The year 2026 is set to bring a significant wave of new legislation that will touch the lives of millions across the United Kingdom. From the bins outside your home to your rights at work and the cost of a European holiday, a series of key changes are on the horizon.
Home and Housing: A New Deal for Tenants and Waste
Households will see a major shift in how they handle their rubbish from March 31. New 'Simpler Recycling' regulations will require councils to collect waste in four separate streams: food and garden waste; paper and card; other dry recyclables like glass and plastic; and general residual waste. While some areas already meet these standards, millions will receive new bins to accommodate the change.
For renters, May 1 marks a pivotal date with the introduction of the Renters' Rights Bill. The legislation delivers on a long-standing promise to end Section 21 'no-fault' evictions, meaning landlords must provide a valid reason to end a tenancy. Furthermore, fixed-term contracts will be abolished, replaced by rolling monthly or weekly agreements that tenants can end with two months' notice, offering greater flexibility.
Workplace and Wages: Enhanced Rights for Employees
April brings several boosts to workers' rights and pay packets. The National Living Wage for those aged 21 and over will rise by 4.1% to £12.71 per hour. Rates for younger workers will also increase, with 18-20 year-olds receiving £10.85 and 16-17 year-olds getting £8.00 per hour.
Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) will be payable from the first day of illness, rather than the fourth, and the lower earnings limit for eligibility will be removed. Parental rights are also expanding, with both paternity leave and ordinary unpaid parental leave becoming 'day one' rights, removing previous length-of-service requirements.
Later in the year, in October, the exploitative practice of 'fire and rehire'—dismissing staff only to re-employ them on worse terms—will be outlawed under the Employment Rights Act, becoming an automatically unfair dismissal in most cases.
Travel, Tickets and Daily Life
Britons travelling to Europe will encounter two new systems. The Entry/Exit System (EES), rolling out until April 2026, will require non-EU citizens to register biometric data at the border. Later in the year, the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) will launch, costing around £17 for adults under 70 and valid for three years.
In other areas, a clampdown on ticket touts will make it illegal to resell tickets for concerts and sports events above face value, with resale platform fees capped. From January 1, a ban on junk food advertising on TV between 5.30am and 9pm and online at any time takes effect. Drone pilots must also note that from the start of the year, a theory test and Flyer ID will be required for models weighing 100g or more.
Finally, the tax relief for working from home will end on April 6, meaning employees can no longer claim a deduction for additional household expenses.
