Housing event 2025, the annual gathering of housing and living sector professionals, recently concluded as part of UK Housing Week. This year’s event in Manchester was a crucial forum for discussing the future of housing policies, offering networking opportunities, expert insights, and practical solutions. This year’s key topics included addressing the skills gap, social housing concerns like rent levels, Awaab’s Law, energy efficiency, and funding for new housing projects.
A significant highlight was the government’s unveiling of further details on Awaab’s Law, aimed at ensuring social landlords address emergency and hazardous conditions within fixed timeframes. This coincided with the release of the Biggest Builders Survey, revealing the timely impact of the £39 billion Affordable Homes Programme. The conference also featured insights from Prime Minister Keir Starmer on the government’s commitments to the sector, clarity on rent convergence consultations, and announcements regarding the new Affordable Homes Programme bidding process.
Beyond policy announcements, the conference addressed pressing challenges like skills capacity and the potential of AI in meeting Awaab’s Law timescales. Discussions also highlighted the problems that councils face in attracting talent and leveraging devolution for local housing needs. Amidst these challenges, positive news emerged with the Department for Work and Pensions announcing funding to support job seekers in the construction sector. The event underscored the need for a comprehensive approach to strengthen the entire housing ecosystem, including local authorities and their expertise.
