Preventing Homelessness and HELPING Homeowners AT RISK National Conference 2011

New mortgage arrears cases increased by 6% in the last quarter of 2010. With more and more families living in the shadow of repossession it is essential that all advisers from front line housing advisers in social housing providers to advice agency personnel know what options are available to help defaulting borrowers and, how to help borrowers to help themselves.

Equally, social housing providers need to know what the extent of their obligations will be in the event that homeowners lose their home: intentionality, cases where there is equity in the property and what about tenants of borrowers of repossessed homes are just three of the difficult issues that have to be confronted.

This important national conference examines the range of options available to advisers faced by borrowers threatened with the loss of their homes and how the housing authority’s duties are to be fulfilled if that loss cannot be prevented.

District Judge Sterlini leads a multi-disciplinary panel of speakers of the highest calibre to explain all the latest legal, policy, procedural and practical developments in this fast moving area.

Programme details | Book Your Place | Download Conference Brochure (.pdf)

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

Homelessness Prevention managers and advisers
Homelessness/Housing Advice managers, and teams within Local Authorities and RSLs
CAB personnel
Court Desk Officers
Homelessness Allocations Teams
Housing Debt Advisors
Welfare Rights/Benefits Officers
Lawyers in local authorities and RSLs and solicitors in private practice

WHY YOU SHOULD ATTEND

Speakers of unrivalled experience and knowledge
Topical programme addressing all the issues of current concern
Multi-disciplinary, ‘hands on’ approach
An opportunity to ask the experts
Excellent notes to refer to back in the office

SEMINAR PROGRAMME IN OUTLINE

Preventing repossessions – the latest Government initiatives
Delivering the Mortgage Rescue Scheme in your area
Practical help for the Struggling Mortgage Defaulter
Changes at the FSA – what’s in store?
Achieving positive outcomes with new thinking
Maximising income through benefits and entitlements
Possession proceedings – what all home owners’ advisers need to know
When is the defaulting mortgage ‘intentionally homeless’?
Discussion Forum

09.15-10.00	Registration & Refreshments
10.00-10.10	Chairman’s Welcome and Opening Remarks District Judge Luigi Sterlini
10.10-10.45	Preventing Homeowner Repossessions – Latest developments with Government initiatives Kirstin Blagden The Government’s current approach to preventing repossessions Mortgage Rescue Scheme update: getting it to work in practice Homeowners Mortgage Support update Mortgage Interest payments through the benefits system – update Future developments
10.45-11.15	Helping Borrowers – the Local Authority’s Role Mark Fisher A critical relationship – the Lender, the Borrower and the Local Authority The ‘window of engagement’ – recognising it and understanding its importance to positive outcomes The frontline – trust, speed & knowledge Getting the homeowner motivated and solving their own problems The new climate needs new thinking – how changing your thinking can improve outcomes
11.15-11.30	Refreshments
11.30-12.30	Advising the Struggling Mortgage Defaulter Nick Lord Options for reducing expenditure Mortgage costs, and secured loan costs Other priority costs Budgeting advice Unsecured creditors Negotiating with the mortgage lender to forestall court action What is and isn’t possible Key factors FSA regulation Role of the FOS Identifying and advising where it is probable that the client will not be able to meet their mortgage costs in the medium term FSA regulation – what are the proposed changes?
12.30-12.45	Questions and Answers Panel
12.45-13.45	Lunch
13.45-14.30	Maximising Income through Benefits and Entitlements – an Adviser’s Guide John Eames Who is entitled to support for mortgage interest? Which mortgages attract help? What is eligible - interest on home repair loans Which benefits include this component? How much support is given and for how long? Penalty periods Difficult issues: liability to pay - separating couples - income from mortgage protection insurance - excessive housing costs - benefit on two homes - increasing housing costs whilst on benefit
14.30-15.15	When is a Mortgage Defaulter ‘Homeless’? What are the Local Authority’s Responsibilities? Philip Glen Eligibility for assistance Whose application/previous application? Core requirements; homelessness and priority need Intentional homelessness and mortgage default Investigation; looking into causation Duties to the homeless and those threatened with homelessness
15.15-15.30	Afternoon Refreshments
15.30-16.20	Possession Proceedings: How the Court can and can’t help District Judge Sterlini Legal advice and representation for the borrower: what help works best at court? Legal and procedural requirements the lender must satisfy Applying the Mortgage Arrears Protocol: as easy as N123? Technical and substantive defences What evidence will the judge want? Inviting creative use of the Court’s powers - what the court can and cannot order Securing more time to pay or sell - how to maximise the chances of a favourable exercise of judicial discretion Advising tenants of borrowers Last minute reprieves - suspending warrants for possession
16.20-16.30	Discussion Forum Panel and Delegates
16.30	Close of Conference
Top \| Book Your Place \| Download Conference Brochure (.pdf)

details

Venue: Copthorne Tara hotel, London | Get Directions
Date: Thu 29 September 2011
Price: £295 + VAT

Third and subsequent delegates HALF PRICE. See Terms and Conditions

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

cpd accredited

This conference is accredited for 5 hours CPD by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, the Bar Standards Board and ILEX.

speakers

District Judge Luigi Sterlini (Conference Chairman and speaker), Clerkenwell & Shoreditch County Court where he regularly hears a wide variety of housing related claims.

Nick Lord, Money and Policy Adviser. Nick has worked in money advice for 25 years. He managed a CAB money advice unit before moving on to national roles at Citizens Advice and the Money Advice Trust. He now divides his time between working as a money adviser with central government departments and as a policy adviser on personal finance issues.

John Eames, Welfare Benefits Specialist, advocate, judicial tribunal member and lecturer with over 25 years' advice and advocacy experience.

Mark Fisher, Specialist Housing Officer at Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council, which has one of the most successful prevention records for homeowners in the UK. Mark is responsible for coordinating debt and money advice throughout the borough.

Philip Glen is a barrister at 12 College Place, Southampton. Philip specialises in all aspects of social housing law with special expertise in allocations and homelessness. Philip is regularly instructed on behalf of local authorities and other social landlords.

Kirstin Blagden, Head of the Preventing Repossessions Strategy Team in Communities and Local Government.

testimonials

I’m familiar with mortgage cases – but I learned heaps of tips today
Homelessness & Advice Team Leader

Superb as always!
Housing Adviser (Court desk team)

Excellent course, excellent speakers – everything excellent
Legal Adviser

Excellent, very informative day. Well worth attending.
Money Advisor

A very well presented conference which provided detailed information
Homelessness Prevention Manager

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