can anyone direct me to a good training course for challenging O/P recovery from landlord. ive been on them to assist in appealing from the tenants perspective, and a member of staff here has just been on one but that seemed to have been from HB's perspective.

i have contaced john zebedee's web site but i note that that was last updated 2003 so may be theyre no longer operating.

we're based in birmingham but can travel, or arranging in house training could be an option

many thanks

Try hbhelp.co.uk This is Chris Smith's web site. Includes details of training, but also publications on overpayments for Social Landlords.

Or try Maggie Fitzsimons, freelance Benefits Trainer and consultant.
I believe she includes HB overpayments in her repertoire.
01275 464170
www.maggiefitz.co.uk

I am a freelance benefit trainer with a *number of years experience of doing housing benefit training courses for housing organisations including overpayments. (*its over 15 years)
I offer "in house" courses. I am based in London but often travel to Birmigham - even further north - went to do benefit training in wonderful Newcastle a couple of weeks ago.
Interested in contacting me - my email benefit@dircon.co.uk or telephone 0208 694 7404
Penny Newell

Hi. I work for a company called "hbnotes" who supply training aimed chiefly ar Registered Social Landlords. We have several years' experience working in RSLs, and as such challenging overpayments has been a major part of our work. We have a course on how landlords can deal with overpayments, and we can adapt to suit your needs. We are currently developing a website- its not fully up and running but have a look at www.hbnotes.co.uk to see the areas we cover. There is a contact email on the website if you want to arrange to see the protected areas of the site. Hope to hear from you soon.

Citizens Advice now run a programme of training for advisers and one of the courses looks, in part, at HB overpayments and recovery.

The course, called "Housing Benefit - Technical Issues" looks at problematic issues such as benefit during temporary absence, benefit on two homes, liability for rent, contrived tenenacies and overpayments. It runs on 21st October in Birmingham, 12th December in Cardiff and 13th January 2006 in Leeds. It can also be delivered in house.

For further details go to www.citizensadvice.org.uk/advisertraining or telephone 01902 310568.

Best wishes,

Alan Markey