From a £17 travel fee to Europe to new recycling rules and workplace rights, there are big changes on the horizon for Brits over the next 12 months
Among the UK law changes coming into force in 2026 are a new EU travel fee(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
The onset of the new year heralds a host of new laws that Britons will need to brace for in the coming months.
For those planning a holiday, there are new border controls to be aware of, as well as the introduction of a £17 fee to travel to Europe from late 2026. Households may find themselves with an additional bin due to new recycling regulations that will necessitate everyone to segregate their waste into four distinct categories.
The government will persist in its clampdown on unhealthy diets, with a new junk food advertisement ban set to be implemented and plans to prevent children from purchasing high-caffeine drinks. There will be a fresh set of rules for workplaces that will provide employees with enhanced rights and protections, along with a minimum wage increase in the spring.
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Individuals in rented properties will also witness significant changes with the implementation of a ban on no-fault evictions and the termination of fixed contracts and bidding wars. Concurrently, the government’s crackdown on benefit fraud persists with the introduction of new powers enabling automatic debt collection.
Here, we’ve summarised some of the substantial changes Britons will encounter over the coming months and how they might affect you, reports the Manchester Evening News.
New border controls and a £17 fee to travel to Europe.
New regulations for Britons travelling to Europe began to be introduced in 2025, and next year there will be more alterations to anticipate.
The new Entry Exit System (EES) mandates non-EU citizens, including Brits, to register at the EU border by scanning their passport and having their fingerprints and photograph taken. The EES is required when entering Schengen area countries including Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland but it is not required when travelling to Ireland and Cyprus.
The new system began its six-month phased roll-out in October, so different ports will be introducing the new rules up until April 2026. Under the new system, travellers do not need to take any action before their trip and there is no cost.
However, there will soon be a new fee for people visiting EU countries that is expected to be introduced at the end of next year. The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is scheduled to be introduced in the final quarter of 2026.
The fee will be 20 euros, which is around £17, for any adult under the age of 70. Once paid, registration will be valid for up to three years.
Unlike with the EES, the ETIAS will require travellers to apply online ahead of their trip.
ETA scheme for visitors to the UK enforced.
There will also be new rules for non-Brits arriving in the UK.
From February 25, visitors from 85 nationalities, including the United States, Canada, and France, who do not need a visa will not be able to legally travel to the UK without an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA).
The ETA scheme has been implemented in stages over recent years, but from February it will be completely enforced. This means that all individuals wishing to enter the UK must obtain digital authorisation through either an ETA or an eVisa.
Transport operators will be verifying passengers prior to departure.
The government described this development as representing a “significant step towards digitising the immigration system” and “paves the way for a contactless UK border in the future”.
Following the ETA’s introduction in October 2023, over 13.3 million travellers have successfully submitted applications. The government noted that the ETA has become “a fundamental part of travel, including for visitors who take connecting flights and go through UK passport control”.
Travellers can submit an ETA application via the official UK ETA app for a fee of £16. The majority of applicants currently receive an automated decision within minutes, the government states, though it advises allowing three working days should an application require further assessment.
British and Irish nationals, including those holding dual citizenship, are not required to obtain an ETA.
Fresh recycling regulations featuring four distinct bins for each household.
The government is implementing new regulations throughout England aimed at boosting household recycling rates. The modifications are intended to improve bin collection day, simplifying waste organisation and clarifying what materials can and cannot be recycled.
From March 31, under the new ‘Simpler Recycling’ regulations, all local councils must collect four different types of waste separately, meaning every household will receive four different bins. The alterations won’t impact everyone as some areas may already be meeting the new requirements.
Waste collection services must gather food and garden waste, paper and card, all other dry recyclable materials such as glass and plastic, and non-recyclable waste destined for landfill. All these categories of waste must be collected from every household including flats.
Steve Cole, managing director of Biffa Municipal, said: “For too long, households have struggled with a muddled and confusing patchwork of approaches to their bin collections. Simpler Recycling will make recycling easier and more consistent by ensuring everyone can recycle the same materials, no matter where they live.”
From March 2027, waste collection services must also gather plastic film packaging and plastic bags alongside plastic recycling.
Junk food adverts prohibited before 9pm.
A prohibition on junk food advertising takes effect from January.
Since October, children have encountered fewer advertisements for unhealthy food on television and online as part of a voluntary clampdown by advertisers, ahead of the complete ban taking effect from the new year.
The prohibition will stop high fat, sugar or salt (HFSS) food and drink from appearing on television between 5.30am and 9pm, and online at any time. Outdoor advertising, including on billboards, buses, bus shelters, train stations, shopping outlets and taxis, is exempt from the ban.
The restrictions cover products across 13 categories deemed to have the greatest impact on childhood obesity, encompassing soft drinks, chocolates and sweets, pizzas and ice creams, alongside breakfast cereals and porridges, sweetened bread products, main meals and sandwiches.
Items within these categories undergo further evaluation to determine if they qualify as “less healthy” using an assessment system that examines nutrient content and identifies products high in saturated fat, salt, or sugar. Only items meeting both criteria face the advertising restrictions.
Firms remain free to promote healthier alternatives of banned products, with ministers expressing hope this would incentivise the food sector to reformulate their recipes.
Children face ban on purchasing high-caffeine beverages.
Ministers have unveiled proposals to prohibit the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to anyone below 16 years of age. Officials stated that research demonstrates links between these beverages and adverse effects on youngsters’ physical and mental wellbeing, sleep patterns, and academic performance.
Statistics indicate approximately 100,000 children consume at least one high-caffeine energy drink daily. When announcing the prohibition plans in September, the government stated the measure could prevent obesity in up to 40,000 children and generate health benefits valued at tens of millions of pounds.
The government’s proposal is to outlaw the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks containing more than 150mg of caffeine per litre to anyone under 16 years old across all retailers, including online, in shops, restaurants, cafes and vending machines. The ban would not affect lower-caffeine soft drinks, tea or coffee.
A public consultation on the proposal ran until 26 November. While the ban has not been legislated yet, if the proposal does move forward, it could come into effect in 2026.
Inmates could see shorter jail terms with major prison reforms.
The government is planning to introduce significant reforms to address the prison capacity crisis.
Plans could see the use of short incarcerations restricted and community punishments extended to ease the number of people being jailed.
The Sentencing Bill, which is currently making its way through Parliament, includes plans for a Texas-inspired earned release scheme, where inmates who demonstrate good behaviour could be freed earlier, while those who break the rules will serve longer jail time. For example, prisoners could serve a minimum of a third of their term for good behaviour, but prisoners would face up to three months extra in jail for violence or being found with illicit items like phones.
This “earned progression model” will be implemented for prisoners serving standard determinate sentences exclusively. The framework would not be applicable to dangerous offenders.
Those serving extended determinate sentences or life sentences will continue to remain incarcerated for the same duration as they currently do.
Additionally, upon release, offenders will enter a fresh period of “intensive supervision” which will result in tens of thousands more offenders being electronically monitored and many more subjected to home detention.
Proposals could also witness prison sentences of a year or less being substituted with more stringent community-based sentences. The government stated this would “better punish offenders and stop them reoffending”.
Whilst the reforms have yet to become law, they are anticipated to take effect next year.
New rights for workers with major employment
A series of new laws will be implemented for workers across the UK following major legislation receiving Royal Assent at the end of 2025. The government states the introduction of the Employment Rights Act will see over 15 million people gain from new protections.
The measures will be introduced over a two-year timeframe in phases with changes anticipated in April and October.
From April, more workers will be entitled to take time off sick without concern about receiving payment as the government is enhancing statutory sick pay. The lower earnings threshold will be abolished as will the waiting period, meaning workers will be entitled to sick pay from their first day in employment.
In the same month, alterations will be implemented for new parents, with employees gaining the right to paternity pay and unpaid parental leave from their first day on the job. Stronger redundancy rights are also anticipated to be introduced in the spring.
From October, employers will be prohibited from utilising ‘fire and rehire’ and ‘fire and replace’ tactics. Dismissals due to refusal to agree to changes in certain core contractual terms will be deemed automatically unfair, barring some exceptional circumstances.
The government is also set to introduce modifications to tighten tipping laws and combat sexual harassment in the workplace. Employers will also need to adhere to new regulations surrounding trade unions, including informing workers of their right to join one and introducing new protections for union representatives.
Additional changes expected to be enforced in 2027 include the introduction of new rights for pregnant workers, a new right to unpaid bereavement leave, including for pregnancy loss, alterations to flexible working policies and the cessation of zero-hour contracts.
Tax relief for those working from home is set to conclude.
From 6 April, individuals working from home will no longer be eligible to claim tax relief for their additional expenses. At present, certain employees can claim a deduction on their income tax for the extra household costs incurred due to remote working – such as increased bills and business phone calls.
The claimable amount can either be based on actual expenditure, with proof, or at a fixed rate of £6 per week without the need for receipts. Employees whose costs are reimbursed by their employer do not qualify for this relief.
The Budget announced that this tax relief would cease on 6 April 2026.
The government estimates that approximately 300,000 people will be affected by the removal of this tax relief, resulting in a tax increase of around £62 for basic rate taxpayers and £124 for higher rate taxpayers.
DWP will gain authority to directly extract money from fraudsters’ bank accounts.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will be endowed with new ‘modern fraud prevention powers’, enabling debt collectors to directly withdraw money from bank accounts.
Legislation that has recently been approved by parliament will empower the DWP to clamp down on fraudsters, recoup overpayments and safeguard taxpayers’ money, as stated by the government.
The fresh legislation will enable authorities to seize money directly from bank accounts of benefit fraudsters who possess the means to repay but refuse to do so. The DWP will also gain the power to seek court orders for driving licence suspensions when claimants owe welfare debts exceeding £1,000 and have disregarded numerous repayment demands.
These enhanced powers will grant the DWP access to banking data, ensuring benefit recipients receive accurate payments whilst preventing debt accumulation and fraudulent applications.
The Government has made clear that the DWP will not share personal details, nor will the department gain access to bank accounts for benefit eligibility checks or monitoring spending habits.
Transformation Minister Andrew Western stated: “The powers granted through the Bill will allow us to better identify, prevent and deter fraud and error, and enable the better recovery of debt owed to the taxpayer.”
These modifications, set to commence in 2026, are projected to deliver taxpayer savings of £1.5 billion by 2029/2030, the Government claims.
Minimum wage to rise.
The minimum wage will increase once more in April 2026.
The National Living Wage, applicable to all workers aged 21 and above, will climb by 4.1 per cent to £12.71 hourly. Workers aged 18 to 20 will see their minimum wage rise to £10.85, whilst those aged 16 and 17 will receive £8.00 per hour.
The government stated the rate increase will guarantee “a real-terms pay rise for low-paid workers” and represents advancement towards bringing the rate for 18 to 20 year olds in line with the National Living Wage.
The updated rates from April 2026 will be:.
National Living Wage (21 and over): £12.71 per hour – up 50p.
Rate for age 18-20: £10.85 per hour – up 85p.
Rate for age 16-17: £8.00 per hour – up 45p.
Apprentice Rate: £8.00 per hour – up 45p.
Significant changes for people living in rented property from May.
Substantial alterations will take effect for those residing in rented accommodation in England. From May 1, fresh legislation will be introduced that the government claims will provide 11 million tenants “stronger rights, better protections and more security in their homes”.
Private tenants will no longer face the threat of receiving a Section 21 ‘no-fault’ eviction notice. The government maintains this practice leaves thousands of renters at risk of homelessness annually.
Property owners will still be able to reclaim their premises for legitimate reasons – such as selling up, moving in, or addressing rent arrears or anti-social behaviour.
The government is also abolishing fixed-term contracts. All tenancies in the private rental sector will continue on a month-to-month or week-to-week basis without a fixed termination date.
Tenants will also be safeguarded from dramatic rent increases, with property owners only allowed to raise rent once annually. Renters will have the right to contest unreasonable above-market increases.
Bidding wars will also come to an end as landlords will have to adhere to the advertised rent price when agreeing a contract, and they won’t be permitted to ask for more than one month’s rent upfront.
Landlords will no longer be able to unreasonably deny a tenant’s request to keep a pet, and it will become unlawful to refuse tenants because they have children or are on benefits. The government will issue guidance for tenants before the changes take effect on 1 May.
Further amendments are then anticipated to be implemented later in the year.
The government will introduce a new register of all landlords and rental properties in England, enabling tenants to verify who they are renting from. The new online database will be gradually introduced by area from late 2026.
A private landlord ombudsman will also be established to assist renters in resolving complaints against landlords quickly and fairly without the need to go to court.
Extension of Awaab’s Law.
A law enacted following the death of two year old Awaab Ishak, who passed away from a respiratory condition caused by prolonged exposure to mould in social housing in Rochdale, could be extended in 2026.
Awaab’s Law, which mandates social housing providers to rectify reported hazards within a set time frame and rehouse tenants in safe accommodation if necessary, came into effect in October 2025.
The government is now considering extending Awaab’s Law to the private rented sector, ensuring landlords of rented properties act swiftly when homes are unsafe. The government will consult on the measures in the coming months.
Under the new rules for social housing, health and safety hazards classified as emergencies must be fixed within 24 hours of reporting, while significant damp and mould must be investigated within 10 working days of it being reported. Housing providers then have a further five days to make properties safe.
Reselling tickets for above face value to become illegal.
The government has announced a new law that will prohibit ticket touts from selling tickets for more than their original price. The new rules will “destroy the operating model of ticket touts” and make buying resale tickets far cheaper for fans of live events, the government said.
The new law will make it illegal for tickets to concerts, theatre, comedy, sport and other live events to be resold for more than their original cost. It comes following uproar from fans over ticket tours snapping up tickets and listing them for resale for huge amounts more than they got them for, leaving genuine fans shut out from events.
The government says banning the practice will make resale tickets £37 cheaper for fans on average, and save them a collective £112 million per year.
It is hoped the new rules will not only save fans money, but make it easier for them to access initial ticket sales by stopping touts from using bots to purchase tickets in large volumes.
Business secretary Peter Kyle said: “The UK is home to a brilliant range of music, entertainers and sporting stars – but when fans are shut out – it only benefits the touts. That’s why we’re taking these bold measures to smash their model to pieces and make sure more fans can enjoy their favourite stars at a fair price.”
The proposals will need to navigate their way through Parliament before becoming law, but if approved supporters could witness the changes taking effect in 2026.
2027 and beyond….
There are also several fresh pieces of legislation that have sparked heated debate throughout 2025 which aren’t scheduled to be implemented until somewhat later.
During spring 2027, the UK will roll out a prohibition on wet wipe sales as part of efforts to combat plastic pollution. The rules outlaw the supply and sale of all wet wipes containing plastic.
The fresh legislation applies solely to England, though the Welsh government has already enacted comparable measures and administrations in Scotland and Northern Ireland are anticipated to follow suit.
Wet wipes containing plastic can deteriorate into microplastics that contaminate wildlife and infiltrate the food chain. Plastic-free alternatives are widely accessible and numerous retailers have already ceased stocking wet wipes containing plastic in advance of the new regulations taking effect.
Stricter anti-terrorism regulations will be implemented under Martyn’s Law, named in honour of 29 year old Martyn Hett who tragically lost his life in the Manchester Arena bombing. The new legislation mandates venues accommodating 200 or more people to prepare for potential terror attacks.
Larger venues with a capacity of 800 or more are also required to implement measures such as CCTV surveillance, bag checks or vehicle inspections.
The law has successfully navigated its way through Parliament, receiving Royal assent in April 2025. However, enforcement of the new law will not commence until 2027, allowing sufficient time for venues and enforcers to prepare.
Meanwhile, legislation that could legalise assisted dying is currently progressing through Parliament, though it remains uncertain whether it will pass before the end of the parliamentary session. The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill would permit adults in England and Wales with less than six months to live to request an assisted death, subject to approval by two doctors and a panel comprising a social worker, senior legal figure and psychiatrist.
Currently at the Committee Stage in the House of Lords, supporters of the Bill fear that critics may be attempting to delay proceedings. Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, who is championing the new law, accused the Lords of time-wasting, noting that peers have tabled over 1,000 amendments to the contentious legislation.
The Bill will only be enacted if both the House of Commons and House of Lords concur on the final drafting of the legislation. Approval would need to be secured before spring 2026, when the current session of Parliament concludes.
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