duration

Location
Virtual

With rent convergence due to come into effect from April 2027, rent compliance teams face an extra layer of complexity. This year’s conference will make sure you are on the right track and fully compliant.

  • Read more

    Taking place a few weeks after the Budget and with the rent increases for 2027/28 confirmed, this year’s conference will give you everything you need to know when it comes to rent setting – including how organisations should be preparing for rent convergence.

    Chaired by Emma Turay, Assistant Director of Rents and Service Charges at Notting Hill Genesis, alongside Samantha Grix, Rent Regulations Lead at Devonshires.

    Our popular conference will cover:

    • Rent convergence: implementation and preparation

    A session looking at the practical preparations that organisations need to undertake before the implementation of rent convergence in 2027.

    • Applying convergence: calculation, scenarios and tracking

    A practical, step-by-step explanation of how convergence should be applied. We will walk through the detail rent calculation, where convergence applies and the distinction between formula rent and flexibilities.

    • Systems, data and operational readiness

    While organisations may understand rent convergence as a concept, they are in trouble if their systems cannot implement it effectively. This session looks at some of the systems housing providers are using and identifies the key components for those still searching for the right solution.

    • Governance, board assurance and leadership

    A look at how boards/cabinets and executive teams can gain assurance that rent setting and compliance are under control, and what questions they should be asking.

    • Resident and customer communication

    A session going beyond the formal consultation process to consider how rent changes are explained in the context of affordability, service charges, non-payment, complaints and wider landlord communications.

    • Legal update and common issues

    A focus on the common rent compliance issues currently being identified, recurring areas of error, emerging legal questions and practical learning from current enquiries.

    Full speaker line-up to be announced shortly.

    Who should attend?

    This event is essential for everyone involved in rent setting and compliance:

    • Finance, risk assurance and rent compliance teams
    • Rent setting/review panels
    • Executive directors and board members
    • Income management teams
    • Data governance teams
    • Resident engagement and communication teams.
  • Our speakers

    Alistair McIntosh, Founder and Chief Executive, HQN
    Alistair McIntosh is one of the social housing sector’s most respected and best known personalities. As founder and chief executive of HQN, he is regarded as one of the foremost advisers on governance and regulation, specialising in VfM and stress testing. His hands on approach sees Alistair leading on all HQN’s in-depth assessment mock exercises and support work, designing and running the popular Iron Grip sessions and chairing/speaking at conferences and events.
    Career highlights include: Setting up and running the National Federation of ALMOs, leading the popular consultation on the regulatory standards for housing and developing an approach to VfM that won praise from the housing minister.
    A regular contributor to the housing press, Alistair’s columns are known for their humorous, pointed and painfully accurate assessment of the state of social housing.

    Emma Turay, Assistant Director of Rents and Service Charges, Notting Hill Genesis
    Emma works at Notting Hill Genesis, ensuring that the organisation is robust in terms of regulatory and legislative requirements for the Rent and Consumer Standards and delivering clear policies and procedures and working with internal colleagues to ensure they are clear, meet the legislative requirements and have a positive impact on NHG’s customers. Of equal importance, she oversees professional competency and onboarding for new operational colleagues to ensure they are well equipped to do their roles confidently.
    In previous roles, Emma has led on the development of automated bespoke systems for Rents and Service Charges, designed to provide a platform to complete work compliantly, increase data integrity and provide insights for future decision making as well as implementing data structures ad reporting. Emma has nearly 20 years’ experience in the sector, has led on implementing an annual rent compliance conference and sector publications of the Complying with the Rent Standard.

    Samantha Grix, Rent Regulations Lead, Devonshires
    Samantha is a Partner in the Housing Management and Property Litigation team at Devonshires and has worked in the sector for almost 15 years. She was called to the Bar before cross qualifying as a solicitor and has worked at Devonshires throughout her career.
    Samantha deals with all areas of housing management and specialises in rent regulation and the consumer standards. She regularly advises clients on compliance and forms part of their team when an issue is discovered to the point of resolution.

    Louise Baxter MBE, Chief Executive Officer, Consumer Friend

    Louise is a passionate advocate for social justice and safeguarding, with over 20 years’ experience supporting vulnerable communities and driving change across regulatory and public service sectors.  Nationally recognised consumer protection leader in regulation, fraud, scams and consumer vulnerability. Louise’s work spans across sectors including finance, telecoms, housing and energy.

    Louise serves as Chair of two national Consumer Protection Panels and as a Non-Executive Director at TrustMark and The Property Ombudsman. Organisations committed to building safer, more inclusive services. A confident and trusted media contributor, she uses her platform to champion consumer rights, highlighting the challenges many face and the things we can do to make a change.

    As CEO of a Consumer Friend, an education organisation, she delivers training and outreach programmes that empower individuals and communities with the knowledge and confidence to shape brighter futures.  Aiming to build a national movement to make consumer rights engaging and accessible, delivering expert accessible information to ensure individuals and organisations know how to protect the most at risk.

    Louise was awarded an MBE for Protecting Vulnerable Consumers from Financial Abuse in 2017.

    Ellen Damlica, Senior Associate, Devonshires

    Greg Whelan, Chief Finance Officer, Chime Housing
  • Programme

    10:30am Welcome and introduction

    Emma Turay, Assistant Director of Rents and Service Charges, Notting Hill Genesis

    10:40am Getting ready for rent convergence

    Samantha Grix, Rent Regulations Lead, Devonshires
    • The practical preparations that organisations need to undertake before the implementation of rent convergence in 2027.

    11:10am Applying convergence in practice: calculations, scenarios, systems and tracking

    Emma Turay, Assistant Director of Rents and Service Charges, Notting Hill Genesis
    Samantha Grix, Rent Regulations Lead, Devonshires
    • A practical, step-by-step session looking at how convergence should be applied. We will walk through the detail around rent calculation, where convergence applies and the distinction between formula rent and flexibilities.

    11:50am Rent convergence discussion and Q&A

    12:10pm Break

    12:40pm Communicating rent changes: putting residents at the centre

    Louise Baxter MBE, Chief Executive Officer, Consumer Friend
    • How to make complex information understandable with specific regard to resident communications around rents focusing on accessibility and readability, tone of voice and making messages clear and simple, despite the complex nature of the subject matter.

    1:10pm Governing rents: how leaders know they are compliant (Panel discussion)

    Chaired by: Alistair McIntosh, Chief Executive, HQN
    Ellen Damlica, Senior Associate, Devonshires
    Greg Whelan, Chief Finance Officer, Chime Housing

    1:50pm Rent compliance: what we’re seeing now

    Emma Turay, Assistant Director of Rents and Service Charges, Notting Hill Genesis
    Samantha Grix, Rent Regulations Lead, Devonshires
    • A round-up of current rent compliance issues and trends, with questions welcome from delegates.

    2:20pm Closing remarks

    Emma Turay, Assistant Director of Rents and Service Charges, Notting Hill Genesis
    Samantha Grix, Rent Regulations Lead, Devonshires

    2:30pm Close

  • Testimonials
    • Sam Grix is very knowledgeable and presents well.
      Hundred Houses Society Limited
    • Sam clearly has a lot of knowledge around the subject and was good at presenting it too.
      Norwich City Council
    • As always, Alistair had some very thought provoking comments.
      Housing Solutions
  • 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

    If you would like to send multiple members of your team to any of our events, please get in touch with [email protected] to find out about available deals for purchases of multiple places.

    Tickets

    Ticket Type Price Spaces
    Early bird Member ticket
    Available until 5:00pm on 12 November 2026    		 £220.00
    Early bird Non-member ticket
    Available until 5:00pm on 12 November 2026    		 £270.00
    Member ticket £260.00 N/A
    Non-member ticket £330.00 N/A

    Registration Information

    Booking Summary

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    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



19 November 2026
10:30am - 2:30pm
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