Steve Cornforth Consultancy

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...

24/04/2026

The much heralded Renters Rights Act 2025 comes into force a week today!

I am putting on a WEBINAR
On Wednesday 29th April 2026
12.00 – 13.30
By Zoom

Renters Rights Act 2025 – The final countdown!
Understanding the new rules and rethinking Claims against Private Landlords

This is the biggest shake-up of private tenancies that I can remember. The changes will open the door to many tenants who have been reluctant to pursue Housing Conditions Cases under the present law.

We will look at the headline changes –

· Abolition of s21 No Fault eviction - the beginning of the end of revenge evictions in housing conditions cases - this has been shown to be a massive deterrent to bringing cases to improve housing conditions for private tenants

· Grounds for possession – a new world?

· The end of assured shorthold tenancies - all tenancies becoming rolling tenancies

· Decent Homes and /Awaab’s Law

· Tenants right to leave

· Rent controls and limits on rent in advance

· Anti-discrimination rules – the end of ‘No DSS’!!

· The right to ask for a pet...

These changes will impact on all practitioners who handle housing conditions cases, particularly those who have been reluctant to take on private tenancy cases. With this in mind we will also discuss risk assessment of Housing Cases against private landlords after 1st May 2026

Price £100 per booking with no limit on numbers from your organisation
This Webinar is included in the Annual ticket

I provide specialist training and consultancy to housing lawyers across England and Wales, with a focus on practical litigation strategy, housing conditions claims, and civil procedure.

21/04/2026

My short tribute to Giles Peaker - a legal legend and all round nice guy ...

My small tribute to Giles Peaker

13/04/2026

Mazur - this could be last post. But probably won't be....

Not quite Kansas yet Toto