Hugh James Housing Week 2025

From 10–14 November, Hugh James Housing Week will present a series of webinars, in-person events, videos, and blogs, with each day focusing on a key aspect of housing.

Now in its seventh year, Hugh James Housing Week is designed to equip housing associations, leaders, and stakeholders with practical legal and strategic insights to navigate the evolving housing landscape and prepare for future economic, political, and legislative change.

With over 40 years’ experience advising the housing sector, Hugh James continues to support clients and communities by combining expertise, insight, and practical guidance on the issues that matter most.

Ranked in the top tier of social housing advisers by Chambers and Legal 500, Hugh James partners bring together an unrivalled network of industry professionals to drive progress, build connections, and strengthen the homes and communities that matter.

Each year, Hugh James Housing Week offers forward-thinking perspectives on the challenges and opportunities facing the sector, blending legal expertise with commentary from industry leaders to identify pathways through complexity.

This Year’s Theme: The Future of Housing

Over five days of events, hosted both online and at Hugh James’ Cardiff headquarters at 2 Central Square, Housing Week will explore the trends shaping the sector, including generational workforce management, housing supply, asset management strategies, building safety compliance, and long-term commercial resilience.

Further details about the events taking place across Housing Week are provided below. Registration for expression of interest to attend webinars and in-person events is now available via the Hugh James website.

Day 1: People Management in a Changing Workforce

Monday 10 November 2025 | 10:00 – 11:30 | Online Webinar

Day 1 opens with a spotlight on employment and HR, tackling one of today’s most pressing workplace challenges: navigating conflicting employee rights. Employers are increasingly required to manage situations where the rights and needs of different employees appear to clash. Striking the right balance is not only a matter of fairness, but also of legal compliance and organisational confidence.

Led by Hugh James’ Employment and HR team, this webinar will:

• Outline what the law requires when employee rights come into conflict.
• Share practical steps to protect both organisations and their staff.
• Provide real-world examples to illustrate best practice in complex workplace scenarios.

This session is designed for senior leaders, HR professionals, and line managers with people management responsibilities. Attendees will leave with actionable guidance to manage sensitive issues, reduce risk, and foster a positive workplace culture, while remaining compliant with the latest legislative developments.

Day 3: Housing Management in Practice

Wednesday 12 November 2025 | 09:30 – 16:00 | 2 Central Square, Cardiff

Day 3 brings housing managers together for a full-day, in-person conference exploring some of the sector’s most challenging issues. Across six expert-led sessions, the Hugh James team will share legal insights, real-world examples, and strategies for effective housing management.

Session 1: When Does the Balance Tip?
Sara Tomaszewski, Partner in the Regulatory team, will share insights from real cases where proportionality and mental health considerations are tested in ASB proceedings. Drawing on examples such as hoarding, lifestyle differences, and cannabis use, the session will explore the factors courts consider when balancing vulnerability and community safety, and how landlords can make decisions that stand up to scrutiny.

Session 2: Housing Disrepair
David Harry (Associate, Housing Management) will examine the responsibilities of landlords and tenants in relation to repairs and fitness for habitation, why housing disrepair claims are increasing, their impact on the sector, and how housing management and ASB teams can play a proactive role in addressing these challenges.

Session 3: The Renting Homes (Wales) Act – A Practical Recap
Rebecca Rees (Partner, Head of Property Litigation) will offer a hands-on look at recurring issues seen in practice and provides a hands-on look at a number of sometimes tricky aspects of the Renting Homes (Wales) Act, including drafting and serving notices, joint-to-sole and sole-to-joint transitions, succession, transfers, consent requests, abandonment, and other practical challenges.

Session 4: Domestic Abuse – The Proactive Landlord’s Role
Ranjit Manskova-Bains (Senior Associate, Dispute Resolution) and Lauren Sulliven (Solicitor, Dispute Resolution) will highlight how landlords can take proactive, informed, and supportive action when responding to tenants affected by domestic abuse, showcasing the vital role housing providers play in safeguarding and supporting tenants while responding to risk effectively.

Session 5: Tackling Social Housing Fraud – Recovering Homes and Saving Money
Guest speaker Raj Vine (Golding Homes) will demonstrate how social housing fraud costs landlords thousands and undermines communities. Drawing on first-hand experience, this session will highlight how landlords can recover properties and ensure that homes are allocated to those in genuine need.

Session 6: Youth Injunctions – A Tactical Tool
Sara Tomaszewski (Partner, Regulatory) will explain how youth injunctions can serve as a tactical route through an alternative court system—an often overlooked but potentially transformative approach for landlords.

Opportunities for discussion will be available throughout the day, with lunch provided. The event offers housing professionals invaluable insight into the legal, practical, and human dimensions of housing management.

Day 4: Building Safety and Asset Management

Thursday 13 November 2025 | 10:00 – 12:00 | Online Webinar

Day 4 turns the spotlight on two critical priorities for housing providers: building safety compliance and effective asset management. As housing providers balance the need for new homes with investment in existing stock, there is growing pressure to evolve and meet ever-changing compliance requirements.

Asset Management in Practice
Iwan Jenkins (Partner, Construction, Energy and Projects) will discuss the needs of RSLs and local authorities in Wales, highlighting common challenges and identifying practical solutions, whilst looking ahead to the future pressures and solutions shaping asset management.

Building Safety Act – A Cross-Border Perspective
Rebecca Rees and Lindsey Scourfield (Partner and Senior Associate, Property Litigation) will examine the implications of the forthcoming Building Safety (Wales) Bill, expected to become law in 2026. They will outline the duties of accountable persons, enforcement mechanisms, and cross-border challenges, offering practical advice for preparing with confidence.

This webinar is designed for senior leaders, asset managers, and compliance teams seeking to stay ahead of regulatory developments while maximising the value of their housing stock.

Day 5: Commercial Resilience and Collaboration

Friday 14 November 2025 | Online Webinar Series (3 Sessions)

The final day of Hugh James Housing Week 2025, delivered in partnership with Community Housing Cymru, explores how housing associations can strengthen commercial strategy, governance, and resilience. Three focused webinars - available on demand - will provide you with practical tools to navigate today’s commercial challenges.

Session 1: Strengthening Commercial Acumen – Should You Set Up a Subsidiary?
Partners Harriet Morgan and Liz Fletcher will discuss governance considerations, structures, and practical steps for housing associations considering subsidiaries as a means to diversify income, manage risk, and enhance delivery.

Session 2: Unlocking the Power of Contractual Collaborations
This session will explore how housing associations can use contractual and partnership models to scale delivery, accelerate housebuilding, and remain legally compliant, supported by real-world case studies.

Session 3: Understanding the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act
Rebecca Rees, Partner in the Social Housing team, will break down the key reforms, their commercial implications, and the practical steps required to mitigate risk and future-proof assets.

This series is intended for board members, senior executives, and decision-makers seeking to strengthen long-term sustainability and resilience.