Regulation news: page 5
- September 2025
Amendment inserts £39 million uplift to scheme year 15 spending obligation
The Warm Home Discount (Amendment) Regulations 2025, made on 17 September 2025, add £39 million to the Scotland scheme's final year spending obligation and extend the England and Wales rebate deadline.
Treasury answers parliamentary question on mis-sold car finance compensation
The Treasury told Parliament on 8 September 2025 that it is working with the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority on motor finance commission practices, after the Supreme Court clarified the law.
FCA consulted on draft rules for BNPL firms
The FCA has consulted on draft rules and guidance for buy now pay later firms, ahead of bringing deferred payment credit into its regulation from summer 2026.
Government announces consultation on homebuying reforms
The government has announced a consultation on homebuying reforms covering upfront property information, binding conditional contracts and regulation of estate, letting and managing agents.
- August 2025
Consumer Scotland responds to FCA consultation on targeted support for pensions and investment decisions
Consumer Scotland has published its response to the Financial Conduct Authority's consultation on targeted support, setting out evidence on the advice gap in pensions and investments.
Government publishes Low Pay Commission remit and updated National Living Wage estimates for April 2026
The Government has published the Low Pay Commission's remit for April 2026 minimum wage rates, alongside an updated central estimate that the National Living Wage would need to reach £12.71.
- July 2025
Affordability, explanation and switching policy rules revised
The Financial Conduct Authority has updated mortgage rulebook provisions on remortgaging without additional borrowing, covering the more affordable test, explanation and warning requirements, and internal switching policies.
FCA updated MCOB 4.8A execution-only sales rules
The FCA Handbook shows mortgage advising and selling rules in MCOB 4 carrying a 22 July 2025 date, including a new requirement for firms to identify execution-only customers who may need advice.
New rule on expired term customers took effect
A new Financial Conduct Authority rule took effect on 22 July 2025 requiring mortgage firms to deal fairly with customers whose mortgage term has expired with a balance still outstanding.
FCA publishes consultation paper CP25/23 on final rules for BNPL lenders
The FCA has published consultation paper CP25/23 setting out proposed rules for buy now pay later lenders, with regulation limited to third-party lender agreements and due to take effect on 15 July 2026.
ISA and CTF rule changes take effect for recognised funds, LTAFs and flexible ISAs
Rules covering Child Trust Funds, recognised funds, Long Term Asset Funds and flexible ISAs took effect on 15 July 2025, with separate National Insurance number requirements for ISA investors following in 2027.
2025 Order passed setting provisions for regulating BNPL products
The 2025 Order passed on 14 July 2025 sets provisions to bring interest-free buy now pay later products under Financial Conduct Authority regulation from 15 July 2026.
Bank of England introduces temporary exemption to the 15% loan-to-income limit
The Bank of England introduced a temporary exemption to its 15% cap on mortgages above 4.5 times income in July 2025, letting individual lenders exceed the limit if the market as a whole does not.
BNPL to come under FCA regulation
Buy Now Pay Later will come under Financial Conduct Authority regulation in July, the Centre for Responsible Credit has told the Treasury Committee, though it warns current affordability rules may not protect borrowers.
Energy price cap to rise by £221 (13%) from 1 July
The energy price cap rose by £221, or 13%, on 1 July, taking a typical household bill to £1,663 a year, with a further 4% rise confirmed for October.
Government consults on proposals to reform the FOS
The government has published its response to a consultation on reforming the Financial Ombudsman Service, confirming plans for a 10-year complaint time limit and a narrower fair and reasonable test.
PRA and FCA amend Loan-to-Income flow limit rule to apply industry-wide
The Prudential Regulation Authority and Financial Conduct Authority have changed the loan-to-income flow limit so the 15% cap on mortgages above 4.5 times income applies across the industry rather than to each lender.
- June 2025
Government launches consultation on council tax billing and collection in England
The government has opened a 12 week consultation on how council tax is billed and collected in England, covering payment schedules, enforcement, band challenges and bill transparency.
Government response to Warm Home Discount expansion consultation published
The Government has confirmed changes to the Warm Home Discount for winter 2025/26, removing the high cost to heat threshold in England and Wales and increasing spending in Scotland.
Government to exempt domestic premises suppliers from BNPL credit broking permissions
The government has decided to exempt businesses that sell goods and services in people's homes from needing credit broking permissions to offer buy now pay later as a payment option.
Chancellor announces £39 billion Social and Affordable Homes Programme
The Chancellor announced £39 billion for a new ten-year Social and Affordable Homes Programme at the Spending Review on 11 June 2025, with the government saying it could deliver around 300,000 affordable homes.
Pension Schemes Bill 2024-25 introduced in Parliament
The Pension Schemes Bill 2024-25 was introduced in Parliament on 5 June 2025, with 12 policies covering local government funds, defined benefit and defined contribution schemes, and the Pensions Ombudsman.
Amending regulations laid for 2025 to 2026 Warm Home Discount expansion
Amending regulations laid in June 2025 remove the high-cost-to-heat threshold for Warm Home Discount Core Group 2 in England and Wales and raise Broader Group funding in Scotland, with around 6 million households expected to receive the £150 rebate.
Guidance updated for DMCCA unfair trading provisions
Trading standards guidance pages for England, Scotland and Wales have been updated to reflect the coming into force of Part 4, Chapter 1 of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024.
- May 2025
CP25/1 remedies consultation closes
The Payment Systems Regulator's consultation on remedies for the card scheme and processing fees market review closed on 28 May 2025, after findings that Mastercard and Visa raised core fees by at least 25% since 2017.
Ofgem announces new energy price cap with standard credit premium unchanged
Ofgem has announced a new energy price cap under which households that pay after receiving their bill will still pay £135 a year more than those paying by direct debit.
Government lays BNPL legislation and commits to reviewing approach to domestic premises suppliers
The government laid secondary legislation on 19 May 2025 to regulate interest-free buy now pay later products from July 2026, while committing to review how the rules treat businesses selling in customers' homes.
Government publishes BNPL consultation response and confirms it will bring BNPL into regulation
HM Treasury has published its response to the October 2024 consultation on draft BNPL legislation and confirmed it will lay the draft statutory instrument to bring buy now pay later products into regulation.
Equity Release Council launches Standards 2.0
The Equity Release Council launched Standards 2.0 in May 2025, adding a Consumer Charter and a product standard that waives early repayment charges for customers moving permanently into long-term care.
Government lays secondary legislation to bring BNPL under FCA regulation
The Government laid secondary legislation on 19 May 2025 to bring buy now pay later credit under Financial Conduct Authority regulation, with the regime due to start twelve months and one day after the legislation is made.