HJ Housing Week 2025

From 10 – 14 November, Hugh James Housing Week offers a series of webinars, in-person events, videos, and blogs, each day spotlighting a different key aspect of housing.

Check out our 2025 line up below to discover what we’ve got planned for each day of the week.

With over 40 years of experience advising the housing sector, Hugh James continues to support clients and communities by bringing together expertise, insight and practical guidance on the issues that matter most.  Ranked in the top tier of leading advisers on social housing in Chambers and Legal 500, our partners bring together an unrivalled network of industry professionals to rise to the challenge and make things happen, building and nurturing the homes and communities you need.

Each year, our dedicated Housing Week delivers cutting-edge perspectives on the challenges and opportunities facing the sector, combining legal know-how with forward-looking commentary from industry leaders, always identifying a way through.

This year’s theme: the future of housing

Across five days of events, hosted both online and at our Cardiff headquarters at 2 Central Square, we will explore the trends shaping the sector, from the realities of generational people management to the future of housing supply, asset management strategies, building safety compliance and long-term commercial resilience.

Our goal is simple: to equip housing associations with the foresight and tools needed to deliver positive outcomes for their organisations and the communities they serve now and for the generations to come.

We are bringing together sector specialists to explore the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of housing. Each event focuses on a key issue for housing associations and local authorities, combining legal expertise with practical insight.

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 our Employment and HR team, this webinar will:

• Outline what the law requires when employee rights come into conflict.
• Share practical steps to protect both your organisation and your 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 responsibilities. You’ll leave with actionable guidance to manage sensitive issues, reduce risk and foster a positive workplace culture, all while staying compliant with the latest legislative developments.

Register here for the Employment & HR webinar.

Day 2 features one of the week’s standout events, delivered in collaboration with Savills. Their renowned Research Team will present the latest report on the economic outlook and its direct implications for the Welsh housing market.

Adding crucial political perspective, Nick Bennett (Director of Strategic Advisory at Savills) will draw on his wide experience across the public, private and not-for-profit sectors in Wales, as well as within the EU, to share insights on the upcoming Spring elections and their potential impact on the property sector.

Bringing that insight to life, there will follow a panel discussion of key voices influencing development in Wales chaired by Caroline O’Flaherty, Partner and Head of Social Housing at Hugh James, bringing together economic, political and industry perspectives to explore the future direction of real estate in Wales.

Please note: This is an invite-only event. Invitations will be issued directly to selected stakeholders.

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, our team will share legal insight, real-world examples and strategies for effective housing management.

Session 1: When does the balance tip?

Sara Tomaszewski, Partner in our Regulatory team brings her court experience to share what she is seeing in real cases where proportionality and mental health considerations are tested in ASB proceedings. Using examples such as hoarding, lifestyle differences and cannabis use, she’ll discuss factors that the courts weigh in striking a balance between vulnerability and community safety, and what landlords can do to make decisions that stand up to scrutiny.

Session 2: Housing disrepair

David Harry (Associate, Housing Management) will draw on his experience dealing with disrepair claims for social landlords on a daily basis. This session will look at what those involved in day to day housing management need to know about the landlord (and tenant) responsibilities in relation to repairs and fitness for habitation (and access), why we are seeing so many housing disrepair claims, the impact housing disrepair claims are currently having on the sector and the role that housing management/ASB teams might play.

Session 3: The Renting Homes (Wales) Act – a practical recap

Rebecca Rees (Partner, Head of Property Litigation) distils the recurring issues we see in practice and provides a hands-on look at a number of sometimes tricky aspects of the Renting Homes (Wales) Act including drafting and service of notices, joint to sole and sole to joint transitions, succession, transfers, requests for consent, abandonment and other challenges.

Session 4: Domestic abuse – the proactive landlord’s role

Drawing on his extensive experience of the family justice system and working on domestic abuse cases, Ranjit Manskova-Bains (Senior Associate, Dispute Resolution) will join forces with Lauren Sulliven (Solicitor, Dispute Resolution) to show how landlords can take proactive, informed and supportive action when responding to tenants affected by domestic abuse.

Together they will provide practical guidance on how landlords can take proactive, informed and supportive action when responding to tenants affected by domestic abuse whilst highlighting the crucial role housing providers can play in safeguarding, supporting tenants and responding effectively to risk.

Session 5: Tackling social housing fraud – recovering homes and saving money

Guest speaker Raj Vine (Golding Homes) reveals how fraud costs landlords thousands and undermines communities. With first-hand experience of reclaiming properties through proven processes, Raj shows how landlords can take back control of their stock and ensure you have the homes required for those genuinely in need of them.

Session 6: Youth injunctions – a tactical tool

Sara Tomaszewski (Partner, Regulatory) explains how youth injunctions open up a tactical route through a different court system, a tool that many landlords overlook, but that can be game-changing when deployed effectively.

With opportunities for discussion throughout, plus a lunch provided. This event offers housing professionals invaluable insight into the legal, practical and human dimensions of housing management.

Register your interest for the Housing Management conference.

Day 4 turns the spotlight on two critical priorities for housing providers: building safety compliance and effective asset management.  There is an increasing need to balance the competing needs of building new homes with proper investment in existing stock.  With the constant pressure of evolving to meet the latest compliance requirements, social landlords need teams that can make the right commercial decisions whilst developing an in depth understanding of the challenges being faced by landlords in England around building safety to prepare for the regime in Wales.

Asset management in practice

Meeting housing targets often takes priority, but effective asset management is essential to keeping homes safe, compliant and fundable. With growing board scrutiny and legislative demands, it must sit at the heart of strategy, procurement and delivery.
In this session, Iwan Jenkins (Partner in our Construction, Energy and Projects team) will focus on the needs of RSLs and local authorities in Wales, highlighting common challenges, sharing quick wins, and looking ahead to the future pressures and solutions shaping asset management.

Building Safety Act – a cross-border perspective

The Building Safety (Wales) Bill, expected to become law in 2026, creates a distinct regime for managing multi-occupied residential buildings. Unlike Westminster, it brings all such buildings into scope, regardless of height, and introduces a tiered framework of duties by building type. Drawing on their experience of both the English and Welsh regimes, Rebecca Rees and Lindsey Scourfield (Partner and Senior Associate, Property Litigation) will outline who the accountable and principal accountable persons are, what duties apply, and how they will be enforced. They will also forecast the challenges landlords may face and how to prepare with confidence.

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

Register here for the Building Safety & Asset Management webinar.

Our final day, delivered in partnership with Community Housing Cymru, explores how housing associations can strengthen commercial strategy, governance and resilience.   Three focused webinars you can access at a time to suit you, will give boards and leaders practical tools to navigate today’s commercial challenges:

Session 1: Strengthening commercial acumen – Should you set up a subsidiary?

Harriet Morgan and Liz Fletcher, Partners, Social Housing team, will outline the governance considerations, structures and practical steps for housing associations considering subsidiaries to diversify income, manage risk and enhance delivery.

Session 2: Unlock the power of contractual collaborations

Explore how housing associations can use contractual and partnership models to scale delivery, accelerate housebuilding and remain legally compliant.  Drawing on experience from a range of different case studies,  our team know what a success collaboration can be if done well and can help you stop it from being just another buzzword.

Session 3: Understanding the leasehold and Freehold Reform Act

Rebecca Rees, Partner, Social Housing team, will break down the key reforms, their impact on commercial decision-making, and the practical steps needed to mitigate risk and future-proof assets.

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

Register now to receive the Commercial Resilience & Collaboration sessions.