| Date | Change and status at 27 October 2026 | Who should act | Recommended action |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 April 2025 | Updated unfair-commercial-practices rules took effect, including fake-review and pricing provisions. Already in force. CMA | Domestic contractors and their marketing/AI suppliers | Audit advertised prices, automated quotations and testimonials. |
| 5 February 2026 | Most remaining DUAA data-protection and privacy reforms commenced, including stronger PECR enforcement powers. Already in force. ICO | Firms processing customer or employee information | Review decision-making, marketing and supplier controls. |
| 19 June 2026 | New organisational data-protection complaints requirements commenced. Already in force. ICO | Contractors handling personal data | Provide a clear complaint route and acknowledgement process. |
| 21 July 2026–31 March 2027 | Temporary £9,000 BUS support is available for qualifying off-gas-grid heat-pump installations. Current, conditional and time-limited. Ofgem | Heat-pump installers in England and Wales | Replace blanket grant claims with eligibility checks and dated rules. |
| 19 October 2026 | Government published subscription-contract guidance alongside draft implementing regulations. Preparation required; distinguish draft from final commencement. Government publication | Businesses selling potentially qualifying consumer service plans | Review renewal notices, cancellation and refund workflows. |
| 30 November 2026 | Awaab’s Law Phase 2 extends significant-hazard requirements, including excess cold and heat. Upcoming, England social housing. MHCLG | Social-housing repair contractors and landlord clients | Update triage and escalation before launch. |
| 1 January 2027—proposed | Date specified for the draft subscription implementing regulations. Do not describe as a completed legislative process. Parliament instrument record | Consumer maintenance-plan sellers | Prepare for January; verify final approval and commencement. |
| 26 January 2027 | Ofgem’s stated registration deadline for relevant existing heat networks. Regulatory deadline. Ofgem | Relevant heat-network operators and suppliers | Establish the responsible legal entities and registration owner. |
| 31 January 2027 | BT plans to retire its old landline network. Network transition, not an AI-purchasing obligation. Ofcom | Firms whose telephone services depend on the affected network | Confirm migration and test fallback arrangements. |
| 24 March 2027 | Future Homes and Buildings Standards regulations commence in England, subject to exceptions and transition. Upcoming law. MHCLG | New-build and building-services contractors | Version-control design, quotation and commissioning templates. |
| During 2026 and into 2027 | Redeveloped MCS installer scheme rollout. Certification transition, not a universal AI rule. MCS | MCS-certified installers | Obtain your certification body’s transition instructions. |
Sources cited on this page
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