault evictions in the private rental sector. This long-awaited legislation will require landlords to provide valid reasons for eviction, addressing longstanding calls for reform.
In April, the National Living Wage will rise by 4.1%, reaching £12.71 per hour for workers aged 21 and above. Minimum wages for 18-20-year-olds and 16-17-year-olds will also increase, ensuring a real-terms pay increase for low-wage workers.
Under the Renters’ Rights Act, commencing May 1, fixed contracts for tenancies in the private rental sector will be eliminated. Instead, agreements will roll over monthly or weekly without fixed end dates, granting tenants more flexibility with a two-month notice period for termination.
Starting March 31, the ‘Simpler Recycling’ regulations will mandate four separate bins for households, segregating food and garden waste, paper and card, dry recyclables, and non-recyclable waste. Similarly, paternity leave will become an immediate entitlement from April, streamlining leave notice procedures.
Changes in statutory sick pay and employment rights will enhance worker benefits, ensuring SSP from the first day of illness and removing the lower earnings limit for eligibility. Moreover, laws against ticket scalping will limit resale prices to face value plus unavoidable fees, safeguarding consumers from inflated costs.
New drone regulations, including mandatory theory tests for operators of 100g+ aircraft, aim to enhance safety standards. Travelers to Europe will encounter the Entry Exit System (EES) requiring registration at EU borders, with an upcoming fee for the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS).
The prohibition on junk food advertising during specific times and the end of ‘fire and rehire’ practices mark significant shifts in consumer protection and labor rights. Lastly, tax relief for remote workers’ expenses will cease from April 6, impacting how individuals claim deductions for additional costs incurred while working from home.