In response to increasing concerns about councillor safety, an important amendment has been introduced to the Localism Act 2011 under the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026.

This change is particularly timely, as many authorities are currently supporting newly elected councillors to complete their Register of Interests forms in advance of publication on the council’s website.

Key change

Section 65 of the 2026 Act establishes that the publication of a councillor’s home address is no longer required as standard.

• Default position: A councillor’s usual residential address must not be published in the public register.
• Opt-in approach: Councillors may request that their home address be included, but this will only be published with their explicit consent.

Practical steps for authorities

Monitoring officers and democratic services teams should take the following actions to ensure compliance (we understand the new rules will formally come into force on 29 June 2026):

• Amend public registers
  Remove councillors’ home addresses and replace them with the wording:
  ‘The councillor has an interest the address of which is withheld under section 32A of the Localism Act 2011.’
• Inform councillors
  Advise all councillors that they have the option to request publication of their residential address if they wish.
• Apply consistently across tiers
  Ensure the same approach is adopted for town and parish councils within your area, where applicable, by issuing advice to clerks.
• Update standard forms
  Revise Register of Interests templates for future - to reflect the need to register but that this section will not be publicly available as the new default position, and opt-in provision.