Homelessness & Lettings Conference 2011

The conference for everyone concerned with homelessness and allocation of social housing in England and Wales. An unmissable opportunity to learn about the Homelessness and Allocations agenda for 2011 and beyond including the latest cases and the implications of the Localism Bill.

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whO should attend

Housing Options Team Managers and Officers
Homelessness Managers and Officers
Lettings / Allocations Managers and Officers
Housing Policy Managers and Officers
RSL Staff responsible for contracted-out Homelessness or lettings work
Heads and Directors of Housing
In-house Social Housing lawyers
Legal Advisers in private practice
Advice agency staff

Testimonials

Year after year this conference receives superb feedback. Just look at what past delegates have said,

“A fantastic day-thank you to all involved”
Operations Manager

“Well planned and well presented - one of the best conferences I’ve attended. I would certainly recommend attendance at future events”
Lettings Co-ordinator

‘Excellent conference – very informativeand interestingly presented’
Local Authority Head of Accommodation Services

‘Excellent as always’
Homeless Persons Manager

‘Very impressed – informative and thorough’
Housing Options Manager

“Excellent event - well worth the effort of travelling - thank you.”
Housing Options Manager

A really worthwhile day - kept focused on the key points
Lettings Manager

Conference Programme

Homelessness & Lettings Conference

09.15-10.00	Registration and Refreshments
10.00-10.10	Chairman’s Introduction Jan Luba QC
10.10-10.35	Policy Update on Homelessness & Lettings Jonathan Bright
10.35-11.25	*How to run your Housing Options Services the right way!* Andy Gale How to review your structure to be fit for purpose. Making best use of staff and resources in tougher economic times. Practical steps to prepare your Homelessness and Lettings service now for legislative changes. “Learning lessons on Housing Options: good and bad practice” “Current trends` and impending challenges”
11.25-11.40	Morning Refreshments
11.40-12.30	Lettings: Update on Case Law, Consultation, the new Bill and gearing for the 2012 changes Jan Luba QC All the court cases since Ahmad examined All the recent Ombudsmen reports on lettings reviewed What the Government proposes to change and why: the Local decisions consultation paper and its aftermath. The detailed changes under the microscope: transfers and new lets Getting ready for 2012: changing the local scheme again! On standby for Code of Guidance No.5 (England) and No.2 (Wales) Whatever happened to “the right to move”?
12.30-12.50	Questions and Answers Panel
12.50-13.50	Lunch
13.50-14.40	Homelessness: The Essential Case Law Update Liz Davies How to prevent homelessness and also comply with Housing Act 1996 duties; What constitutes 'domestic violence'? The Supreme Court decides in Yemshaw v Hounslow LBC Disability discrimination and homelessness; traps for the unwary Performing the main housing duty: the right ways! Ending that duty: the right ways! Comprehensive update covering case-law and statute in the last 12 months on other aspects of homelessness.
14.40-15.30	Handling Applications, Reviews & Appeals: keeping out of the courts on Lettings and Homelessness Ken Emerson Back to basics: forms, files and enquiries Back to basics again: partnerships, protocols and teamwork Decisions on homelessness applications (“section 184 letters”) “Minded to” & ”Mohammed” How to handle Reviews Lettings: Do we have to carry out a review? The Local Government Ombudsman: “a critical friend”
15.30-15.45	Afternoon Refreshments
15.45-16.20	Preparing for change in Homelessness functions: the legal aspects of discharging duties in the private sector Jan Luba QC Which duties can be performed using the private rented sector, at present? Which duties can be ended by refusal of private sector accommodation, at present? What will the Localism Bill amendments change? What do local housing authorities and their social landlord partners need to do to prepare to use the new provisions? Where and when will they be useful? ‘Step change’ or ‘minor tweak’?
16.20-16.45	Questions & Answers Speaker Panel
16.45	Close of Conference

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details

Venue: London

Copthorne Tara Hotel, Kensington, London W8 | Get directions

Date: Friday 6 May 2011
Price: £295 + VAT (Price held for 7th successive year!)

SPECIAL OFFER: Third and Subsequent Delegates HALF PRICE. The cost effective way to get top quality training for your department. See Terms and Conditions

cpd accredited

This conference is CPD Accredited for 5 hours 20 minutes by The Solicitors Regulation Authority, the Bar Standards Board and ILEX

6 reasons to book NOW!

Top speakers
Superb value
Excellent venue
Topical programme
The opportunity to listen to and learn from the shared experiences of others working in this fast moving area of work
Excellent notes to refer to back in the office

Speaker Profiles:

Jan Luba QC, Conference Chairman and lead conference speaker, Garden Court Chambers. Jan has been described in Chambers & Partners Directory as “the leading QC for housing related public law matters” and as “a walking encyclopaedia of housing law.”

Jonathan Bright, CLG, Director of Homelessness and Support, Building Standards and Climate Change.

Andy Gale, is one of the best known names in the field of Homelessness and Lettings. He trains and advises Local Authorities around the country. He has a wide range of Local Government including experience as Housing Needs Manager for Harrow Council. He was formerly in charge of Homelessness and Advice at Ealing Council. He has been active in the field of homelessness since the mid 1980s.He is also the author of "The Local Authority Good Practice Guide to Tackling Homelessness."

Liz Davies, Garden Court Chambers. Liz specialises in all aspects of housing law, but she has particular expertise and vast experience in homelessness and allocation of social housing. She is one of the leading experts in the law of Homelessness.

Ken Emerson, Head of Housing Operations, London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. Ken has been working in the statutory homeless sector for 20 years in both frontline and managerial positions. He is a former chair of the London Homeless Managers Group and member of the London Housing Need and Homelessness Group.

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Lime Legal Limited
Greengate House
87 Pickwick Road
Corsham
Wiltshire
SN13 9BY

Tel: 01249 701555
Fax: 01249 701666

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