Members only

Gas safety remains a key priority for landlords and as from April it is firmly under the scrutiny of the Regulator for Social Housing through the requirements of the newly introduced Safety and Quality standard.

The requirements are tougher and the challenges remain:

• Getting the basics right – staying compliant
• Data and record keeping
• Gaining access to tenants’ homes.

There’s a constant need to stay on top of changes and emerging good practice, so we’ll look at:

• Legislation – what you can and cannot do, dispelling any myths
• The opportunities and the obstacles of:
  • New technology developments for the short and medium term
  • Decarbonisation and the wider energy efficiency agenda
  • The increasing role of the Regulator and the Housing Ombudsman in gas safety
  • Managing the increased costs and skills shortages
  • How to achieve better value for money through a MOT style approach – the pros and cons
  • And we’ll take a look at what lies ahead in the coming future.

Plus – all delegates will all receive a copy of our newly refreshed gas safety toolkit.

It’s essential for everyone involved in and with responsibility for gas servicing and maintenance, gas safety and compliance either as a refresher or new in post.

What will be covered:

• An update on the latest legislation – guidance on how to remain compliant and the latest case law affecting you, including information and advice on the issue of no-access – injunction, EPA and forced entry
• Effective working with your contractor/DLO – making the relationship deliver what you need
• Are your policies, procedure and systems up to date? The main issues and a checklist of what you should be doing
• Data and record keeping – the essentials
• Key performance indicators, monitoring and reporting arrangements – what, where and when?
• Best practice – take stock of current best practice including the benefits of SMART technology
• Managing and mitigating your risks and disaster recovery – effective planning for the future
• Wider implications of Carbon Zero and what is on the horizon, the developing area of hydrogen boilers and hybrid fuels
• MOT style approach to gas servicing and maintenance.

Who should attend:

• Repairs and maintenance operatives
• Gas managers
• Health and safety managers
• Officers and operatives
• Voids and housing managers
• Surveyors and multi-skilled operatives
• Operations management
• Those responsible for contracting with, assessing and managing gas safety.

Hear what delegates have said about previous masterclasses:

‘It was very informative and relevant with up to date information.’ Runnymede Borough Council

‘Great chat from all parties, good to learn what others are doing.’ Longhurst Group

10:30 Welcome and introductions

• • Kevin Bentley, Associate, HQN

10:35 Legal Update: how does a landlord comply?

• • Baljit Basra, Partner, Devonshires

10:55  Questions and feedback

11:05  Audit findings, common faults and trends

• • Trevor Batt, Technical Safety Manager, CORGI Technical Services

11:30  Questions and feedback

11:40  Break

11:50  Best practice – current state of play, trends, developments and concerns

• • Kevin Bentley, Associate, HQN

12:40  Questions and feedback

13:00  Close

Kevin Bentley, Associate, HQN

Kevin has worked in social housing in both the local government and housing association sectors for over 25 years, specialising in housing maintenance and stock investment issues.

Kevin has been a HQN Associate for over 14 years, providing advice and support to many housing organisations.

He has in-depth knowledge of all aspects of operational delivery and strategic asset management in the sector. He regularly carries out reviews of gas servicing and maintenance for organisations. He has in-depth knowledge of service delivery and best practice in the sector delivered by in-house/DLO contractors and out-sourced arrangements

Kevin is also one of HQN’s key accreditation assessors specialising in HQN: DLO and HQN: gas repairs and asset management accreditations. He is also one of HQN’s trainers responsible for contract management and procurement.

Kevin has carried out upwards of 120 service reviews and similar in-depth assessments of repairs and maintenance services for HQN clients, including a large number of gas servicing and maintenance reviews for organisations with both in-house contractors or outsourced and hybrid arrangements.

Baljit Basra, Partner, Devonshires

Baljit has extensive experience acting for RPs and LAs having done so for over 20 years. Her work includes dealing with and managing large volume housing litigation claims which include Possession, Disrepair, statutory nuisance, adhoc advice, policy and procedure work, and delivering training to clients on a wide range of housing management topics.

Trevor Batt, Technical Safety Manager, Corgi

Trevor has over forty years’ experience in the gas industry since joining British Gas in 1983 and worked as an engineer until 1992, he then left to join CORGI as the Inspector for the Oxford area.

Since 2001 Trevor has been working with clients in the social housing sector to assist them in delivering a secure, compliant gas safety management regime and he developed the first Level 4 VRQ Gas Safety Management in Social Housing qualification which now forms part of the suite of qualifications that the ASCP National Academy deliver.

An Incorporated Engineer and experienced Carbon Monoxide Incident Investigator, Trevor has also worked overseas inspecting hotels across Europe for travel industry clients following the fatal CO incident in Corfu in 2006. Following the Grenfell Tower fire Trevor was part of the CORGI Technical Services team that carried out the investigation and report for the gas infrastructure within the Tower.

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.