duration

Location
Virtual

Is right-sizing the solution to growing housing waiting lists? Join this session blending latest evidence with best-practice case studies. By the end, you’ll understand the opportunities, uncover new approaches to release much-needed homes, and Housing Management Network members will receive the mutual exchange toolkit.

  • Read more

    Overcrowding in the social rented sector has risen from 6% to 9% over the past decade. The latest English Housing Survey (February 2026) shows overcrowding affecting 3% of households, while 40% are under-occupying their homes based on the bedroom standard. That equates to 1.4 million under-occupied homes alongside 386,000 overcrowded households.

    These pressures are two sides of the same challenge: a persistent mismatch between household need and available homes. Overcrowding disproportionately affects younger households, families and minority groups, while under-occupation is most prevalent among older residents.

    A newly released report from the Cambridge Centre for Housing at Cambridge University examines in depth this imbalance, calling on policymakers and providers to fundamentally rethink how overcrowding and under-occupation are understood and addressed across the housing system.

    Right-sizing sits at the heart of the solution. Consumer standards require landlords to actively support mutual exchange – but is the sector going far enough? What more can providers do to unlock movement and create better resident outcomes?

    This focused half-day event cuts through the theory to explore what works in practice. Alongside the national picture, you’ll examine tangible delivery options – from home swaps and incentives to policy levers and resident support models.

    You will:

    • Hear first-hand insights from the newly published Cambridge Centre for Housing research
    • Learn directly from Places for People and Waverley Borough Council on the right-sizing measures they have implemented
    • Compare your organisation’s approach with sector peers
    • Identify practical actions you can take immediately.

    Key sessions include:

    • The national picture: under-occupation, overcrowding and temporary accommodation trends
    • Designing ethical, resident-centred right-sizing pathways
    • Incentives and support packages – what the evidence shows
    • Case study: Places for People – data-led pilots and partnerships
    • Case study: Waverley Borough Council – practical delivery and incentives
    • Using data to identify opportunities and measure impact.

    Delegates will leave with a clearer understanding of current best practice in right-sizing – and Housing Management Network members will receive a copy of HQN’s Mutual Exchange Toolkit.

    If you are not a member and would like access to the toolkit, please contact us at [email protected].

  • Our speakers

    Lewis Kinch, Housing Engagement Lead, HQN
    Lewis is a co-creation and engagement specialist driven by a belief that the people closest to challenges hold the answers to solving them. With 15 years experience across housing and community work, he champions power-sharing and genuine partnership between organisations and the communities they serve.

    Lewis has led the development of innovative frameworks and strategies that give residents meaningful influence in decision-making, always centring seldom-heard voices and challenging traditional top-down approaches.

    He combines systems thinking with participatory design methodologies to tackle complex challenges, committed to embedding person-centred cultures where residents, staff, and stakeholders work as equals.

    Suzanne Hemingway, Associate, HQN
    Suzanne has over 30 years’ experience of the social housing sector. She started as a volunteer in a women’s refuge and a homelessness shelter and went on to manage a variety of services for disadvantaged groups. She has held senior roles in both strategic and operational teams.As a consultant, Suzanne provided advice and training to a wide range of national, regional and local organisations from 2008 – 2016, when she returned to a full-time director role, integrating the wider housing brief – strategy, repairs, management and homelessness – with wider community engagement, development, arts and leisure briefs.

    In returning to consultancy, Suzanne brings experience of supporting boards and elected members to deal with adverse events, and to prepare for new housing regulation, as well as of providing advice and training at a senior level.  Suzanne has been a Fellow of CIH for many years.

    Dr Mahmoud Alsaeed, Research Associate, Cambridge Centre for Housing and Planning Research
    Dr Mahmoud Alsaeed is an interdisciplinary researcher, educator, and former practitioner, currently a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Cambridge Centre for Housing and Planning Research at the University of Cambridge. His work focuses on integrating sustainability, affordability, and inclusivity into UK social housing, with particular attention to policy, practice, and lived experience. He engages in interdisciplinary research linking, policy, housing, health, and environmental justice to inform evidence-based decision-making.

    Ross Kuklinski, Director of Housing Operations, Places for People
    Ross Kuklinski is Director of Housing Operations at Places for People, leading their national income and lettings services. With experience in transformation, asset utilisation, and tenancy management, Ross is committed to creating sustainable, well‑supported neighbourhoods through data‑led decision‑making and collaborative working. He is passionate about practical, people-centred approaches to rightsizing that improve quality of life and strengthen long-term community resilience.

    Josh Lindridge, Senior Homechoice Officer, Waverley Borough Council

    Rowena Fleming, Transfer & Easymove Officer, Waverley Borough Council
    Working for the Homechoice team, Rowena and Josh head up the council’s Easymove scheme. The scheme looks to promote downsizing within their borough and provide a tailored and personal service to those needing assistance with a move. Their years of experience in allocations has created a strong understanding of the key barriers many tenants face and the complexities of leaving what is often a long-term family home.

    Working across council departments and in conjunction with local housing associations, the team look to promote the benefits of their service and the bespoke support they can provide.
  • Programme

    9:30am Welcome and introductions 

    Lewis Kinch, Housing Engagement Lead, HQN

    9:40am The evidence base for right-sizing 

    Dr Mahmoud Alsaeed, Research Associate, Cambridge Centre for Housing and Planning Research
    • What national data tells us about under-occupation, overcrowding and how both can exist within the same local housing system 
    • Why rightsizing should be seen as part of a wider response to waiting lists, homelessness and temporary accommodation pressures 
    • Practical reflections on data, incentives and person-centred approaches that can support more effective rightsizing pathways.

    10:10am Expert insight: what good looks like in practice 

    Suzanne Hemingway, Associate, HQN
    • A practical look at how landlords can make better use of their homes by tackling under-occupation and overcrowding through a more strategic right-sizing approach
    • How to strengthen mutual exchange, mobility options, and support for residents moving home 
    • Using data, incentives, and targeted action to help more people access homes that suit their needs better.

    10:45am Break  

     11:00am Case study: Right-sizing at Places for People 

    Ross Kuklinski, Director of Housing Operations, Places for People
    • How Places for People is approaching rightsizing through partnership working, internal collaboration and data-led decision-making 
    • What rightsizing looks like in practice when balancing customer outcomes, stock use and ethical, customer-centred moves 
    • Early learning on the challenges and opportunities, including funding, narrative and scaling up joined-up working.

    11:30am Case study: Waverley Borough Council 

    Rowena Fleming & Josh Lindridge, Waverley Borough Council
    • A practical look at Waverley’s approach to right-sizing, including how policy is applied in practice and why the council has taken this route
    • Honest lessons from delivery, with examples of what has worked well, where challenges have arisen, and how difficult decisions have been handled
    • Real case studies, local data, and transferable learning on freeing up larger homes while supporting residents to move well

    12:00pm Panel discussion and Q&A 

    12:25pm Wrap up and key takeaways 

    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



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