Course content:  

Topics covered will include:

• Challenging conversations and behaviour
• Low level nuisance and annoyance, especially noise
• Keeping communal areas clear – removing fire risks
• Parking issues
• Communal TV aerials
• Immigration Act ‘Right to Rent’ and enforcement.
• Running a business from home
• Tenancy fraud
• Sub-letting rooms
• Unauthorised occupants
• Gaining access – to inspect, repair, undertake gas safety checks etc
• Rechargeable repairs.

Delegates should bring their main tenancy agreement with them together with examples of problem cases and how their organisation has attempted to resolve them – both successes and failures.

Who is this for?
This practical, England-only workshop is for anyone tackling day-to-day housing management issues in social housing: housing/neighbourhood/tenancy officers and team leaders; ASB and community safety officers; tenancy sustainment, investigations and fraud teams; estate services, block management and caretaking leads; and repairs/compliance coordinators who work closely with housing teams. It’s ideal for colleagues in councils, ALMOs and housing associations who want clear, workable approaches to recurring problems—from nuisance and access for safety checks to communal area management and rechargeable repairs. Bring your tenancy agreement and real cases to get tailored advice you can use the same day.

Richard Paris has an MA from Queens’ College, Cambridge and a post-graduate Diploma in Housing from LSE. From 1991-93 he was senior research officer at LSE Housing, and has worked for short-life and supported housing agencies, mainstream housing associations and local authorities. He is a freelance housing law specialist with 20 years’ training and development experience undertaking educational training, consultancy, policy and procedure health checks. He specialises in housing law updates, dealing with anti-social behaviour effectively, preventing and controlling rent arrears, do-it-yourself possession proceedings, the law in supported housing and the law on disrepair and best practice.

Mel Cant trained as a Barrister and came to the Bar in 2000. She doesn’t practice independently, choosing to work in the Social Housing Sector which she has done now for over 25 years.

She covers all aspects of social housing law from housing advice, homelessness, allocations, lettings, tenancy and leasehold management, antisocial behaviour, asset management and disrepair.

She undertakes homelessness reviews for nine local authorities and also undertakes training and consultancy providing practical solutions to legal issues within the sector.

Her favourite feedback ever is “Everyone needs a Mel on speed dial!”