Free Webinar – New terrain for Housing Lawyers: the Renters’ Rights Act 2026

On 1^st May 2026, the most significant reforms to the private rented sector for a generation will come into effect. Private tenants – who, for many years, have often been beyond the help of legal aid lawyers – will enjoy a range of new rights, and more promising prospects of enforcing existing ones.

This seminar will look at the changes that these reforms are likely to make to legal aid housing practice.

As well as giving an overview of the RRA, and explaining its key provisions, the event will cover:

• The exhaustive list of grounds for possession;
• Strategies for avoiding abuse of the new grounds;
• Common scenarios for possession disputes;
• The interrelationship between the RRA and homelessness law;
• The legality of ‘informal’ rent increases, in cases alleging rent arrears;
• Housing conditions disputes under the RRA.

Speakers

Michael Engelhardt-Sprack, Barrister, Garden Court Chambers (Chair)
Michael is a barrister specialising in housing law, public law and employment law. He has extensive experience. He is ranked as a leading junior for Social Housing and Employment in The Legal 500 2026. Michael regularly accepts instructions defending possession claims, as well as representing tenants alleging disrepair, unlawful eviction, harassment and discrimination. Michael has also represented vulnerable clients in urgently securing interim relief from the High Court, as well as in homelessness appeals and judicial review, including final hearings and appeals to the Court of Appeal.

Nick Bano, Barrister, Garden Court Chambers
Nick Bano specialises in representing homeless people, residential occupiers, and destitute & migrant households in both public law and private law disputes. He has acted in many of the most important housing law cases in recent years. The legal directories consistently recognise his expertise in this field, as well as his inventiveness and commitment to his clients. Nick has a particular specialism in cases where social entitlements overlap with equality and discrimination law.  He has been instructed in many of the key cases in this area, including TM v Metropolitan, Forward v Aldwyck and London & Quadrant v Patrick (on the Public Sector Equality Duty in housing possession claims) and Adesotu v Lewisham (on discrimination against homelessness applicants).

Angharad Monk, Barrister, Garden Court Chambers
Angharad is a housing law specialist having worked in this area prior to joining the bar when employed by the Hackney Community Law Centre. She regularly conducts work across all areas of housing law, including homelessness, allocations, possession, disrepair, in addition to accommodation related aspects of community care law. Angharad’s comprehensive and in-depth knowledge of housing law enables her to provide practical advice and creative solutions in complex cases.

Reserve your online ticket
If you have booked an online ticket, we will send joining details to all those who have signed up on the day of the event. If you have not received the link by 10 am on Thursday 14th April**, and it is not in your junk inbox, please email webinars@gclaw.co.uk.