duration

Location
Virtual

This session will ensure you are ready for phase two of Awaab’s Law. Household pests will become a defined hazard requiring timely investigation and action. Hear about best practice, prevention measures, effective solutions and partnership arrangements for tackling pests.

  • Read more

    From October 2026, phase two of Awaab’s Law expands the list of hazards that social housing providers must investigate and fix within strict time limits. This includes pest control.

    Landlords will need to have robust processes in place to quickly respond to pest control issues and deal with them effectively. Clear communication and reliable partnerships are key to this.

    This session will explain what the changes mean in practice and how organisations can prepare. We’ll focus on the practical steps that ensure teams work together to meet the new expectations.

    We’ll cover:

    • What Awaab’s Law phase two will require from landlords
    • How pest control will be treated as a defined hazard
    • What “good” looks like when identifying, investigating, and resolving pest issues
    • How to build strong partnerships with – contractors, local authorities and environmental health teams
    • Ways to involve residents early and reduce repeat problems
    • Practical examples of effective prevention and long‑term solutions.

    You’ll hear from practitioners, environmental health and specialist pest control services who will share real‑world insights and approaches that work.

    Who should attend:

    This session is essential for everyone involved in compliance and operations. Whether you work in compliance, neighbourhood services, repairs, or resident engagement, this session will help you get ready for the upcoming changes and strengthen your organisation’s approach to tackling pests.

  • Our speakers

    Lydia Dlaboha, Deputy CEO, HQN
    Lydia joined HQN in 2007 and is currently the Deputy CEO. Her background is in housing management – both general needs and supported. She has worked extensively as a consultant on a wide variety of performance improvement projects. In her current role, Lydia has responsibility for overseeing all of HQN’s work and for quality assurance in particular. She spends the majority of her time talking to HQN members to make sure that our service meets their needs and on consultancy-related work.

    Niall Gallagher, Technical & Compliance Manager, British Pest Control Association
    Niall joined BPCA in December 2024 from Nurture, where he was a Regional Technical Support Officer and gained his BPCA Certified Technical Inspector qualification. He’s most passionate about giving back to the industry whilst supporting members on site and at various events throughout the year.

    His role at BPCA includes compiling, updating and reviewing BPCA codes of best practice and guidance documents and supporting and engaging with BPCA members to ensure they receive the appropriate levels of technical support, including from the wider technical team.

    Nigel Deacon, Business Development Director, metroSTOR
    Following 25 years’ experience in landscape and civils, Nigel has been developing external storage solutions for the social housing sector for the last decade, enabling landlords to maintain safe, clean and sustainable neighbourhoods by providing the infrastructure that residents need to for personal transport and disposal of waste. He has long been an advocate of a robust risk-reduction approach to the fire risk posed by e-mobility devices and will share some innovative approaches that landlords can use to achieve this.

    Most landlords will be aware that all residential buildings must have recycling and food scraps collection by April 2026, and Nigel will share some insights on how they can manage these changes more effectively using established behaviour change principles.

    Helen Scott, Service Manager for Estates Services, Sheffield Council
     

    Helen Scott is the Service Manager of the Estates and Environmental Services Team within Sheffield City Council’s Housing Service. With over 15 years of estate management experience, Helen’s role is primarily focused on waste management, grounds maintenance, and ensuring performance and standards across estate teams.

    Alan Davies, Director of Housing, RHE Global
    Alan Davies is Director of Housing at RHE Global and a Chartered Environmental Health Practitioner with over 25 years’ experience in housing standards, compliance, and building safety.

    He led the government-commissioned review of the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) in England and the 2023 review of the Welsh Housing Quality Standard. Alan has directed high-profile research and evaluation projects including the national evaluation of Rent Smart Wales, and Pathfinder Programmes on strategic housing standards intervention and enforcement in England. He advises government, local authorities and housing providers across England and Wales, and delivers technical training on the HHSRS, housing enforcement and compliance.

    Alan joined RHE Global in 2019 and was instrumental in the development of The Housing App, a robust HHSRS inspection and assessment digital tool. Alan holds a BSc in Environmental Health and a Masters with Merit in Environmental Health Law specialising in housing.
  • Programme

    9:30am Welcome and introductions

    Lydia Dlaboha, Deputy CEO, HQN

    9:40am Best practice in pest control and looking on to Phase 2 of Awaab’s Law

    Niall Gallagher, Technical & Compliance Manager, British Pest Control Association
    Ciaran Breen, Policy & Campaigns Officer, British Pest Control Association
    • Latest trends in pest activity and the challenges affecting social housing residents
    • Key sector updates, including changes around glue boards, rodenticides and insecticide resistance
    • Practical tips for responding to persistent and complex pest problems
    • How pest control links with wider housing hazards, including preparations for Phase 2 of Awaab’s Law.

    10:10am Domestic hygiene hazards and preventing pests

    Alan Davies, Director of Housing, RHE Global
    • The hygiene hazards: What poor domestic hygiene, pests and overflowing rubbish can lead to – the causes, the health impacts, and the risks for residents and landlords
    • The ideal standards, risks and hazards around pests
    • The Housing Act 2004 – what landlords must do to keep homes free from hazards
    • What Awaab’s Law means for social landlords – faster response times, stronger duties, and clearer expectations for tackling hazards.

    10:40am Break

    10:55am Waste management to prevent pests

    Nigel Deacon, Business Development Director, MetroSTOR
    • How better waste storage and bin design can prevent pests
    • Practical examples of estates where improved waste management has reduced pests and fly‑tipping
    • Practical steps housing teams and residents can take to keep waste areas clean and pest‑free.

    11:30pm Partnership working around pest control

    Helen Scott, Estates & Environmental Service Manager, Sheffield City Council
    • Partnership working to tackle pests – what works and what doesn’t
    • A case study on what has previously worked to tackle pests on a previous project and a look into why it’s not working on a new project
    • Culture change around managing pests
    • Communicating with residents about pest control.

    12:05pm Q&A, discussion and wrap up

    12:30pm Close

  • Cancellations and substitutions

    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.

    If you are using a package place to attend and do not inform us within the agreed time frame, then a place will be taken to cover your non-attendance.

    Cancellations must be made in writing and will be acknowledged by HQN Limited.

  • Price and booking

    Bookings are closed for this event.

    If you experience any issues when submitting your booking, please email [email protected] with the name and date of the session along with the delegate name(s), email address(es) and job title(s) and we'll process the booking for you.

Dates



This event comes with a professional development certificate

Making a booking:

You don’t need to be logged in to make a booking.

Step 1: Select the number of delegates you would like to book on this session
Step 2: Complete the delegate details
Step 3: Check the details, tick the consent box, and press the book now button
Step 4: Member discounts will automatically be applied on the next page
Step 5: To use a coupon code please enter this at the top of the checkout page by clicking on the link
Step 6: Complete the booking details
Step 7: Confirm your booking
Step 8: You will receive a confirmation email with an order number, if you don’t receive this within 24 hours please get in touch with us – [email protected]