The Supporting Vulnerable Tenants Conference 2026: Safeguarding Vulnerable Residents in a Changing Housing Landscape
Supporters Include
Overview
For vulnerable tenants, poor housing can have life-changing consequences. The introduction of regulatory changes like Awaab’s Law and the Renters’ Rights reforms are designed to prevent harm and give tenants greater security, but many still struggle to access safe, supportive housing. Housing providers must take a more proactive and joined-up approach to safeguarding and tenancy sustainment.
- Around three in five households (61%) in the social rented sector had one or more household members with a long-term illness or disability (English Housing Survey 2024-2025)
- 27% of social renters struggled to pay their rent during 2023/24 (English Housing Survey, 2023-2024)
- Just under one in 10 (8%) of social renters reported experiencing homelessness in the last few years (English Housing Survey, 2023-2024)
Agenda
Registration
Chair’s Opening Remarks
Dr Sharda Rozena, School of Geography and Planning, Leverhulme Early Career Fellow, University of Sheffield (CONFIRMED)
Keynote: What Regulation Means for Supporting Vulnerable Tenants
- Understanding what the strengthened consumer standards mean in practice for housing providers
- Outlining the Safety and Quality Standard and the regulator’s expectations around repairs, damp and mould, and property condition
- What inspection findings so far tell us about the sector’s performance
Jack Smith, Assistant Director of Assessment and Tenant Engagement, Regulator of Social Housing (CONFIRMED)
Keynote: Exploring Different Experiences of Poverty in Social Housing
Rebecca Rieley, Head of Communities and Projects, HACT (CONFIRMED)
Questions and Answers
Comfort Break
Keynote: Creating a Culture of Safeguarding in Housing Service Provision
- What a strong safeguarding culture looks like in housing settings
- Supporting frontline staff to recognise risk and escalate concerns
- Learning from safeguarding failures and serious incidents
- Embedding safeguarding into everyday practice rather than policy alone
Dr Liz Gailer, Director of Professional Development and Research, The Safeguarding Alliance (CONFIRMED)
Case Study: Supporting LGBTQ+ Tenants
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The LGBTQ+ Housing Pledge: An introduction to this free of charge initiative and how it equips social housing providers to better meet the needs of their LGBTQ+ residents
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Good practice examples: A showcase of real-world examples highlighting what effective, inclusive support looks like in practice across the sector
- The LGBTQ+ landscape in social housing: An overview of the broader challenges and inequalities faced by LGBTQ+ residents living in social housing, and why targeted support is needed
Jack Mason, LGBTQ Housing Pledge Coordinator, Stonewall Housing (CONFIRMED)
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Questions and Answers
Lunch Break
Breakout Networking: Working in Partnership to Deliver Safe, Secure Homes
This breakout networking session will provide an opportunity to explore how effective partnership working can improve outcomes for vulnerable tenants. Delegates will have the chance to connect with peers, share experiences of working across housing, health, social care and the voluntary sector, and discuss practical ways to strengthen collaboration, improve information-sharing and deliver more joined-up support for residents.
Case Study: Implementing a Whole Housing Approach
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Why housing is a critical protection for domestic abuse survivors
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How landlords can safeguard survivors of domestic abuse
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Implementing innovative, survivor‑centred housing responses
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Delivering tangible outcomes through thinking beyond traditional housing models
Nicki Clarke, Head of Service – Housing & Criminal Justice, Standing Together Against Domestic Abuse (CONFIRMED)
Ian Swift, Director of Housing Operations and Deputy Corporate Director, Islington Council (CONFIRMED)
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Case Study: How Allocation Policies Affect Domestic Abuse Survivors with Housing-related Debt
- Understanding how housing-related debt rules create barriers for domestic abuse survivors
- Outlining the impact of economic abuse on arrears, housing options and tenancy security
- Gaps in current allocation policies and safeguarding approaches
- Practical recommendations for housing providers and local authorities
Stephanie Morphew, Policy and Practice Officer, Chartered Institute of Housing (CONFIRMED)
Question and Answers
Comfort Break
Case Study: Short, Safe, and Healthy Temporary Accommodation
- What is Temporary Accommodation (TA)?
- Outlining the factors that have seen the numbers of households in TA rise so steeply
- A review of actions taken to improve the experiences of those living in TA
- How do we prevent TA becoming a new tenure by default?
Mark Phillippo, Transforming Temporary Accommodation Programme Manager, Justlife Foundation (CONFIRMED)
Case Study: Trauma Informed Responses for Supporting Hoarders
- Understanding hoarding through a trauma-informed lens rather than compliance or enforcement alone
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New and emerging best practice for supporting people who hoard
- Practical communication approaches that build trust, safety, and engagement
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Key principles for professionals supporting individuals affected by hoarding in health, housing, social care, and community settings
Kayley Hyman, Founder, Holistic Hoarding (CONFIRMED)
Questions and Answers
Chair’s Closing Remarks
Dr Sharda Rozena, School of Geography and Planning, Leverhulme Early Career Fellow, University of Sheffield (CONFIRMED)
Conference Close
Get in Touch
Speakers
Fuad Mahmed
CEO and Founder
ACH Housing
Professor Caroline Hunter
Head of York Law School
University of York
Zoe Miller
Compliance and Systemic Investigations Manager
Housing Ombudsman
Dr Edward Kirton-Darling
Senior Lecturer
University of Bristol
Dr Kelly Henderson CIHCM
Founder & Managing Director
Addressing Domestic Abuse
Nick Connolly
CEO
EveryYouth
Testimonials
“Informative and interesting, speakers knowledgeable and shared good practice”
“It was a great conference, lots of good practice ideas were shared and the variety of guest speakers provided strong insight into how vulnerable tenants can be supported by the Housing sector.”
“Excellent speakers, and the online event software was easy to navigate.”
“Really informative and great opportunity to network”
Why You Should Attend
✓High-level keynotes from senior Housing & Policy professionals
✓Hear best practices in supporting those with complex needs
✓ Gain 8 hours of CPD points towards your yearly quota
For more information or to make a booking please call 0330 058 4285
Who Should Attend
| Job Title Example | Organisation Examples |
| Service Provider | Local Authorities |
| Housing Officer | Housing Associations |
| Head Of Tenancy | Supported Living Providers |
| Case Worker | Property Management Orgs |
| Counsellor | NGOs, Thinktanks, Gov. |
Pricing Options
PRIVATE SECTOR
Your delegate place at this leading conference gives you: Full access to the conference; E-guide; Networking opportunities during the day; Access to presentations post conference; 8 CPD Points.
PUBLIC SECTOR
Your delegate place at this leading conference gives you: Full access to the conference; E-guide; Networking opportunities during the day; Access to presentations post conference; 8 CPD Points.
VOLUNTARY SECTOR
Your delegate place at this leading conference gives you: Full access to the conference; E-guide; Networking opportunities during the day; Access to presentations post conference; 8 CPD Points.
Sponsorship
Raise Your Profile, Showcase Your Solutions, Generate New Business
If your products, services, and solutions can support our audiences in their roles, and you want to make connections and generate new business with key stakeholders, decision makers, and influencers, then please contact us HERE
IMPORTANT: There are only a small number of sponsorship opportunities available to ensure maximum exposure and ROI – contact us today to secure your place.
Virtual vs F2F
Whilst F2F provide better options for networking, there are many distinct advantages of sponsoring our online conferences including:
- Wider geographical reach of delegates and a different audience who prefer online to f2f
- Lower sponsorship package costs
- No travel/accommodation
- Less time out of the office
- No stand materials required (lower costs)
- 1 of only 2 sponsors involved – less competition on the day
- Prime speaking slot in the morning of the conference including Q&A – less distractions and easier for delegates to hear/absorb information
- Receive all delegate data after the conference to follow-up directly with those who attend and don’t attend (small % but still key stakeholders)
- Ongoing exposure via OnDemand access
To find out more and discuss your specific objectives, please contact us below:
