Tackling Rent Arrears Digital Conference

Thursday 8th July 2021

Digital Event, Broadcast Live

Key Points
  • Planning for an ongoing arrears crisis and creating sustainable repayment schemes
  • Training staff in how to offer continued support for tenants and preparing for UC Managed migration in April 2022
  • Promoting early stages service uptake and mediation services to avoid escalating arrears, eviction notices and court action
  • Creating comprehensive responses to mitigate the negative effects of arrears including mental health support and financial advice.
  • Click Here to Secure your Place
Overview
Expert Speakers:
  • Peter Tutton, Head of Policy, Step Change
  • Ben Beadle, Chief Executive, National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA)
  • Christian Hartley, Head of Customer Finance, Stockport Homes Group
  • Neil Anderson, Housing Services Manager, Broadland Housing
  • Laura Henderson, Managing Director, Cube and Loretto Housing
  • Senior Speaker, Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA)
  • Rowena Chiplin, Head of Income Services, Metropolitan Thames Valley
  • Dawn Box, Head of Housing Services, Poplar HARCA
  • Linda Cobb, Call Before You Serve, DASH Services, Derbyshire City Council
  • Maggie Houghton, Programme Manager, Hyde Foundation
  • Fay Shanahan, Corporate Director of Operations, WHG
  • Gill Wilson, Homes and Money Hub, London Borough of Barking and Dagenham
  • Emma Owens, Head of Customer Accounts, Curo
  • Sarah Seeger, Director of Tenancy Services, Curo
  • Rachel Beddow, Principal Policy Manager, Citizens Advice


    58% of people who are currently behind on rent weren’t in arrears before the crisis** creating new challenges for tenants and landlords. Join Westminster Insight’s Tackling Rent Arrears Digital Conference to hear how leading housing associations and local authorities are navigating this complex situation, supporting tenants and planning for long term recovery.

    Review the Government’s latest policy updates and available resources to protect tenants going through financial hardship. Hear strategic advice from the country’s largest Housing Associations, including Stockport Homes’ financial perspectives and plans to deliver comprehensive solutions for a continuing crisis.

    Find out how Metropolitan Thames Valley, and Poplar HARCA are equipping staff with resources to engage with tenants offer viable repayment options; and hear best practice from Hyde’s Successful Tenancies Programme. WHG will share their innovative approach to mitigate the negative effects on mental health and wellbeing associated with arrears.

    Ben Beadle, Chief Executive, National Residential Landlords Association will review landlord’s capacities and proposals to create viable agreements. The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations and Cube Housing will share their perspectives on the Tenant Hardship Fund.

    Join us to hear local ground-breaking approaches, including pathfinder Decent and Safe Homes (DASH) Call Before You Serve Project and London Borough of Barking and Dagenham’s Reshaping Financial Support Programme on signposting to services, tackling access barriers and minimising the risk of evictions.

    Don’t miss this opportunity to hear strategic insight and practical advice to help you design rapid responses that can make a long-lasting impact on sustainable tenancies.

    **Citizens Advice, New Year Same Arrears
Agenda
Start

09:15 - 09:30
Chair’s Opening Remarks

 
Speakers

Peter Tutton Head of Policy, StepChange

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09:30 - 10:10
Next Steps: Paving the Way for Income Recovery

 
  • Managing the financial impact of increased arrears and optimising resources for an ongoing crisis  
  • Delivering comprehensive solutions to maintain tenancies and developing supportive relationships with residents
  • Reviewing perspectives and forecasting prospects for recovery
10:00- 10:10 Questions and Discussion
Speakers

Christian Hartley Head of Customer Finance, Stockport Homes Group

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Neil Anderson Housing Services Manager, Broadland Housing Group

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10:10 - 11:05
Case Studies: Proactive Solutions to Prevent Escalating Arrears

 
  • Lessons from lockdown: engaging with residents and adapting services and processes
  • Preparing for Universal Credit managed migration in April 2022
  • Implementing viable repayment agreements
  • Lessons from Scotland and the Tenant Hardship Funds
10:55-11:05 Questions and Discussion
Speakers

Dawn Box Head of Housing Services, Poplar HARCA

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Laura Henderson Managing Director, Cube and Loretto Housing

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Rowena Chiplin Head of Income Services, Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing

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11:05 - 11:15
Interval

 

11:15 - 11:40
Case Study: Preventing Eviction Through Early Intervention and Mediation

 
  • Shifting perceptions and building close relationships with landlords to increase sustainable tenancies
  • Mitigating the threat of eviction through different available resources and support schemes
  • Increased signposting, uptake & promotion of Local Authority offered services such as tenancy deposit, social lettings schemes & landlord accreditation.
  • Tackling barriers that are keeping tenants from accessing support services
11:30-11:40 Questions and Discussion
Speakers

Linda Cobb DASH Services, Derby City Council

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11:40 - 12:05
Case Study: Giving Customers Breathing Space – A Person-Centred Approach to Collecting Rents During Coronavirus

 
  • Improving resident engagement on arrears through empathy, trauma awareness and better communication
  • Supporting customers to maximise income, access money management and debt advice
  • Considering the impact of financial hardship caused by COVID 19 on the physical and mental health of our customers
  • Special considerations for those who have been shielding or self-isolating
11:55- 12:05 Questions and Discussion
Speakers

Emma Owens Head of Customer Accounts, Curo

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Sarah Seeger Director of Tenancy Services, Curo

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12:05 - 12:35
Partnership Working and Comprehensive Approaches to Debt

 
  • Helping residents adjust to a new normal and signposting to available health and well being support services
  • Creating strong safety nets for tenants under pressure to avoid them falling through the gaps
  • Tackling the negative effects associated with evictions, including health and social implications
  • Case study: WHG collaborations to support tenants in hardship
  • Case study: Hyde’s Successful Tenancies
12:30- 12:35 Questions and Discussion
Speakers

Fay Shanahan Corporate Director of Operations, WHG

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Maggie Houghton Programme Manager, Hyde Foundation

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12:35 - 12:55
Meeting Halfway: Supporting Tenants and Landlords

 
  • Understanding capacities and responsibilities to manage landlords’ and resident’s expectations
  • Reviewing support available to streamline resources and reduce pressure on public services
  • Lessons from the Reshaping Financial Support Programme
  • Learnings from the Tenant’s Voice Panel
12:50-12:55 Questions and Discussion
Speakers

Ben Beadle Chief Executive, NRLA

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Gill Wilson Homes and Money Hub, London Borough of Barking and Dagenham

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Rachel Beddow Principal Policy Manager, Citizens Advice

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12:55 - 13:00
Chair's Closing Remarks

 
Speakers

Peter Tutton Head of Policy, StepChange

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End
Speakers

Neil Anderson Housing Services Manager, Broadland Housing Group

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Ben Beadle Chief Executive, NRLA

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Rachel Beddow Principal Policy Manager, Citizens Advice

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Dawn Box Head of Housing Services, Poplar HARCA

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Rowena Chiplin Head of Income Services, Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing

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Linda Cobb DASH Services, Derby City Council

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Christian Hartley Head of Customer Finance, Stockport Homes Group

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Laura Henderson Managing Director, Cube and Loretto Housing

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Maggie Houghton Programme Manager, Hyde Foundation

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Emma Owens Head of Customer Accounts, Curo

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Sarah Seeger Director of Tenancy Services, Curo

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Fay Shanahan Corporate Director of Operations, WHG

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Peter Tutton Head of Policy, StepChange

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Gill Wilson Homes and Money Hub, London Borough of Barking and Dagenham

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Venue details

Digital Event Broadcast Live

Speakers
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