Government ministry to update on Renters’ Rights Bill at upcoming conference

The Renters’ Rights Bill, which is set to transform the landscape for renters and landlords in the UK, will be one of the highlight topics to be discussed at a two-day conference taking place next week.

The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) Housing and Health Conference takes place online on Wednesday, 21 May and Thursday, 22 May and will feature a wide-ranging programme of speakers.

The first day will kick-off with a keynote session from Stephanie Kvam, Deputy Director – Private Rented Sector, at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) updating the conference on what’s new from the Government in terms of housing policy.

This will lead into an extended session on the Renters’ Rights Bill delivered by Catherine Graham, PRS Database Delivery Manager at MHCLG and Hermione Cross, Deputy Bill Manager of the Renters’ Rights Bill at MHCLG.

The session will conclude with Dr Henry Dawson, Senior Lecturer and Programme Director for Environmental Health at Cardiff Metropolitan University and CIEH Housing Advisory Panel member, who will cover the Bill from an environmental health perspective, including the work CIEH has been doing as the Bill progresses through Parliament.

Further highlights on day one include a panel discussion on high rise buildings and collaboration between the Building Safety Regulator (BSR), local authorities and fire services, as well as a case study delivered by Paul Broadhurst, Service Manager – Private Sector Housing, Leeds City Council on enforcement.

Day two is another packed day, with highlights including a session on the health impact of selective licensing schemes for the private rented sector in England presented by Professor Matthew Egan, Professor of Public Health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine at the University of London and Dr Jill Stewart, Associate Professor in Public Health at the University of Greenwich, also a CIEH Housing Advisory Panel member.

Further talks will be delivered on topics ranging from temporary accommodation and its impacts on children and households, to an update on the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.

Nikki Pearson, Head of Events and Membership Engagement at CIEH, said:

“Our 2025 Housing and Health Conference is an invaluable opportunity to hear from a great line-up of specialist speakers and an agenda packed full of topics impacting housing policy and the work environmental health professionals do in this area to protect their communities’ health and wellbeing.

“The conference is open to both members and non-members and will offer hugely useful insights and updates on key policy developments making it an event not to be missed for anyone with an interest in this area.”

For the full programme and to book a place visit: www.cieh.org/events/2025/may/cieh-housing-and-health-conference/