Session overview

Housing law continues to change at pace, reflecting wider social, economic and political shifts. For housing providers, the challenge is not only understanding what has changed, but knowing what those changes mean in practice and where organisations need to focus their attention next.

This one-day programme brings together legal experts from across housing, regulation, governance, procurement, employment, housing management and information governance to explore the issues most likely to affect providers over the coming year.

Across the day, we’ll look at the direction of travel, the practical implications of recent and upcoming changes, and the areas where organisations may face the greatest risk, complexity or opportunity.

The aim is to help boards, executives and senior managers understand what is coming, ask the right questions and prepare their organisations with greater confidence.

Overall takeaways

• Future legal and regulatory changes to look out for
• A clearer understanding of where organisations may need to act now
• Practical insight into the areas creating the greatest legal and operational risk
• Greater confidence in responding to future changes across housing, people, governance and compliance

Session 1: The State of Housing Law and What Comes Next

Jonathan Cox, Partner, Property

Housing law is an area that changes constantly, reflecting wider social and economic change. Right now, the sector is experiencing an exceptionally high level of legislative and regulatory change.

Jonathan will open the day by looking across the current housing law landscape, highlighting the major changes already underway and giving his view on what the sector should be preparing for next.

What to expect from the session

• Future legal changes to look out for
• Direction on where sector voices may need to be heard
• Greater confidence in preparing for future legal change

Session 2: Regulation, Safety and Compliance

Lorna Kenyon-Pain, Senior Associate, Commercial Litigation & Regulatory
Elizabeth Massey, Solicitor

The safety landscape for housing providers continues to shift, with further legislative and regulatory change expected.

This session will review the latest developments in health and safety and property compliance, including fire and building safety, while also exploring the compliance issues that arise most often in practice.

The session will also look at examples of good practice and the potential role of innovation and technology in strengthening safety compliance.

What to expect from the session

• Key legislative and regulatory changes affecting health and safety and property compliance
• The compliance issues that arise most regularly and how organisations can avoid them
• The role technology and innovation can play in supporting compliance
• The risks and considerations organisations should keep in mind when introducing new approaches

Session 3: Governance and the Changing Regulatory Landscape

Victoria Jardine, Governance, Funding and Corporate

Significant changes to the way housing providers are regulated are likely over the next 18 months.

This session will explore what those changes could mean for the sector, including the relationship between housing providers and local and central government.

Victoria will also look at other governance and regulatory hot topics and reflect on the impact of changes already introduced, including the Competency & Conduct Standard and STAIRs.

Session 4: Procurement - Making the New Rules Work in Practice

Richard Brooks, Partner, Projects

The Procurement Act 2023 has increased expectations around transparency and objectivity, but what opportunities does that create for housing providers?

This session will move beyond process and look at how organisations can use procurement more strategically, from engaging with the market to achieving stronger social outcomes and aligning award criteria with wider organisational objectives.

What to expect from the session

• How to engage with the market and influence capacity building for the benefit of residents
• How to achieve meaningful social outcomes and social value from a legal perspective
• How to set award criteria that align with corporate and social objectives

Session 5: Employment - What the Employment Rights Act Means for Housing

Katherine Sinclair, Legal Director, Employment & Pensions

The Employment Rights Act 2025 is reshaping the employment landscape, but for housing providers the real challenge is understanding what those changes mean in practice.

From increasing tribunal risk and trade union activity to growing employee expectations around flexibility, wellbeing, inclusion and workplace culture, HR and executive leaders are navigating a rapidly changing environment.

This session will explore the key workforce themes emerging under the new legislative framework and consider how housing providers can adapt their people strategies for what comes next.

What to expect from the session

• How the Employment Rights Act 2025 is changing workplace culture and people management
• How to balance operational and regulatory demands with enhanced employee rights and expectations
• The growing risk of employment tribunal claims and how employers can reduce exposure
• Preparing for increased trade union engagement, access requests and collective bargaining

Session 6: Housing Management - What You Need to Prepare For

Emma Hardman, Partner, Property
Helen Tucker, Partner, Housing Litigation

Everyday housing management practice continues to be affected by a growing list of new and pending legislative changes.

Aimed at directors and managers, this session will highlight the key developments and, importantly, what action organisations should be taking in response.

What to expect from the session

• Renters’ Rights Act 2025
• Leasehold and freehold reform
• Rent convergence
• The key changes organisations should be preparing for
• Where the biggest practical challenges are likely to emerge

Session 7: STAIRs, AI and Data

Ben Pumphrey, Legal Director

The way housing providers manage, use and share information is changing quickly.

With the Social Tenant Access to Information Requirements (STAIRs) introducing new expectations around transparency, providers need to understand not only what information they hold, but whether it is accurate, accessible and appropriate to share.

The first phase of STAIRs took effect from 1 October 2026, with formal information request requirements due to take effect from 1 April 2027. At the same time, AI is changing how organisations use information day to day.

This session will explore the practical implications of STAIRs alongside the opportunities and risks created by AI and an increasingly data-driven housing sector.

What to expect from the session

• What STAIRs means in practice and how providers can respond to increasing transparency requirements
• How to understand what data and information your organisation holds and whether it is accurate and appropriate to share
• Key considerations when withholding or redacting information
• The opportunities and risks presented by AI when handling organisational and tenant information
• How strong data and information governance can help organisations prepare for future developments

Who should attend?

This event is designed for senior leaders and decision-makers across the housing sector, including:

• CEOs, executive directors and senior managers
• Board members and governance professionals
• In-house legal teams
• Housing management leaders
• Property, compliance and building safety teams
• Procurement and commercial leads
• HR and people leaders
• Risk and assurance professionals
• Data, information governance and digital teams
• Anyone who needs a high-level understanding of upcoming legal and regulatory change and what it means in practice for their organisation

Further information

Further details will be shared ahead of the event, including:

• The timings for each individual session
• Speaker biographies
• Information on how recordings of the sessions will be made available

Joining information

Your joining information will be sent via Eventbrite 7 days before the event, and you will also receive a reminder from events@dinetwork.co.uk approximately 2 hours before the event.

Sessions will be recorded where possible. Further information on how to access the recordings will be shared with registered attendees. Please note that slides and presentation materials are not guaranteed to be shared after the event.

If you have any questions about the event or your booking, please contact events@dinetwork.co.uk.