Investigating unlicensed properties

Half-day technical workshop

CIEH member: £85
Affiliate member: £135
Non-member: £135

How do I pay? Please click the book now button to complete the online booking. Please note payment for online bookings are card only.

To pay by purchase order, please email the details to [email protected], this is subject to your employer having this facility in place with CIEH. To speak with one of the team in our contact centre please call 020 7827 5800.


Overview

Identifying and investigating unlicensed properties is rarely straightforward. This workshop will provide you with essential knowledge and skills for greater successful outcomes for investigations of private rented sector (PRS) properties requiring a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) or Selective Licence.

We will examine relevant legislation, intelligence sources and methods, practical processes, offences and defences and ways to manage them. Case studies based on real events encountered during professional practice will also be explored.

Objectives

  • Relevant parts of licensing legislation, including Housing Act 2004, will be explained and examined
  • A range of intelligence-led approaches for identifying unlicensed properties will be shared, covering intelligence gathering and collaboration
  • Various tools under legislation for gathering information on suspected unlicensed PRS properties will be presented
  • A step-by-step process, based on the Bond Solon method, will be set out for investigating unlicensed PRS properties
  • There will be case studies and group discussion to reinforce best practice, evidence gathering, ways to manage defences for relevant offences, and how to choose which sanction to use

Learning outcomes:

  • Become confident in the identification and investigation of properties requiring a relevant licence
  • Gain new skills, from investigating to gathering evidence, for possible offences linked to unlicensed properties
  • Understand and recall the legal framework for identifying and investigating unlicensed properties

Who should attend:

  • Environmental Health Officers and Environmental Health Practitioners
  • Local authority licensing enforcement officers (Housing Act 2004 and Housing and Planning Act 2016)
  • Local authority private sector housing, housing licensing managers and supervisors

What past delegates thought:

  • "Discussion with other attendees/case studies Q&A with trainer was useful"
  • "All of it, but the Q and A always useful."

CPD: 3 hours and 30 minutes

Kelvin Woodward

Kelvin Woodward, Director, Kelvin Woodward Expert Ltd

Kelvin is a Chartered Environmental Health Practitioner.  He graduated from King’s College London in year 2000 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Health (with honours).  In 2011 he gained a Master of Science in the Management of Projects from The University of Manchester.  Plus, a Projects in Controlled Environments (PRINCE) 2 Foundation qualification. 

In 2016 he was a member of a Building Research Establishment (BRE) research project on Overheating in Dwellings.  His research contributed to guidance on that topic by BRE.  In 2021 he was awarded a Business and Technology Education Council (BTEC) Level 7 qualification: Bond Solon, Advanced Professional Certificate in Investigative Practice.

Kelvin has 22 years’ experience in Environmental Health within local authorities.  Mostly in Private Sector Housing, with some years in Environmental Protection as well.  He is currently a Programme Manager with Brighton and Hove City Council, leading a public consultation on proposed Additional Housing in Multiple Occupation (HMO) and Selective Licensing Schemes for the City’s Private Rented Housing Sector. 

Kelvin is also experienced in Housing Expert Witness work since year 2016.  This requires high standards of housing inspections and report writing to withstand scrutiny during any litigation. 

In addition, his company is a subscribing member to the British Standards Institute – proving Kelvin’s commitment to excellence on industry guidance and standards.  He strives to cascade this excellence during training events at the CIEH.

He is passionate about Environmental Health and sharing his knowledge and skills with events’ delegates and organisations to bring value, efficiencies and leadership.

Date

Time

Venue

Online (Zoom)

Please ensure you can access this platform before booking. See the Zoom system requirements for further information.

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