Thoughts on the Housing Finance Conference 2026

Trust managers Laura Callaghan and George Akerman were delighted to attend the National Housing Federation's annual Housing Finance Conference earlier this month. Here, George writes about his experience and observations for the sector: 
 
"Laura and I arrived in Liverpool for NHF’s annual Housing Finance Conference and were met with blustery and stormy conditions, acting as an apt metaphor for the political and economic uncertainty currently facing both the global economy and the social housing sector. With inflation expected to rise, interest rates expected to be held or rise as well, the cost of delivering positive outcomes for tenants set to rise, and UK living standards expected to continue to falter, conversations were sure to be direct.
 
Discussions, as ever, focussed on the constant need to deliver the much-needed supply of new homes (1 in 10 UK householders currently rent their home from a registered provided/housing association). It was reassuring to hear lots of commitment to the continuing reinvestment in existing homes as well.
 
Enhanced government support does offer optimism to the sector. The 10-year rent settlement for social housing in England, running from April 2026 to March 2036, allows for rent increases at CPI+1%. Lenders of the sector that we spoke to clearly value that certainty of that long-term income guarantee.
 
Several nods were made across panels and conversations to the importance of preparing stock for charging well in advance of when an association requires funding, a concept that LawDeb is a supporter of and regularly assists our clients with. 
 
Poor governance and weak data were also highlighted as being key issues by Fiona MacGregor, Chief Executive of the Regulator of Social Housing. Our Corporate Secretarial Services team have a track record of working with housing organisations to support Boards and embed best practice governance in line with the National Housing Federation Code of Governance.
 
Our custom-built property management database tracks the lifecycle of a unit right from the date that it is brought into charge with us as security trustee, through unlimited lender reallocations, any staircasing, exercises, and right through to its eventual release at HMLR.
 
Overall, the 2026 edition of NHF’s Housing Finance Conference was full of productive conversations with peers who are just as dedicated to supporting the industry as us. It’s always lovely to catch up with our wonderful clients, advisors, valuers, and referral partners who are usually scattered across the country. 2026 will certainly be a busy year and LawDeb is committed to offering a cost-effective solution to your security trustee requirements."
 
To find out more about LawDeb's housing offering, please contact jessica.dennis@lawdeb.com.