HJ Housing Week
Bringing you clarity and focus during an uncertain time
With the largest social housing team in Wales, we wanted to bring our legal experts together in a week dedicated to everything housing. '#HJhousing Week' strives to cover the full spectrum of housing issues using our 40 years of experience advising the sector. Whether you are looking for a deep dive into a particular issue with a masterclass, an introduction to a new practice area that impacts your work or opinion on the commercial and policy decisions of the future, our blend of webinars, articles and vlogs throughout #HJhousing week will deliver the information you need at a time that suits your schedule.
Running from 23 - 29 November, #HJhousing week involves webinars, podcasts, vlogs and blogs focusing on Housing Management, Development, Finance, HR, and Health and Safety amongst others, with guest speakers from Community Housing Cymru, Gambit Corporate Finance and Knight Frank.
Check out the line up for the week below with new content being released every day throughout the week.
Live Events & Webinars
Each day of #HJhousing week boasts a new live event for you to take part in. Click the images below to register for a #HJhousing week webinar or to find out more about what the speakers will be discussing live at each webinar.
If the live event has already taken place, the registration link will be replaced by a link to the replay, where you can watch the event at your leisure.
Podcasts
#HJhousing week sees the launch of our dedicated social housing podcast series. Over the week we'll release episodes from a range of speakers, across access for repairs, GDPR, Japanese knotweed, disrepair and more. The player below will update with new podcasts as soon as they are available.
Find out more about our Social Housing podcasts
Videos
Our team discuss key topics across a range of housing issues, with more being released throughout #HJhousing week.
Matt Stevens, Partner and Jade Zelko, Associate, in the Construction team at Hugh James, in this video, discuss the top five things you need to know about JCT Design & Build.
5 Things You Need To Know About JCT Design & Build
The Joint Contracts Tribunal (JCT) Design and Build Contract 2016 is intended for construction projects where a main contractor is appointed to design and construct the project. When used correctly, this form of contract can deliver successful projects, but there are some potential pitfalls.
Matthew Stevens, Partner and Jade Zelko, Associate, in our Construction team have joined forces to bring you the key points you need to know, discussing how to get the basics right, the clauses you should understand and the lessons that can be learned from their considerable experience of this form of contract.
Impact of Rights of Way Claims and Town/Village Greens on proposed developments
It is essential that developers understand their obligations regarding town and village greens and public rights of way as both can significantly impact their ability to develop land as they may have envisaged. Rob Phillips, Partner and Head of Property Litigation, is joined by Rebecca Rees, Senior Associate in Property Litigation and Housing Management to discuss the relevance of this kind of application by local opposition groups, in this video. This includes where these rights are already reflected in a local authority’s register giving the public certain rights to use them and which can constitute an offence for a developer to disrupt.
During the video, our team will help you understand the processes required to address these rights and what can be done to minimise or mitigate their impact on a proposed development.
Rob Phillips, Head of Property Litigation and Rebecca Rees, Senior Associate, Property Litigation and Housing Management discuss the relevance of Town and Village Green applications by local opposition groups, in this short video.
Bethan Gladwyn, Head of Housing Management at Hugh James, and Will Henson from Community Housing Cymru discuss the growing concerns around disrepair claims in this short video
Disrepair claims in the social housing sector
Concerns around the increasing frequency of disrepair claims against housing associations and local authorities have been mounting. This is particularly significant as when the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 comes into force, it includes provisions around a home’s “fitness for human habitation”.
Working with Community Housing Cymru, our Partner and Head of Housing Management, Bethan Gladwyn, discusses this issue with Will Henson, Policy & External Affairs Manager, to explore how the sector can best protect itself against these claims. Will discusses the findings of Community Housing Cymru’s sector-wide disrepair survey which has helped gauge the extent of the problem and navigate possible solutions, including a best practice guide.
Everybody loves good neighbours: Boundary disputes and the legal essentials
In this 15 minute video, we provide you with an overview – to help you understand what a boundary is, how you can find out where it is and what to do if you get into a disagreement.
Our Head of Property Litigation, Rob Phillips and Senior Associate Rebecca Rees talk through the key issues. If you understand the legal position, you’re less likely to get into a difficult dispute.
Our Head of Property Litigation, Rob Phillips and Senior Associate Rebecca Rees talk through the key issues. If you understand the legal position, you’re less likely to get into a difficult dispute.
When does a contract actually start in a tender process? We give you the legal lowdown in this 12-minute video on Public Sector procurement.
When does a contract actually start in a tender process?
Lack of clarity in the procurement process can cause all sorts of problems. Ambiguity over when a contract starts or, indeed, whether has started at all, can lead to expensive claims. That’s nothing new. But, the difficult economic climate we find ourselves in, due to the coronavirus, has brought the issue to the forefront. The implications of confused contracts are much greater. If you’re a contracting authority or a procurement specialist, you’ll want to avoid unnecessary claims. If you’re a supplier, you’ll want to know what information to look out for if you win a contract.
In this 12 minute video, our Corporate and Commercial Partner,
Emily Powell and Procurement Adviser
Huw Thomas talk through the key principles.
Webinar Replays
In case you weren't able to attend some of our recent live webinars, we've selected some of our latest replays below for you to watch at your leisure.
The Future of Surety for RSLs in Wales replay
In August, Welsh Government withdrew the financial surety provided to RSLs which had helped to drive development, so what’s next? Housing associations in Wales need to find alternative methods to continue building.
Richard Macphail, Partner and Head of Social Housing at Hugh James hosts our webinar, supported by Community Housing Cymru and Insurance and Risk Management specialists, Gallagher. The session looks at how your organisation can navigate the best way forward from a legal and practical perspective, assessing the likely impact on timescales and outcomes.
In August, Welsh Government withdrew the financial surety provided to RSLs which had helped to drive development, so what’s next? Housing associations in Wales need to find alternative methods to continue building.
Our webinar, supported by Community Housing Cymru and Insurance and Risk Management specialists, Gallagher, looks at how your organisation can navigate the best way forward from a legal and practical perspective, assessing the likely impact on timescales and outcomes.
Construction Law Update | Nov 2020
Our usual Espresso Shots format; three concentrated, 15 minute discussions on current construction issues, designed to fuel thought leadership; in other words, construction espresso shots.
Matthew Stevens kicks off the webinar by providing a brief overview of the common law associated with ground conditions on construction projects. Lawrence Mansell then provides an overview of the legislative landscape in Wales and discusses some of the key points of negotiation and the practicalities of entering into a construction contract during these uncertain times. Alun Tobias finishes up the webinar, covering the allocation of risk between parties that has come into sharp focus over the past few months.
Webinar: Construction Law Update replay - Nov 2020.
A webinar overview of the latest construction law updates, during these challenging COVID-19 times, covering the allocation of risk for ground conditions, an overview of the legislative landscape in Wales and the allocation of risk between parties, all summarised in three short bitesize presentations.
Employment Law Update | Oct 2020
We discuss recent and key HR cases and forthcoming legislative changes including those that have been introduced following the COVID-19 pandemic and BREXIT.
Webinar: Employment Law Update replay | October 2020.
We discuss recent and key HR cases and forthcoming legislative changes. This includes recent changes to legislation that have been introduced following the COVID-19 pandemic and Brexit.
Hugh James Webinars: Full series
Our dedicated webinar series from our experts at Hugh James talks about topical issues and the latest developments affecting the public and social housing sectors to help provide some practical guidance for you and your organisation.
VIEW THE FULL webinar SERIES
Blogs