Scotland, Wales and NI news in 2022
29 stories, newest first.
- December 2022
Rent not payable for unfit homes in Wales from 1 December 2022
From 1 December 2022 tenants in Wales under standard occupation contracts may not have to pay rent for any period when the property is unfit for human habitation, under rules that also changed how tenancies are made.
- November 2022
Key statistics note published for Cost of Living Bill
The Scottish Government has published key statistics on housing costs, financial vulnerability and fuel poverty that underpinned the Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) Scotland Bill introduced on 3 October 2022.
Emergency Budget Review published
The Scottish Government published an Emergency Budget Review on 2 November 2022, identifying around £35 million for cost of living initiatives as inflation peaked at 11.1% in October 2022.
Energy Bills Support Scheme £400 credit begins in Northern Ireland
Households in Northern Ireland began receiving the £400 Energy Bills Support Scheme credit from November 2022, paid automatically through electricity suppliers in six monthly instalments.
Scotland excluded from the scheme
A 2022 order inserted a fifth condition into the cold weather payment rules so that a claimant's home must be in England or Wales, taking Scotland out of the scheme.
- October 2022
Starting threshold for main residential LTT rises to £225,000 in Wales
The Welsh Government raised the starting threshold for main residential Land Transaction Tax in Wales from £180,000 to £225,000 on 10 October 2022, with the first band from £225,000 to £400,000 taxed at 6%.
Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) Scotland Bill introduced
The Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) Scotland Bill was introduced to the Scottish Parliament on 3 October 2022, alongside official statistics on housing costs, fuel poverty and financial vulnerability in Scotland's rented sectors.
- September 2022
Welsh Government announces changes to main residential LTT rates and bands
The Welsh Government announced on 27 September 2022 that main residential rates of Land Transaction Tax would change on 10 October 2022, raising the starting threshold from £180,000 to £225,000.
New SDLT rates introduced on 23 September 2022
HMRC added worked examples to its leasehold Stamp Duty Land Tax guidance on 23 September 2022, showing the residential rates that took effect in England that day.
Scottish Ministers make council tax reduction and discount amendment regulations
Scottish Ministers have laid amending regulations for council tax reduction and council tax discounts in Scotland, changing how non-dependants, disability premiums and cost of living payments are treated.
Scotland introduces temporary private rent freeze and eviction ban
The Scottish Government introduced a temporary rent cap and eviction ban for most tenants from 6 September 2022, initially running until at least 31 March 2023.
Emergency Budget Review published
The Scottish Government published an emergency budget review in September 2022 after high inflation eroded the value of the Scottish Budget, with the Finance Minister estimating it was worth around £1.7 billion less than in December 2021.
Stamp duty cut announced, benefiting London first-time buyers most
The Resolution Foundation says the September 2022 fiscal statement's stamp duty cut will reduce the tax bill on the average first-time buyer home in London by £6,300, with no gain in the North East.
In-tenancy rent increase measures implemented in Scotland
Rent increase measures that applied in Scotland from September 2022 to March 2025 are cited by the Office for National Statistics as context for Scottish rent figures published in September 2026.
- August 2022
Scottish Government opens consultation on reforms to statutory debt solutions and diligence
The Scottish Government has opened a consultation on reforms to Scotland's statutory debt solutions and debt recovery mechanisms, responding to recommendations from stakeholder-led policy reviews.
Scottish Government Resilience Committee convened on cost of living
The First Minister convened the Scottish Government Resilience Committee on 11 August 2022 to discuss urgent steps to mitigate the cost of living crisis, as inflation ran at its highest rate for 41 years.
- July 2022
Welsh Government launches Phase 1 consultation on council tax reform in Wales
The Welsh Government has opened a Phase 1 consultation on reforming council tax in Wales, covering revaluation, new bands and rates, discounts, exemptions and the Council Tax Reduction Scheme.
- April 2022
Basic rate band values corrected to £37,700
HM Revenue & Customs corrected the basic rate band for England, Northern Ireland and Wales from £37,000 to £37,700 on 13 April 2022, in its published Income Tax rates and allowances guidance.
Cold weather payments responsibility transferred to the Scottish Government
Responsibility for cold weather payments in Scotland moved to the Scottish Government at the start of 2022-23, the Office for Budget Responsibility has confirmed in its latest welfare report.
Council Tax Reduction (Scotland) Regulations 2021 come into force
The Council Tax Reduction (Scotland) Regulations 2021, made on 23 June 2021 and laid before the Scottish Parliament on 25 June 2021, came into force on 1 April 2022 for the financial year beginning on that date.
Scottish low income benefits uprated by 6% in April 2022
Scottish low income benefits rose by 6% in April 2022 while most reserved benefits rose by 3.1%, a gap the Scottish government later cited in its analysis of the cost of living crisis.
Senedd sets Welsh rates at 10% for 2022-23
The Senedd set the Welsh rates of income tax at 10% across all bands for 2022-23, leaving total rates paid by Welsh taxpayers matching UK rates at 20%, 40% and 45%.
- March 2022
Scottish Government to have allocated almost £3 billion in cost of living mitigation by end of March 2023
The Scottish Government says it will have allocated almost £3 billion in cost of living measures by the end of March 2023, including a rise in the Scottish Child Payment to £25 per week.
Social Justice and Social Security Committee publishes findings on low income and problem debt
The Scottish Parliament's Social Justice and Social Security Committee has called on the Scottish Government to move quickly on a mental health moratorium for people in problem debt, as ministers prepare enabling legislation.
- February 2022
Wales announces £150 council tax rebates
Welsh finance minister Rebecca Evans has announced £150 council tax rebates for households in bands A to D and those in the council tax reduction scheme, to be paid as soon as possible.
Scotland announces £150 council tax rebate for 1.85m households
Scotland's finance secretary Kate Forbes announced on 10 February 2022 that 73% of Scottish households, about 1.85 million, will receive a £150 council tax rebate in April 2022.
Welsh and Scottish governments claim no extra money for council tax rebate equivalents
The Welsh and Scottish governments said on 9 February 2022 that they would receive no new money to match England's £150 council tax rebate, though both receive Barnett consequentials offset by revised health spending.
Northern Ireland Welfare Mitigation scheme expanded
Northern Ireland's Welfare Mitigation scheme was expanded on 8 February 2022 to cover more households affected by the bedroom tax or the Benefit Cap, with further changes following on 10 February.
UK government announces £150 council tax rebate for England and Barnett funding for devolved governments
The UK government announced a £150 council tax rebate for homes in England in bands A to D on 3 February 2022, alongside about £565 million in Barnett consequentials for the devolved governments.