Call for papers: Contemporary Housing Issues in a Changing Europe, deadline 31 October 2011

The Centre for Housing Law, Rights and Policy are calling for papers ahead of their 2012 international conference.

The legal aspects of housing, land and planning are of central importance in the development of contemporary Europe. Regulatory weaknesses in many European States have had enormous consequences for European and global financial systems. Limited access to adequate and affordable housing has impacted especially on older people, homeless people, people with disabilities, immigrants and those living in poverty. Restricted bank lending, unaffordable housing and large mortgages will affect the lives of many Europeans for years to come.

At the same time, the spectrum of housing rights is being broadened across Europe. The Charter of Fundamental Rights has been incorporated into EU Treaty law, and several international instruments have been accepted by the EU, including the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, ratified in 2011. The integration and implementation of housing rights into housing access and services, as well as regulatory and meta-regulatory systems, are significant issues.

This conference will have a broad appeal and be of particular interest to:

• lawyers, advocates, law makers and policy makers academics, researchers and students
• housing rights activists and those interested in housing for homeless people, people with disabilities, older people and immigrants/migrants/refugees
• those interested in mortgage finance or regulation.

Abstracts on any area relating to housing law, rights and policy are invited. The conference will include, but is not limited to the following themes:

• Housing and homelessness
• International perspectives on developments in housing law, rights and policy
• Impact of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on housing and independent living
• Impact of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and the Treaty of Lisbon on housing, land and planning
• Recent developments in EU/US mortgage and property law and policy
• Developments in the rented housing sector in Europe
• Defining the relationship between law, rights and policy in housing, land and planning in the meta-regulatory era
• Consumer protection in housing
• Public interest law and housing rights.

The deadline for submission of abstracts (300 words) is 31 October 2011. Submissions should be made online at the conference website.

For further information please contact Dr Padraic Kenna at housingconference@gmail.com.