Residential Landlord & Tenant - 2023 Virtual Conference

Introduction

Chaired by Mark Chick together with a panel of leading experts, this virtual conference will cover all you need to know about residential landlord and tenant matters from the proposed reforms to the current leasehold system through to possession claims.

Each session will provide opportunity for questions and answers.

Conference Agenda

This live and interactive 6 hour conference will cover the following:

9:00am-10:00am: Leasehold Update: ‘The Proposed Reforms to the Residential Leasehold System’

There has been a lot of recent movement concerning the scope for reform of the law relation to residential leasehold and practitioners should be aware of a number of areas where changes are proposed and are also taking shape. In this session we will cover:

• An update on the progress of the Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Act 2022 - and its implications in practice
• The recent DLUHC Consultation on changing the qualifying criteria for collective and enfranchisement including leasebacks and the qualifying threshold for the enfranchisement of mixed use buildings
• An update on the current progress of the Commonhold Council
• A summary of some of the Law Commission’s proposed changes as they affect Leasehold Enfranchisement with some predictions and an update on current progress with these

10:00am-11:00am: The Landlord & Tenant Act 1987 - Latest Tips & Traps to Avoid

This session will provide you with the latest tips and traps regarding the 1987 Act which includes:

• Advising on what disposals can be made
• How to make the offer
• The time frames involved and how to best manage them
• What to do if a disposal has been made where the tenants were not offered the rights of first refusal

Morning Break

11:10am-12:10pm: Renters’ Reform Bill - Latest News

This session will deal with the implementation of the Renters Reform Bill and what the terms of the bill, which include the introduction of lifetime deposits and the abolition of section 21 notices, will mean for the private rented sector and how landlords will be able to obtain possession of their rented properties in light of this legislation. This session will cover the following:

• Abolition of section 21 notices
• Amendment to section 8 grounds of possession
• Lifetime tenancy deposits including overview of current position and recent case of Sturgiss & Gupta v Boddy & Ors [2021]
• Changes to the Court process
• Redress Scheme
• Other proposals including the abolition of blanket bans on renting to certain individuals, the end of arbitrary rent review clauses and changes to the notice periods for rent increases

12:10pm-1:10pm: ASB Committal Proceedings

This session will review the current practice and procedure for both landlord and tenant practitioners in issuing and defending committal proceedings in cases of anti-social behaviour and will cover the following:

• Recent changes to Part 81 of the Civil Procedure Rules
• Anti-Social Behaviour Injunctions (ASBIs) and undertakings
• Key procedural points
• Practical evidential and trial tips

Break for lunch

2:00pm-3:00pm: Possession Claims: Tactics & Procedure

Recovering possession of a property can be a long and painful process. Getting things wrong can cost many months, sometimes with limited prospects of landlords recovering arrears of rent and legal costs. This session will provide a practical overview of residential proceedings to help delegates navigate the process:

• Possession notices
• Part 55 - an overview
• The accelerated procedure and when to use it
• Evidence and preparing for possession hearings
• Legal costs

Afternoon break

3:15pm-4:15pm: Housing Conditions Claims

This session will review current practice and procedure for both landlord and tenant practitioners in issuing and defending housing disrepair proceedings.

The session will cover the following:

• The Pre-Action Protocol
• Tips for pleadings
• Allocation issues
• Trial preparation
• The impact of the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018

Recording of live sessions: Soon after the Learn Live session has taken place you will be able to go back and access the recording - should you wish to revisit the material discussed.