The annual Housing Conference of the Housing Law Practitioners’ Association is the housing conference of the year.

The last 12 months has seen a flood of housing cases in the higher courts and the new Housing and Regeneration Act. Highlights in this year’s programme include:

• Rabinder Singh QC, our keynote speaker, who must be the first choice for a conference taking place both on Human Rights Day 2008 and on the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Rabinder acted for the Equality and Human Rights Commission in Lewisham LBC v Malcolm, and for the tenant in Ghaidon v Godin-Mendoza.
  
  
• A panel session on homelessness law covering the issues of the day. Our speakers are
  Andrew Arden QC and Jan Luba QC, the two most eminent barristers in this field, Michael Scorer to speak from the perspective of the local housing authority and Professor Caroline Hunter to provide an academic view. Carol Storer, the Chair, will ensure that their contributions – and yours – provide a provocative debate on the recent developments in homelessness law.

The conference offers a number of seminars in the afternoon focusing on the most topical areas of housing law presented by leading practitioners and members of the judiciary, including the Senior President of the Residential Property Tribunal. Topics include:

• The impact of the Human Rights Act on housing law providing an opportunity to discuss the consequences of cases such as McCann, Doherty and Weaver;
  
  
• Choice Based Letting Schemes which have attracted the recent attention of both the higher courts and the Local Government Ombudsman;
  
  
• Possession Proceedings for both the rented and mortgage sector to discuss tactics at a time when the number of possession actions is soaring;
  
  
• Housing Law and Community Care, particularly in the light of further implementation of the Mental Capacity Act 2005;
  
  
• Disrepair and Service Charges, of renewed importance as charges accrue under right to buy leases following local authority compliance with the ‘Decent Home Standards’ agenda.

The conference ends with the traditional address from Jan Luba QC offering his perspective on what housing lawyers will need to confront in 2009.

The conference is aimed at all those involved in practising housing law, whether acting for tenants and occupiers of housing or local authorities and social or private landlords. It is relevant to solicitors, barristers, paralegals and advisers in the voluntary, public and private sectors. It is also suited to academics and policy workers in the housing and social welfare fields.

The conference is an accredited course for both solicitors and barristers and is designed to offer information and training for all levels of practitioner.

We hope that you will be able to join us.

Bar Council Accreditation: 6 hours CPD

Law Society Accreditation: 5 hours 15 minutes CPD