Steve Cornforth Consultancy

04/06/2026

Here is this week's Thursday Housing Law update. There has been another welcome appeal in relation to allocation of housing conditions cases to the fast track. May be we are seeing the beginning of the end of misconceived arguments... I am also looking at Awaab's Law as we approach the roll out of Phase 2 in 4 months time -

Are seeing the end of efforts to allocate fast track cases to the small claims track?

02/06/2026

Webinar
25th June 2026 at 12.00 – 13.30
Awaab’s Law – 8 months in and counting
How is it going? Where next?

It is 8 months since Phase 1 of Awaab’s Law came into force to cover Emergency Cases and Damp/Mould.
We are just 4 months away from Phase 2 which will extend the Law to more Prescribed Hazards including Excess Cold & Heat, Fire Hazards and Hygiene.
In this webinar I will be discussing the impact that the regulations have had so far. There is a shortage of decided cases…so far. But how have tenants’ solicitors been using the new law and what has been the response from the courts and landlords?
• What constitutes a breach?
• When and how should we apply for an emergency injunction?
• What evidence is needed?
• When is a hazard an emergency hazard?
• What is a significant risk of harm?
• Awaab’s Law and existing repair/fitness duties
• Expert evidence
• Reasonable expedition v fixed response times
• Do we get more damages?
• What about allocation?
• Phase 2 – extension of many more cases?
The aim of the webinar is to refresh our knowledge of the existing regulations, to ensure that tenants are getting the intended benefits of the new rules and to prepare the way for the extended scope of the rules in October 2026.
The fee for the event is £100 per organisation with no limit on the number of attendees per booking.
To book a place just email me at [email protected]
Or message - Steve Cornforth | LinkedIn

29/05/2026

My five bob's worth on AI and the dangers of a Chat Bot who really really wants to be your best friend...

https://stevecornforth.substack.com/p/the-new-world-of-ai-here-be-dragons

Concerning Chat GPT, your new best friend and hallucinations!

29/05/2026

Thursday Housing Law update - Getting the Settlement right

A sloppy settlement is a messy thing

26/05/2026

Funding Housing Conditions Cases in 2026
How to run cases and keep the door open
Webinar – Thursday 28th May 2026
12.00 – 14.00

In this slightly longer session we will explore the funding of cases, looking in particular at CFAs. We will firstly look at the nature of CFAs and the meaning of risk and success fees. We will also explore the selection of the right cases and rejection of the wrong case including when ‘lots’ can be too many. We will learn how to do a meaningful risk assessment. We will revisit deductions from damages. Finally, are we planning for a world in which referral fees could well be banned? We also give a short mention to legal aid which still exists…

• Conditional Fee Agreements
• It is a success fee not a contingency fee
• Choosing the right cases
• Not choosing the wrong cases
• Numbers can kill
• Understanding Risk assessments
Defects
Notice
Client
• What to do about the case that is sinking – which will probably sink anyway!
• Deductions from damages – getting it right
• Remember Belsner?
• Small Claims – deciding to work for free
• Referral fees – avoid the Thelma and Louise ending!
• A word about Legal Aid – with William Flack of Morrison Spowart

The fee is £100 per booking with no limit on numbers
Message me at Steve Cornforth | LinkedIn or email [email protected]

18/05/2026

I am posting a Housing Update every Thursday on Substack - here is a link to the last 10 posts -

You can subscribe free of charge to get all posts to you email address. Just click the button...

For ease of reference

14/05/2026

Good morning
Here is the link to this week's Housing Update - The Silent Landlord

Managing an unresponsive landlord

12/05/2026

INTRODUCTION TO HOUSING CONDITIONS CASES
ONLINE
TUESDAY 16th June 2026
10.00 – 12.30
This is an introduction to running Housing Conditions cases in England . It is suitable for beginners and also those who want to diversify their work. We will look at the basic principles that underpin these cases including –
• What is a Housing Conditions Claim
• Causes of Action
• What is Disrepair?
• What is Fitness for Human Habitation
• Condensation
• Housing conditions Protocol
• Costs
• Quantum
This is a ½ day course via Zoom.

Single price per booking.
£200
Whether there is one person or 20!
50% discount for annual ticket holders
To book a place email me at steve.cornforth@me or message me at Steve Cornforth | LinkedIn

08/05/2026

Thursday Housing Update - Funding Housing Cases on a CFA
and Keeping the door open...

Avoid 'no win no fee' becoming just 'no fee'.

30/04/2026

I sound like a broken record this week...

The Renters Rights Act comes into force tomorrow. One more sleep!

Here is my substack post which is largely based on yesterday's webinar...

A change 37 years in the waiting...