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Forbes Solicitors
Forbes' Housing & Regeneration Team

Housing & Regeneration eNews

May 2014

Welcome to Forbes' Housing and Regeneration eNewsletter

Good morning and welcome to Forbes inaugural eNewsletter. Our aim is to keep you updated on housing sector news and legal developments. We'll also throw in some updates on Forbes and keep you a breast of our latest seminars, conferences and un-missable practical Guides on a range of housing and regeneration issues.

We hope you enjoy reading it and find it useful. If you'd like us to cover any particular topics - let us know!

The Forbes Housing and Regeneration team

Universal Credit roll out across North West

It has been reported this week that twelve local authorities in the North West are in discussions with the Government about expanding universal credit throughout the North West including Salford City Council, Wirral Borough Council, Preston City Council, St Helens Borough Council, Cheshire East Council, Cheshire West and Chester Council, Trafford Borough Council, Bolton Borough Council, Bury Borough Council, South Ribble Borough Council, Sefton Borough Council and Knowsley Borough Council. It is anticipated that the roll out across the North West will begin in June 2014 with a further roll out across the country in 2016/2017.

As of June 2014 more job centers across the north west of England will come online each week until the whole region is covered. In total, 90 job centers nationwide will offer the full Universal Credit set up once the north west expansion is completed.

The sector continues to be concerned about the affect on arrears - the key issue now being when the scheme will be rolled out across each area.

Social Housing Heavyweight Joins Forbes Solicitors

Forbes Solicitors is pleased to announce the appointment of Social Housing heavyweight Lucy Worrall.

Lucy's joins Forbes as a Partner and Head of Housing and Regeneration (Property) and will be instrumental in spearheading the firm's further expansion into the development and regeneration sector.

Lucy Worrall

She joins from Croftons Solicitors LLP and has worked specifically in the Social Housing sector for 12 years, building up a specialism in acting for registered providers in connection with development and regeneration, commercial property and supported housing. Widely respected in the social housing sector, Lucy is ranked in Chambers in Band 1 and also recognised in Legal 500.

To read the full article on Lucy's appointment please click here.

Gas Safety Seminar a Success

Over 90 delegates attended Forbes' Gas Safety: A Legal Update seminar on 30th April which was held at the Reebok Stadium.

The seminar, delivered by members of the Forbes' Housing Litigation Team with guest speaker Alan Parker of Morgan Lambert, provided practical advice and guidance to Registered Providers regarding Gas Safety including case examples.

If you would like to receive a copy of the notes from the seminar please email catherine.furniss@forbessolicitors.co.uk

Forbes' Help to Buy Guide for RPs

Are you a RP considering registering with the HCA to provide Help to Buy funding on new build properties?

There are a number of issues and practicalities that RPs should be aware of; the requirements regarding a RP's consumer credit licence and requisite time limits on plot sales involving Help to Buy to mention but two.

At Forbes, we are producing a helpful Guide on the issues, to register for a copy please contact Lucy Worrall, Partner and Head of Housing and Regeneration (Property) - lucy.worrall@forbessolicitors.co.uk

Partnership Working for Development Teams - The Issues and Pitfalls

The Housing and Regeneration Team at Forbes Solicitors would like to invite you to attend the forthcoming seminar 'Partnership Working for Development Teams - The Issues and Pitfalls'.

Programme

  • Land inclusive and back to back deals - a RP's guide
    • Lucy Worrall, Partner and Head of Housing and Regeneration (Property), Forbes Solicitors
  • Tax Issues when working in partnership
    • Angela Cross, Tax Director and Jim Gempton, Director of VAT, BDO LLP
  • Regulatory risk management for development schemes
    • Daniel Milnes, Partner and Head of Business Law, Forbes Solicitors

Registration is from 9am for a 9.30am start and the seminar will conclude at around 11.45am.

The seminar will be held at BDO LLP, 3 Hardman St, Manchester, M3 3AT.

Please click here to book your place.

Forbes Appointed to Riverside Group Legal Panel

Forbes Solicitors has reinforced its position as a leading provider of social housing work after being appointed to the legal panel of The Riverside Group.

Forbes will provide Housing Management advice to the Group which owns and manages over 50,000 properties across the UK.

Housing and Regeneration Duo Promoted
Lucie Cocker - Lachlan McLean

Congratulations to Lachlan McLean and Lucie Cocker who have been promoted to Partner and Associate Solicitor respectively within the Housing Litigation Team.

Both Lachlan and Lucie are Higher Court Advocates and have considerable experience in all aspects of housing management.

The pair regularly deliver training sessions for clients and speak at external seminars and conferences.

The Guinness Partnership gets Tough on Anti Social Behaviour

Guinness Hermitage, a division of The Guinness Partnership, one of the country's leading providers of affordable housing, has sent out a strong message to residents who commit antisocial behaviour in its properties by securing both an Anti Social Behaviour Injunction and a Possession Order against one of its residents.

To read the full article please click here.

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