Seminar: Where next for social rent?

EventsEvent Date: Apr 2nd, 2019 Time: 09:00 - 13:00 Location: The Orangery, Margam Park, Port Talbot, SA13 2TA

Social landlords may be given freedom to set their own rents in the near future, after many years of the Welsh Government determining rent rises.

At the same time, welfare reform and below-inflation wage rises have put pressure on low income families. The result is that social housing rents are unaffordable for some households

Date: 2nd April 2019

Time: 9.00 – 13.00

Venue: The Orangery, Margam Park, Port Talbot, SA13 2TA

Cost: £90

What it’s about

This seminar with Shelter Cymru will explore the issue of affordability and outline alternative approaches to social rent-setting, drawing on examples from Wales and elsewhere in the UK.

What will you gain?

Participants will:

1. Increase their awareness of social rents in the context of household incomes

2. Gain insights into different approaches to rent-setting

3. Share experience and learning with others.

Who should attend?

This is an essential event for everyone concerned about social housing and affordability:

All social landlords
Local authority housing officers
Homelessness organisations
Anti-poverty organisations
Housing researchers and policy makers

The Programme

9.00	Registration and breakfast
9.30	Introduction and welcome Victoria Winckler, Director, Bevan Foundation and John Puzey, Director, Shelter Cymru
9.40	Affordability: what is it and how do we do it? Ian Wilson, Principal Research Fellow, Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research, Sheffield Hallam University
10.30	When social rent isn’t affordable Ashella Lewis, Shelter Cymru Live Manager and Jennie Bibbings, Campaigns Manager, Shelter Cymru
11.00	Coffee break
11.20	Two approaches to Living Rents Lorraine Oates, Director of Finance and Resources, Merthyr Valleys Homes and Dan Hayes, Rent Account Manager, and David W Jones, Income and Leasehold Service Manager, Trivallis
12.15	Moving forward Panel discussion with Tamsin Stirling (independent consultant), David Wilton (Director, TPas Cymru), Clarissa Corbisiero-Peters (Deputy Director, Community Housing Cymru) and WLGA (tbc)
13.00	Close and depart