Why housing week matters more than ever
If you work in social housing, you’ll know that keeping up with change has become a job in itself.
Over the last few years, the sector has experienced a constant stream of new legislation, regulatory reform, consultation papers, codes of practice and case law developments. From Awaab’s Law and the Social Housing Bill, to the Renters’ Rights Act, Respect Orders, procurement reform and ever-evolving data protection requirements, it can often feel as though the legal landscape is shifting faster than organisations can adapt.
The challenge is not simply keeping up with the volume of change. The real challenge is understanding what actually matters.
Most housing professionals do not have the time to read every piece of legislation, every consultation response or every judgment handed down by the courts. Even when you do, it is not always easy to identify which changes will affect your organisation, your service area or your day-to-day role. The practical implications are not always obvious from the legislation itself.
That is precisely why Clarke Willmott’s Housing Week has become such an important event.
Now in its sixth year, Housing Week is designed to do the hard work for you. Rather than asking attendees to trawl through lengthy legislation or hundreds of pages of case law, each session focuses on what housing professionals actually need to know. We take the key developments, explain them in plain terms and, most importantly, discuss what they mean in practice.
The aim is not just to provide an update. It is to help people understand how changes will impact decision-making, operational processes, governance, compliance and risk management within their organisations.
Free access to sector-leading expertise
Each session is led by specialists who work within that area of housing law every day. Whether it is housing management, development, procurement, planning, funding, asset management, data protection or commonhold. The sessions are delivered by lawyers with extensive practical experience advising housing associations and local authorities on real-life issues.
For me, that is one of the biggest strengths of the programme. We have such depth of experience across Clarke Willmott’s social housing team that attendees are hearing directly from people who are dealing with these challenges across the sector every day. The sessions are shaped by the questions clients are asking us and the issues organisations are currently facing.
Understanding the bigger picture
Housing professionals are increasingly required to understand issues which sit outside their core area of expertise. A housing management professional may find procurement changes suddenly affecting a project. Development teams may need to understand the implications of Awaab’s Law. Governance teams are often dealing with issues which overlap with data protection, compliance, resident safety and operational delivery.
Because Housing Week is free to attend, it is a fantastic opportunity to dip into subjects that you might not normally have the chance to explore, but which may become highly relevant at some point during the year.
Housing Management Update – 14 October 2026
I am particularly looking forward to speaking at our Housing Management Update on 14 October alongside Lindsay Felstead and Harriet Killeen.
The pace of change in housing management has been remarkable. We will be covering some of the developments currently generating the most discussion within the sector, including the Renters’ Rights Act, the Social Housing Bill, the Crime and Policing Act and the introduction of Respect Orders, together with key case law developments affecting landlord decision-making.
These changes matter. Some provide landlords with new tools and powers. Others introduce additional obligations and scrutiny. Many will require organisations to review policies, procedures and operational approaches. Understanding what is changing, and what action needs to be taken now, is essential.
Ultimately, Housing Week exists to help housing professionals stay informed, stay compliant and feel confident navigating a rapidly changing sector.
Register for Clarke Willmott’s Housing Week
Housing Week takes place from 13-15 October 2026 and is free to attend, Open to professionals working at social housing providers, including local government.