Reporting back on our recent events
14/01/10
12 October 2009
South East Home Ownership Conference, The Hawth Theatre, Crawley
Now in its fourth year, the South East Home Ownership Conference attracted housing professionals working in the home ownership sector and in leasehold management from throughout the region. This conference is driven by the Chartered Institute of Housing Home Ownership discussion group which was set up in 2005 to provide a forum for people working in leasehold management in the South East to come together, exchange experiences and share good practice.
This year's conference addressed issues about the housing market - how are we dealing with adversity and what does the future hold? Through a number of interactive workshops, we provided updates on homeownership products and the law. Other workshop topics included income recovery during the credit crunch, dealing with difficult customers and management fees.
A date for your diary - next year's conference will be held on 14 October 2010 at the Crowne Plaza Gatwick Hotel, Crawley.
25 November 2009
The impact of the Single Equality Bill on housing, Paragon Training Centre, Walton-on-Thames
This half-day day event (pictured above) gave housing professionals the opportunity to take stock of equality and diversity within their organisation.
Douglas Mullen from Anthony Collins Solicitors identified key approaches to ensure organisations are working within the law and good practice in areas of race, gender, disability, religion and belief, sexual orientation and age.
Chris Root, equality and diversity expert, gave an entertaining, informative presentation on the seven strands.
Paragon Community Housing's diversity working group members, Anna Sartori and David Stevens, presented their approach to diversity - what is currently working and what they need to improve.
9 December 2009
Practitioners' training seminar, The Hawth Theatre, Crawley
This free event offered practitioner-based training on practical issues. Workshops looked at housing case law, choice-based lettings, repairs and maintenance and an Audit Commission workshop on managing tenancies while tackling anti-social behaviour.
The event received excellent feedback - delegates are keen to see a similar event with additional workshops next year. And so we are looking for volunteers for a small steering group to help plan the programme for next year's two-day Practitioners' Conference (July 2010).
If you'd like to be involved, contact Verity Fifer, South East Events Organiser - verity.fifer@cih.org.