To help housing providers navigate the big changes coming in 2024, HQN is bringing together the regulator, the Housing Ombudsman and sector leaders to provide some insight into what the sector can expect in 2024 and beyond.

They have been years in the making, but 2024 will finally see the much-anticipated reforms to social housing regulation come into effect.

Since the Social Housing (Regulation) Act received Royal Assent, there has been a flurry of consultations around some of the key aspects of the legislation. But from April 2024 all the hypotheticals become reality, the talking stops and the regulator leaps into action.

While the changes shouldn’t come as a surprise to most registered providers, there remains concern that some organisations are not fully aware of the scope of the new regime or properly prepared from a strategic, operational, or cultural perspective.

This event will give landlords the opportunity to get up-to-speed with the changes, understand the timescales, sanity check their approach and have direct access to the regulator and ombudsman to ask questions.

Key sessions will focus on the big changes to social housing regulation and what to expect in 2024, including:

• The new consumer standards and the ‘C’ rating
• The return of inspection
• Awaab’s Law and Decent Homes
• Stock condition requirements
• What the Tenant Satisfaction Measures are likely to tell us about the state of the sector
• The practical implications of the statutory Complaints Handling Code
• Hot topics for the Housing Ombudsman
• The latest on the professionalism agenda.

Designed to provide insight, inspiration and practical ideas, this event couldn’t come at a better time for housing’s leadership teams.

Essential for:

• Chief executives
• Board members
• Executive directors
• Senior management teams
• Finance teams
• Governance and compliance teams
• Policy and strategy people
• HR teams.

10.30 Chair’s welcome and introduction

• • Alistair McIntosh, Chief Executive, HQN

10.35 Reality check – what the sector should focus on

• • Alistair McIntosh, Chief Executive, HQN

11.00 Consumer Regulation – how will it be implemented?

• • Will Perry, Director of Strategy, Regulator of Social Housing

11.45 Break

12.00 Communication, Culture and the new Code – lessons from the Housing Ombudsman

• • Richard Blakeway, The Housing Ombudsman

12.45 Questions and discussion

13.30 Closing remarks from the Chair

• • Alistair McIntosh, Chief Executive, HQN

Alistair McIntosh, Chief Executive, HQN

Alistair McIntosh is one of the social housing sector’s most respected and best known personalities.

As founder and Chief Executive of HQN, he is regarded as one of the foremost advisers on governance and regulation, specialising in VfM and stress testing. His hands-on approach sees Alistair leading on all HQN’s in-depth assessment mock exercises and support work, designing and running the popular Iron Grip sessions and chairing/speaking at conferences and events.

Career highlights include setting up and running the National Federation of ALMOs, leading the popular consultation on the regulatory standards for housing, and developing an approach to VfM that won praise from the housing minister.

A regular contributor to the housing press, Alistair’s columns are known for their humorous, pointed and painfully accurate assessment of the state of social housing.

Will Perry, Director of Strategy, Regulator of Social Housing

Will heads the regulator’s strategy function, including private finance, policy, registrations, new entrants, business intelligence and stakeholder relations. Recently he has been leading the development of the Regulator’s response to the Social Housing White Paper.

A qualified chartered accountant, he has previously worked in corporate finance lead advisory, government audit and housing consultancy and is a non-executive director of The Housing Finance Corporation.

Richard Blakeway, The Housing Ombudsman

Richard was appointed as Housing Ombudsman from 1 September 2019. He has extensive experience in the housing sector, with previous roles including Deputy Mayor of London for Housing, chair of the Homes for London board and non-executive director of Homes England. During his eight years at the Greater London Authority, Richard was responsible for a major investment programme, overseeing the delivery of 100,000 affordable homes and regeneration plans for 670 hectares of land owned by the authority. Richard led the creation of the first team at City Hall to address rough sleeping, commissioning around £10 million of services each year, as well as the first Social Impact Bond on homelessness.

If you are unable to attend an event or public training course, please let us know in writing (email is fine) at least 48 hours before. Please email [email protected]

Otherwise, a cancellation fee of £60 plus VAT will be chargeable.

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