The Empty Homes Network are excited to announce the details for their annual National Conference 2024.
To be held on Wednesday 22nd May and returning to The Studio, Birmingham, our 2024 Conference will deliver the wide variety of informative and interesting sessions our delegates have come to expect.
After the success at our 2023 event, we will also be continuing to offer the popular 1:2:1 Enforcement Surgeries thanks to our supporters at NP Law and Bevan Brittan, who will be on hand to discuss practical advice individually, based on your current cases.
With Fraser & Fraser returning as our Main Conference Sponsor, we thank them, and all our sponsors for their continued support, enabling us to keep the delegate rates as low as possible!
Sessions & Speakers
As always, our annual conference presents a range of speakers and topics that provide insight into best practice, new initiatives and practices being used across the country to bring empty homes back into use. Our 2024 Conference is no exception, with a fantastic range of speakers and sessions for all experience levels. Our sessions include:
The Future of Empty Homes
Rebecca Moore | Action on Empty Homes
This session will explore a possible world where numbers of empty homes are consistently on the decline and it will examine the pathways to getting there. In doing so it will highlight how we can make a case for empty homes work and how we might more effectively lobby for the work we do.
Empty Homes – A Criminal Waste or a Criminal Enterprise?
Neil Tonge | Housing Standards Manager, Wigan Council
From the outside looking in, it may appear to be empty and may not look like it has been used in years, but do you really know what is going on inside? Neil will discuss a case where they have identified an Organised Crime group from basic empty homes work and the potential to not only recover laundered money via Proceeds of Crime Act but to seize the properties and sell them on. This case has been a catalyst in Wigan to look at a different way of proactive working that has led to other similar properties being identified. He will also talk about how this is a bigger problem than you would think and how to potentially deal with them.
Making Homes From Houses – How to Use S106 Funding to Tackle Empty Homes
Eirian Molloy | Assistant Director (Head of Housing Standards & Improvement), Preston City Council
In this session, Eirian will explain the background and successes of an innovative partnership between Preston City Council and a local registered provider, Community Gateway Association. By directing s106 commuted funds for off-site affordable housing in to the Making Homes from Houses project, the scheme has achieved great success in levering in additional funding from both the RP and Homes England. This has allowed the purchase and refurbishment of a significant number of empty properties, which, once completed, are managed and let as affordable housing to those waiting for social housing in Preston. We believe we are the only local authority applying this unique approach to tackling the problems associated with empty houses and a shortage of affordable rented properties.
Housing and Hoarding - how to support tenants with hoarding behaviours
Kayley Hyman | Founder, Holistic Hoarding
With hoarding now being the second leading cause of eviction after rent arrears, Kayley discusses how we can compassionately support people with this complex mental health condition, whilst also adhering to tenancy governance standards and ensuring safe and sustainable tenancies.
Enforcement Pending: Working towards a voluntary solution, while preparing for a successful CPO
Jennifer Batten & Rachel Garwood | NPLaw
Increasingly, CPO success is down to the preparation and actions taken before deciding that CPO action is necessary. In this session, Jennifer Batten and Rachel Garwood, Senior Lawyers at nplaw, will take you through the most common issues that arise, such as bankruptcy, probate and engagement with property owners and will give you their top tips for how to deal with these issues when preparing for Compulsory Purchase.
Empty Homes: Practitioner Enforcement Surgery
Andrew Lavender | Housing Training & Law Consultancy
Ever present at the Empty Homes Conference, Andrew offers his expertise to provide practical solutions to your Empty Homes problems. Whether it’s case studies, enforcement, loans, grants, or anything housing related, Andrew will be on hand to answer any questions you may have.
1-2-1 Enforcement Surgeries - NPLaw & Bevan Brittan
Available throughout the day, representatives from NPLaw and Bevan Brittan will be on hand to discuss your Compulsory Purchase Order and Enforced Sale questions, and to give advice on taking the next steps in your case-specific examples.
Bookings for these sessions are extremely limited, and are available on a first come first served basis. To secure your surgery session, email admin@ehnetwork.org.uk.
Conference 2024 Schedule
09:00 - 09:45 | Registration & Breakfast
09:45 - 09:55 | Conference Open
09:55 - 10:00 | Sponsor’s Welcome
10:00 - 10:45 | Session One
10:45 - 11:30 | Session Two
11:30 - 12:00 | Morning Break
12:00 - 12:45 | Session Three
12:45 - 13:15 | Session Four
13:15 - 14:15 | Lunch
14:15 - 14:30 | EHN Awards 2024
14:30 - 15:15 | Session Five
15:15 - 16:00 | Session Six
16:00 - 16:55 | Networking
16:55 | Conference Close
Delegate Rates
With a huge thank you as always to our sponsors and exhibitors, their continued support has enabled our delegate pricing structure to be kept as low as possible.
Delegate prices start from £95 for not-for-profit organisations, and our Corporate Members will benefit from our discounted delegate rate of £150, as well as receiving a reduced rate of £105 for every additional delegate place.
This year, we are again offering all members the chance to renew their EHN Membership for 2024/25 at the same time as booking your Conference place, ensuring that your access to the Network website and its resources runs uninterrupted through until April 2025.
As a Subscriber Member of the Empty Homes Network, it has never been easier to upgrade your membership level and take advantage of our fantastic Corporate delegate rates, as well as increasing your access to all of our information resources online.
Booking Form
Our booking form can be found at the bottom of this page, and bookings for the Conference are now being taken. All you need to do to secure your place at the event is complete the booking form with all of the required information and send to admin@ehnetwork.org.uk.
Please note, that invoices will be sent out in the first week of January, for any bookings taken prior to the 4th January 2024.
Sponsorship and Promotional Opportunities
We have a limited number of sponsorship opportunities remaining, with details of our packages found on our Sponsorship Opportunities 2024 Brochure at the bottom of this page.
EHN Awards 2024
Celebrating the achievements of practitioners, councils and organisations in their efforts to bring empty homes back into use over the past year, the EHN Awards will be presented at this year’s Conference shortly after lunch.
Showcasing the achievements and giving national recognition, our six award categories are now open for submissions, with more details on how to submit your nominations being found here!
Travel & Accommodation
Our Conference venue is a short 5 minute walk from Birmingham New Street Station, with a number of NCP Car Parks available nearby. Do remember however, that Birmingham operate a ULEZ payment system, if driving to the conference on the day.
A number of hotels can be found nearby, including the Premier Inn (Waterloo Street), and the Premier Inn (City Centre, New Street). Both of which currently have availability ranging from £42 to £68 per night.
Contact & Further Information
For booking enquiries, sponsorship opportunities, membership or invoicing queries please contact Adam Cliff on: admin@ehnetwork.org.uk
