Housing Disrepair - 2026 Virtual Conference

Introduction

Chaired by Gary Lewis of Cobden House Chambers, this virtual event brings together leading experts to explore the evolving legal and procedural landscape of housing disrepair claims. With developments like Awaab’s Law and the updated Decent Homes Standard reshaping landlord duties, sessions will cover legislative reform, recent case law, enforcement strategies, and the growing impact of costs decisions, including the implications of Mazur.

Covering both social and private rented sectors, this conference offers practical guidance for navigating housing conditions claims in an increasingly complex environment.

Conference Agenda

This live and interactive 5-hour conference will cover the following:

10am-11am: The Impact of Awaab's Law

Gary Lewis, Cobden House Chambers (Manchester)

This session will consider and discuss the impact of Awaab's Law on housing conditions claims both from a substantive and practical point of view.

Specifically:

• What is Awaab's Law?
• Why has it been introduced now?
• Who will it impact?
• How will it impact?

Morning Break

11:10am-12:10pm: Costs in Housing Disrepair Claims

Nicholas Lee, Paragon Costs Solutions

This session will deal with common and developing costs issues in Housing Disrepair Claims, and the impact of Mazur.

In the evolving world of costs, this session will look at recent case law and developments which have a direct impact on the recovery of legal costs in relation to housing disrepair claims and will cover the following:

• The costs implications where there has been misconduct
• The reasonableness of expert fees
• The Court’s approach to proportionality and hourly rates
• The implications of Mazur for Housing Disrepair Claims

12:10pm-1:10pm: Decent Homes: A Turning Point in Housing Law

David Smith, JMW Solicitors

An update on the current legal, social and policy implications of the Decent Homes framework and related housing law.

Break for lunch

2-3pm: Securing Effective Remedies for Disrepair & Fitness for Human Habitation in the County Court

Tim Baldwin, Albion Chambers

This session will look at how to combine the use of legal aid for injunction combined with CFA for damages in such claims:

• Approaches to securing urgent interim injunctions in serious cases disrepair cases
• Using expert evidence for securing remedies for fitness for habitation as well as disrepair
• How best to settle damages cases including pre-action costs and use of memorandums of understanding
• Effective enforcement of breach of Tomlin orders

Afternoon break

3:15-4:15pm: Disrepair Litigation: Procedural Issues, Allocations & Disclosure

Catherine Rowlands, Cornerstones Barristers

This session will offer a clear and practical overview of the key procedural considerations in housing disrepair litigation. It will focus on the challenges faced by legal professionals in managing case allocations, procedural requirements, and disclosure obligations, providing valuable insights to help navigate these issues efficiently within both in-house and private practice contexts:

• Understand the procedural framework applicable to housing disrepair claims in the UK
• Recognise how case allocation decisions affect litigation strategy and management
• Identify best practices and common challenges in disclosure and evidence handling
• Develop practical approaches to managing procedural issues, avoiding delays, and improving case outcomes

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.