Housing Minister the Rt Hon Christopher Pincher MP will speak by video link to the conference at midday, highlighting government action in the housing sector by focusing on homelessness and evictions, and ramping up housing supply through changes to planning law and release of public sector land.

Eamon is on the five-member panel which will reply to the address, alongside the NHF’s Kate Henderson, ARCH MD John Bibby, CIH Director of Policy & External Affairs James Prestwich, and the President of the RTPI, Dr Wei Yang.

Eamon’s take on the Housing Minister’s focus is clear – these are worthwhile objectives, but problems facing the managers of existing social housing stock must also be at the top of the government’s to-do list.

“We mustn’t lose sight of the social housing we already have,” says Eamon. “More affordable homes, more new build and reducing homelessness are all excellent objectives, but the people who are living in our sector’s homes right now must not be forgotten.

“Existing social housing is facing a lot of new pressures. The government has begun talking about an enhanced Decent Homes standard that meets today’s needs – but we’re told there’s no money to pay for the work. A new building safety regulator and new regulations are on the way, yet another cost pressure that will fall largely on local authorities. And then there’s the zero-carbon agenda.

“Yet the money available can’t possibly meet all these bills. Local authorities certainly can’t afford to fund them from their existing overstrained resources. I’m asking the Housing Minister to impress on the Treasury the need to make this a priority.”