Empty Homes Agency to speak at sheltered housing event » Housing » 24dash.com

Re-inventing sheltered housing for the 21st Century is the topic of a conference taking place in central London later this month.

John Earnshaw, from the Empty Homes Agency, will be among the speakers at a conference in the Ambassadors Hotel, Bloomsbury, on March 14.

Sara Beamand from Midland Heart Group; Mark Thomas, Word Association chief executive; Dave Morris from the Guinness Care and Support; and Meic Phillips, from Epic Trust will also be delivering speeches.

An event spokesman said: "Bedsits and small flats built 20 or 30 years ago no longer meet the needs of older people today – especially if they have to share a bathroom or live in an isolated location.

"Research for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation showed that 92% of local authorities and 79% of large housing associations have sheltered housing schemes that they find difficult to let.

"As a result, landlords are faced with the problem of managing and maintaining schemes which are failing to generate adequate income."

The conference has been organised by CSHS and Word Association.