It’s time for HQN’s housing law review of the year!

Our annual event provides the perfect opportunity to explore current legislation and case law affecting housing providers across a range of key areas.

Hot topics include the new regulatory regime and the team on Birketts will be on hand to answer your questions and provide an update on everything from Awaab’s Law and Decent Homes to the Competence and Conduct Standard.

With so much to consider you just cannot miss this opportunity to get up to speed on current and future legislation. Put your questions to our experienced legal team, discuss topical concerns for employers and service providers, share ideas with other practitioners.

This is a chance to take stock on the key housing legislation of 2024 and the challenges that lay ahead for housing providers in 2025.

What will be covered?

We’ll cover key changes within policy, legislation and regulation during the past 12 months. We’ll examine the challenges you will need to consider on the horizon, anticipated policy shifts, joint ventures, building safety and more.

We’ll look at the key housing policy announcements emerging from the Autumn Budget

Essential for:

This session is essential for everyone with responsibility for corporate oversight, governance and compliance, policy and strategy as well as operations, regardless of which service area you work in.

Speakers:

• Jonathan Hulley, Partner, Head of Social Housing
• Thaine Wilson, Partner, Social Housing Team
• Clive Adams, Partner, Social Housing Team
• Katrina Robinson MBE, Legal Director, Social Housing Team

What will be covered:

• An overview of the legal changes this year
• Disrepair – tips, traps and best practice
• The external environment and horizon scanning.

Essential for:

• Chief Executives
• Directors of Housing
• Corporate Teams
• Directors of Assets
• Directors of Operations
• Directors of Customer Services
• Compliance Teams
• Legal Teams
• Governance Teams
• Strategic Housing and Policy Teams.

1:00pm Chair’s welcome and introduction

• Chloe Fletcher, Director, HQN

1:05pm The external environment and horizon scanning

• Jonathan Hulley, Partner, Head of Social Housing, Birketts

• The Social Housing Regulation Act 2023
• The enhanced role of the Social Housing Regulator
• Unpacking the Consumer Code of Practice
• Peeking over the horizon to consider the implications of the Renters Rights Bill, Awaab’s Law and Decent Homes Standard 2.0 for the social housing sector.

1:50pm Defending Disrepair – tips, traps and best practice

• Clive Adams, Partner, Social Housing Team, Birketts

Clive will look at latest best practice on how to handle disrepair claims in the county court and magistrates court. He will consider:

• What is and what isn’t actionable disrepair litigation
• The use of dispute resolution as an alternative to litigation
• The importance of the Housing Ombudsman Service complaints handling code.

2:35pm Antisocial Behaviour… Learning from maladministration

• Thaine Wilson, Partner, Social Housing Team, Birketts

• Simal Govindia, Social Housing Team, Birketts

Thaine and Simal will review the Housing Ombudsman’s spotlight report on how social landlords are dealing with complex antisocial behaviour cases.

3:20pm Questions to the panel

• Jonathan Hulley, Partner, Head of Social Housing, Birketts

3:50pm Chairs summing up

• Chloe Fletcher, Director, HQN

4:00pm Close

Jonathan Hulley, Partner, Head of Social Housing

Jonathan is an acknowledged expert in the field of housing and leasehold management law. He qualified as a solicitor in 2003. He is also known for advising social housing providers on best practice, policy and procedure, including the consumer standards set by the social housing regulator which Housing Associations have to meet.

Clive Adams, Partner, Social Housing Team

An extremely experienced housing management specialist with particular expertise in disrepair and leasehold litigation (including service charge disputes and consultation issues under s.20 Landlord and Tenant Act 1985.  Clive deals with complex Anti-Social behaviour cases involving Equality Act and/or proportionality defences. He advises on and handles Tenancy Fraud cases to trial and advices on Fire Safety compliance and resultant recovery of costs through the service charge account. Clive is renowned for his client care and technical ability, where he is known for being able to slice through complex legal issues and break them down in his advice to his clients.

Clive frequently appears in the First Tier Tribunal and conducts appeals to the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber). He has handled numerous cases to the Court of Appeal, most recently the case of Aster Communities v Chapman and others [2021] EWCA Civ 660

Clive regularly undertakes training, particularly within his specialist areas, where is knowledge is second to none. Clive has appeared on expert panels for national housing forums and conferences such as the Chartered Institute of Housing, Lime Legal, National Housing Federation, South East Consortium and the Social Landlords Crime and Nuisance Group.

Thaine Wilson, Partner, Social Housing Team

Thaine qualified as a solicitor in 2002 and has over 20 years of experience advising and assisting registered providers and local authorities in housing and asset management related litigation, focusing on anti-social behaviour, tenancy fraud, disrepair, policy reviews and drafting. Thaine is known for his approachable nature and straightforward thinking, making him a trusted advisor and popular trainer among social landlords.  Thaine’s commitment to the social housing sector is evident in his proactive approach to client care and his passion for making a positive impact. Clients appreciate his unwavering support, practical advice, and ability to navigate complex legal challenges.

Before joining Birketts in March 2023, Thaine was the Managing Partner and Head of Social Housing at Batchelors Solicitors. He played a pivotal role in the firm’s growth and Batchelors’ merger with us in 2023. Thaine also served as a co-opted committee member of a large-scale voluntary transfer housing association for 5 years, contributing to the governance and strategic direction of the organisation.

Thaine has been recognised by Legal 500 for over 10 years and by Chambers and Partners for 15 years.

Simal Govindia, Social Housing Team

Simal is a Solicitor within the Social Housing Team. Simal qualified as a Solicitor in 2023.

She supports the team in advising registered providers and social landlords on a broad range of housing related issues but with a particular emphasis on dealing with gas safety and access injunctions matters.  Simal’s practice also includes all contentious matters regarding social housing, including anti-social behaviour injunctions, possession and disrepair.  She has built a strong relationship with her clients and is always willing to go above and beyond to achieve the best possible outcome.

Recently Simal got an outright possession order and arrears of approx. £13,600 for a client. Costs awarded above the fixed fee.

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.