The new laws November 2026 brings into force cover dog owners, online content, older people's travel, holiday lets, employment claims and international students, with several changes taking effect in the coming weeks across England and the wider UK. From 1 November, owners of banned dog breeds, including XL Bully types, must not leave a child under 12 close to the dog in a home or other private setting without an adult present, under a new condition of the Certificate of Exemption confirmed by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. From 6 November, possessing or publishing pornography that depicts strangulation or suffocation becomes a criminal offence, alongside new offences covering content involving relatives or people pretending to be under 16. Later in the month, people in England born between 6 November and 5 December 1960 will find their free older person's bus pass linked to the rising State Pension age, Airbnb introduces limits on house rules and cleaning requests for bookings made from 20 November, and maintenance funds required for student visas rise on 30 November, as the Westminster newsroom of The WP Times reports.
Most of these changes are not headline Acts of Parliament but conditions, regulations and platform rules that nevertheless affect daily life. Employment law is also shifting: the time limit for many claims to an employment tribunal has been extended from three months to six months, a change that took effect across Great Britain on 1 October 2026, with breach of contract claims in Scotland following from 9 November. In housing, the government is consulting until 18 December 2026 on extending Awaab's Law, which sets legal deadlines for social landlords to deal with hazards such as damp and mould, to private rented homes. Below, The WP Times sets out what changes, who is affected and what the penalties are, together with the dates to note for the rest of the year. Readers in Westminster and Pimlico, where a high proportion of households rent privately and many short-term lets operate, may find the housing and Airbnb changes particularly relevant.
Contents
New laws November 2026: the key changes
The table summarises the main rule changes this month. Dates and details are based on government announcements and reporting by national media.
At a glance
| Date | Change | Who is affected |
|---|---|---|
| 1 November | Children under 12 must not be left with banned breed dogs without an adult | owners of XL Bully and other banned breeds |
| 6 November | New offences for strangulation and certain other pornography | anyone possessing or publishing such content |
| 6 November onwards | Older person's bus pass age follows the rising State Pension age | people in England born from 6 November 1960 |
| 9 November | Six-month time limit for breach of contract tribunal claims in Scotland | workers in Scotland |
| 20 November | Airbnb limits house rules and cleaning requests | hosts and guests on new bookings |
| 30 November | Higher maintenance funds for student visas | international students |
How to use this guide
The new laws November 2026 introduces are explained in the sections below. Where a change is a platform policy rather than a law, such as Airbnb's rules, this is stated.
Banned dog breeds and children
The rule applies to dogs kept under a Certificate of Exemption, which allows owners to keep a banned breed such as an XL Bully, Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino or Fila Brasileiro.
"The safety of children must always come first"
(Baroness Hayman, Animal Welfare Minister, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
What owners must do
- Not leave a child under 12 close to the dog in a home or private setting without an adult present.
- Supervision must be in person, and baby monitors or cameras do not count, according to reporting by Yahoo News UK.
- Keep complying with existing exemption conditions, including muzzling and leads in public and third-party insurance.
Penalties
Failure to comply may lead to enforcement action, including seizure of the dog and prosecution under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, according to Defra.
Online content offences
From 6 November, new criminal offences apply to certain pornographic content, following legislation passed by Parliament.
What is covered
- Content depicting strangulation or suffocation.
- Content depicting sex between relatives or people pretending to be related.
- Content in which a person is, or pretends to be, under 16.
Maximum sentences
Possessing or publishing strangulation or suffocation content, or content involving relatives, carries up to two years in prison. Content involving a person who is, or is pretending to be, under 16 carries up to three years, according to Yahoo News UK.
Bus passes, travel and older people
In England, the age for a free older person's bus pass is linked to the State Pension age, which is rising from 66 to 67 between 6 May 2026 and 6 April 2028.
Who is affected this month
- People born between 6 November and 5 December 1960 reach eligibility later than they would have done before the change.
- People who already hold a pass keep it.
- In London, the Freedom Pass is run by London Councils and follows the same State Pension age rule for older residents.
- Disabled people can apply for a pass on the grounds of disability regardless of age.
Pension Credit and other help
Older people on low incomes should also check whether they qualify for Pension Credit, which unlocks other support. Our guide to Pension Credit 2026 eligibility explains how to claim.
Renting, holiday lets and work
Several changes this month affect landlords, short-term lets and workers. Not all are new laws in November 2026, but they change how people rent and work.
Airbnb from 20 November
- Hosts can set a maximum of seven house rules for new bookings.
- Guests who pay a cleaning fee should not be asked to do extra chores such as washing dishes or stripping beds.
- The changes apply to reservations made on or after 20 November.
Employment tribunals and Awaab's Law
The time limit for most employment tribunal claims increased from three to six months on 1 October 2026, and from 9 November this also applies to breach of contract claims in Scotland. Separately, the government's consultation on extending Awaab's Law to private renting closes on 18 December 2026.
Student visas from 30 November
The Home Office is increasing the amount of money international students must show to cover living costs.
New maintenance amounts
| Location | Monthly amount, old | Monthly amount, new | Nine-month maximum, new |
|---|---|---|---|
| London | £1,529 | £1,570 | £14,130 |
| Outside London | £1,171 | £1,203 | £10,827 |
What applicants should do
Applicants should check the amount required on the date they apply and make sure the funds have been held for the required period. Universities usually update their guidance when rules change.
New laws November 2026: questions and answers
What new laws start in November 2026
They include a rule on children and banned breed dogs from 1 November, new pornography offences from 6 November and higher student visa maintenance amounts from 30 November.
Can I leave my XL Bully alone with my child
Not if the child is under 12. An adult must be present in person.
When can I get a free bus pass in England
When you reach State Pension age, which is rising from 66 to 67 between May 2026 and April 2028.
Has Awaab's Law been extended to private renters
Not yet. The government is consulting on the extension until 18 December 2026.
Do the Airbnb changes apply to existing bookings
No, they apply to reservations made on or after 20 November.
Background: how rules change during the year
New laws and regulations often take effect on fixed dates, typically at the start of a month or in April and October. Further changes are due in December and April 2027, including new tax rates on savings income.
For related coverage, see our guides to the congestion charge 2026, best savings rates and Christmas delivery scams.
Sources used: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Yahoo News UK, GB News, Home Office, Airbnb, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Mortgage Solutions, London Councils
