28 November 2025
NLJ columnist Stephen Gold surveys a flurry of procedural reforms in his latest 'Civil way' column
The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 abolishes assured shortholds and grants tenants the right to keep pets with landlords’ consent from May 2026—Rufus the labradoodle included.
Meanwhile, a pilot under new CPR PD 51ZH from January 2026 will publish key Commercial Court documents online, a win for transparency but a headache for practitioners.
Court fees rise again, with probate copies soaring from £1.50 to £16, and ACAS conciliation windows double from six to 12 weeks. Even Help with Fees gets a technical fix.
Beneath the wit, Gold’s message is clear: litigation costs are climbing, openness is expanding, and housing lawyers must brace for a post-section 21 world that brings as many barking disputes as legal briefs.
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