The 2023 Reports

Our Editorial Panel will assess each new report and those that they consider have the greatest chance of influencing policy makers are shown in the Must Read section. The Editorial Panel aims to nominate a dozen Must Read reports each year and those reports that have made way for more highly ranked ones are listed in the Highly Commended section. All other reports and those not yet assessed are included in the Further Reports section. To help increase awareness of this resource, please cite Thinkhouse in work that uses sources found on this site. Statistics and Government papers are collected at the bottom of the page.

Must Read

Selected by our editorial panel as being the most important publications.

Homes fit for Londoners: Solving London’s housing crisis

Centre for London Jon Tabbush, Millie Mitchell, Josh Cottell and Claire Harding December 2023

This report builds on earlier research into the state of London’s housing market, proposing solutions to resolve the capital’s housing crisis.

Supported housing

House of Commons Public Accounts Committee (PAC) November 2023

This report details the challenges in supported housing as well as the issues faced by local authorities in relation to licencing, fraud and funding gaps and makes six conclusions and recommendations to the Government.

Hidden renters: the unseen faces of the rising older rental wave

Independent Age October 2023

Housing challenges are faced by people of all ages, but the stories of older people on a low income who are renting are often hidden and rarely part of the conversation.

Design For All – A Place To Call Home

UCL Murray Fraser, Nicholas Jewell, Varthani Kirupanandan, Elena Pizzo, Rosalind Raine October 2023

This report says that building 90,000 social and affordable homes a year could save the UK government £1.5bn a year in homelessness costs

Turning the Tide on Rising Homelessness and Rough Sleeping

The Kerslake Commission on Homelessness and Rough Sleeping September 2023

The Government will not meet its goal to end rough sleeping by 2024. In fact, rough sleeping is on the increase and at the heart of it are chronic and unresolved systemic issues, which have left the country vulnerable to new pressures. This report warns that many of the problems outlined would be resolved if there was more supply of social rented housing and supported housing and likens the scale of the challenges to early 20th century Britain. https://www.commissiononroughsleeping.org/2023-report-turning-the-tide/

The Homelessness Monitor: England 2023

Crisis Glen Bramley, Suzanne Fitzpatrick, Lynne McMordie, Hal Pawson, Beth Watts & Gillian Young August 2023

A longitudinal study providing independent analysis of the homelessness impacts of recent economic and policy developments in England. The research takes stock of homelessness in 2023 and the five year period before this. It also highlights emerging trends and forecasts some of the likely future changes, identifying the developments likely to have the most significant impacts on homelessness.

Housing policy in a changing world: A UK Housing Review Reader

CIH Edited by Mark Stephens August 2023

This publication brings together a selection of the UK Housing Review’s contemporary issues chapters from 2017 to 2023 with insight into key areas of housing policy.

The Cost of Ignoring Poor Housing

Building Research Establishment Helen Garrett, Molly Mackay, Susie Margoles and Simon Nicol July 2023

This report outlines a 30-year cost-benefit analysis of the impact of improving poor housing in England’. The Cost of Ignoring Poor Housing quantifies the enormous cost burden of England’s poor housing to wider society.

Housing Quality and Affordability for Lower Income Households

IFS Tom Waters and Thomas Wernham July 2023

This report examine patterns of housing tenure, quality and affordability for people on lower incomes.

Still Living in Limbo: Why the use of temporary accommodation must end

Shelter Deborah Garvie, Jenny Pennington, Hannah Rich and Martha Schofield March 2023

Temporary accommodation was never intended to exist outside of emergencies. But it’s now accommodating almost 100,000 households, including over 125,000 children. Temporary accommodation is often far from a temporary arrangement. The majority of households have lived there for a year or more. This report sets out the findings from research into this area and makes recommendations for policy change.

Reboot: building a housing market that works for all

JRF Toby Lloyd, Rose Grayston and Neal Hudson February 2023

This report looks at how to wean the UK off its addiction to house price growth so new generations can benefit from the security and sense of autonomy homeownership can bring.

Housing affordability since 1979: Determinants and solutions

JRF Ian Mulheirn, James Browne, Christos Tsoukalis January 2023

Rents in the private and social rented sectors are close to their highest for decades as a share of tenants’ incomes. This report examines why, and the policy options that could help tenants stay afloat.

Further Reports

‘‘I always kept one eye open": The experiences and impacts of sleeping rough

Crisis Cuchulainn Sutton-Hamilton and Ben Sanders December 2023

This research reveals the startling of life on the streets for people forced into sleeping rough. It also details what needs to be done to prevent people having to sleep rough in the first place and how it can be ended for good.

Help onto the Housing Ladder: the Role of Intergenerational Transfers

IFS Bee Boileau and David Sturrock December 2023

This report examines the financial help given to first time buyers by family members. It quantifies this help and assesses its role in homeownership and wealth inequalities.

Homelessness in England 2023

Shelter December 2023

This report documenting the scale of homelessness in England in 2023

Creating a 21st Century Estate: The experiences of Lancaster West Estate residents. First Stage Report

LSE, CASE December 2023

This research project aims to explore and assess the experiences of residents living on Lancaster West Estate as their homes and neighbourhood undergo an extensive period of refurbishment. The research is divided into three time periods: before, during and after the refurbishment of the estate.

Planning validation requirements: moving to a planning statement approach instead of checklists.

The Housing Forum December 2023

This is the second of two reports on the planning system published by a cross-sector working group convened by The Housing Forum.

The Property Owning Democracy

Policy Exchange James Vitali December 2023

The ‘baby-boomer’ generation have been the primary beneficiary of the post war consensus that extended property ownership. Subsequent generations have largely been excluded from this. As asset prices dwarf wages and demand far exceeds supply, we are denying the opportunity of homeownership to great swathes of our young people. As a result, they may see capitalism as the cause of society’s principal problems, rather than a framework to solve them. This report aims to contribute to that debate and offers some solutions.

Unravelling a crisis: The state of rural affordable housing in England

CPRE November 2023

This report shows that rural communities in England are facing an existential threat from an acute and overlooked shortage of genuinely affordable housing.

Firmer Foundations

HBF November 2023

A short report that offers ten policies to ease the housing crisis and get Britain Building

Heat pumps and domestic heat decarbonisation in the uk: a systems thinking analysis of barriers to adoption

CaCHE Nicholas Harrington November 2023

Heat pumps are a cornerstone of the government’s decarbonisation agenda in the United Kingdom. The electrification of domestic heating, underwritten by the installation of ground-, air-, and water-source heat pumps is expected to reduce the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions by around 15 – 17%. In late 2020, the Johnson government announced a target of 600,000 heat pump installations per year by 2028. In mid-2023, despite a grant fund of £450m, data revealed the UK was installing 55,000 heat pumps annually, suggesting the government’s goal is unlikely to be met. Consumers of domestic heat pumps in the UK are owner-occupiers, developers, private and social landlords, as well as local councils responsible for social housing (although tenants are the primary beneficiaries in the last three instances). This report investigates the reasons for this profound gap between government intentions and consumer behaviour.

Rapid rehousing transition plans: assessing the affordability of the private rented sector for LHA

CaCHE Andrew Watson, Gareth James, Ken Gibb November 2023

This report examines the housing affordability problems associated with the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) and its impact on the private rented sector (PRS). The report builds on recent work by Crisis, the Bevan Foundation, and the Institute of Fiscal Studies, among others, that suggested that the decisions to reduce, cap and then freeze LHA rates have reduced the affordability of the lower end of the PRS.

The impact of regulatory reform on the private rented sector

CaCHE Nicholas Harrington, Ken Gibb, Bob Smith and Alex Marsh November 2023

This report aims to review the evidence regarding the impacts that regulatory change in the private rental market might be expected to have on housing supply, quality, landlords’ investment/disinvestment decisions, and other important societal outcomes. The focus is on non-price regulation.

A practical approach for councils on dealing with empty homes

Local Government Association November 2023

Bringing empty homes back into use can play a key part of local strategies to meet housing need. Not only are empty homes a wasted resource, they are often the subject of complaints and frustration for communities, as well as being a catalyst for crime and degradation. https://www.local.gov.uk/publications/practical-approach-councils-dealing-empty-homes

Streamline planning to build more homes

The Housing Forum Anna Clarke November 2023

This reports sets out a roadmap for how the planning system can be improved. It notes that the planning system “is not currently working as well as it should be” and presents solutions to the planning crisis.

Raising the Roof: Building a Better Private Rented Sector

Centre for Social Justice October 2023

This report advocates a number of avenues to build a better PRS including PRS reform, improving security of tenure, encouraging and enabling good landlords, cracking down on rogue landlords, ensuring fair adjudication and redress, improving quality, supporting affordability and tackling ASB

Housing for Survivors of Modern Slavery

Commonweal Housing, Human Trafficking Foundation October 2023

This report explores the housing options for survivors of modern slavery and assesses whether an approach similar to that employed by domestic abuse survivors would be feasible

Capital grant is an effective intervention for stimulating supply of new social rented housing

CaCHE Michael Marshall October 2023

A short policy brief that examinise the role of capital grant in the provision of new social rented housing

Funding Affordable Homes 8th Annual Impact Report

The Good Economy and Funding for Affordable Homes October 2023

This is the eighth Annual Impact Report produced for FAH by The Good Economy (TGE). The assessment in this report is based on both quantitative and qualitative information including portfolio data, scheme-level data, resident feedback collected by housing partners, site visits to three FAH schemes, and interviews with housing partners and residents.

Affordable Housing: Overcoming crisis through collaboration

Future of London October 2023

Fewer new tenants are housed in social housing, while private rent continues to spiral. This report identifies collaboration in finance, community involvement and retrofit as ways forward.

What do we want from the King’s Speech?

Policy Exchange October 2023

Includess a short section on speeding up the planning process, abolishing leasehold and placing local consent at the heart of plans.

Housing Horizons: Examining UK Housing Stock in an International Context

HBF October 2023

This report through analysis of data from the OECD, European Union and UK Government, the report demonstrates the difficulties facing people trying to find a decent and affordable home.

Home Improvement: A Triple Dividend - Part One: Boosting the British economy

Demos (supported by the Centre for Ageing Better and Dunhill Medical Trust) Andrew O'Brien September 2023

This is the first of three briefings on the policy opportunities rom investing in home improvment.

Niddrie Road, Glasgow: tenement retrofit evaluation

CaCHE Glenn Corrigan, Ken Gibb, Anthony Higney, James White, Tim Sharpe, Bilge Serin and Chris Morgan September 2023

As part of a city council policy to inject social housing into areas dominated by private renting, traditional tenemental property in Glasgow is being purchased by housing associations with a view to refurbish them, including to bring them into line with national policies to raise energy efficiency across social housing in Scotland. In the autumn of 2019, Southside housing association saw an opportunity to undertake a demonstration project involving the deep retrofit of such a block

Why have the volume housebuilders been so profitable?

CaCHE Chris Foye and Edward Shepherd September 2023

Over the last decade the largest housebuilders, and particularly the “big-three”, have consistently reported high levels of profitability. Through comprehensive analysis of earnings call transcripts, annual reports and policy documents, this study explores the drivers of this profitability, and what it tells us about the nature of the housebuilding industry, the development land market and the relationship between volume housebuilders and the state.

The Citizens' Summit on the Housing Emergency

Shelter Begum, John Evans, Ceri Davies September 2023

This report produced by NatCen's Centre for Deliverative Research identifies an agreed set of principles to guide Shelter's general election campaign and to understand which policy solutions people with lived experience of the housing emergency want prioritised in Shelter's manifesto.

Supported exempt accommodation (England)

House of Commons Library Wendy Wilson September 2023

An overview of regulation of supported exempt accommodation and action to improve standards and oversight.

Mortgage arrears and repossessions in England

House of Commons Library Hannah Cromarty September 2023

This paper outlines current and historic policies to assist homeowners who are struggling withtheir mortgage payments, and examines trends in mortgage arrears and repossessions.

Leasehold and commonhold reform

House of Commons Library Wendy Wilson September 2023

This paper considers trends in leasehold ownership, ongoing problems associated with the sector, and Government plans for future legislation.

The Contested Politics of Residential Space

CaCHE Alice Earley, Gareth James, Mark Stephens & Maheshika Sakalasuriya September 2023

This report examines the relationship between housing policies and public values. The study aims to understandattitudes towards residential space standards in the UK and compare them with values underlying contested policies: the single occupant Council Tax discount, LHA Shared Accommodation Rate and the "Bedroom Tax".

Assessing housing exposures and interventions that impact healthy cities: a systematic overview of reviews

GCHU - Royal Society for Public Health GC Richards, J Carpenter, E Okpalugo, DJ Howard & C Heneghan September 2023

This paper addresses a well-recognised evidence gap by providing a synthesis of systematic reviews of research relating to the health impacts of housing interventions and exposures.

Mobile (Park) Homes

House of Commons Library Hannah Cromarty, Wendy Wilson September 2023

This paper provides an overview of the rights of residents who live year-round on mobile (park) home sites and proposals to improve protections for residents in England

Brightness on the Edge of Town

Localis Sandy Forsyth August 2023

The final report of an original research project aimed at developing a policy narrative to outline the place of Community Land Trusts in the current political debate. The report recaps the need for community-led housing solutions, elucidates the parameters for action and highlight possible pathways to overcoming barriers to delivering affordable housing.

Locked Out: Local Housing Allowance & affordability in the private rented sector in Scotland

Crisis August 2023

This short briefing presents an analysis on the proportion of properties in Scotland that were affordable for households receiving housing benefit.

Why interventions to improve the welfare of people experiencing homelessness work or not: an updated evidence and gap map

Centre for Homelessness Impact Monisha Lakshminarayanan, Ratika Bhandari, Swati Mantri, Sabina Singh August 2023

The latest edition of the evidence and gap map includes 597 studies – an increase from the initial 246 studies back in 2018. This growth underscores the growing global interest in understanding homelessness interventions. Notably, 191 of these studies have been added since the previous edition, demonstrating the continual expansion of our knowledge.

Support for Mortgage Interest loans

House of Commons Library Frank Hobson August 2023

The Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI) loan scheme helps households on means-tested benefits with interest costs of mortgages and certain other home loans.

Standards for reception conditions under the Temporary Protection Directive: challenges and needs in accessing adequate accommodation

FEANTSA August 2023

The right to accommodation under the Temporary Protection Directive has been transposed differently across different Member states and a lack of monitoring and redress mechanisms continues to impact on both standards and access.

State of the Green Belt 2023: A vision for the 21st century

CPRE August 2023

This report argues that the Green Belt, which protects 12.5% of England’s land area from development, should become greener, wetter and more biodiverse.

It’s getting hot in here

Resolution Foundation Jonathan Marshall August 2023

Ever-warmer UK summer temperatures will have an outsized impact on low-income households. A short piece about a topic that cannot be overlooked by the housing sector.

No country for young people: The problems of accelerating rural-urban age segregation

Intergenerational Foundation, Sylvan Lutz August 2023

Researchers argue that the housing crisis is clearly driving a trend where young people are locked out from rural areas and older generations increasingly choosing to live more rurally.

On the edge: cost-of-living findings from the council housing sector

NFA and ARCH Lisa Birchall, Chloe Fletcher August 2023

A survey into the cost of living impact on council landlords and tenants

Opportunities to better prevent homelessness in England

Demos Alice Dawson, Ben Glover ,Rob Anderson July 2023

This discussion paper draws on the available evidence to highlight some potential opportunities to enhance prevention of homelessness and where future policy and practice could focus, which include introducing a greater focus and coherence to national policy commitments to prevent homelessness and bringing forward evidence-based solutions to maximise the impact of existing structures (e.g. legislation) and investment in preventing homelessness.

Hidden homelessness: international evidence review

Scottish Government July 2023

This report presents an overview of the methods used internationally to identifying or counting people experiencing hidden forms of homelessnessand the populations likely to experience it. It reflects on how these insights could be applied to Scotland where there is currently no standardised way to enumerate hidden homelessness.

Living Locally: The role of housing and planning within local councils

APSE July 2023

This report considers the role local councils can play and are playing through their planning and housing responsibilities to support the delivery of complete, compact and connected communities.

Reforms to national planning policy

Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee July 2023

This report, which examines the Government’s planning reform proposals, finds that the Government has not provided sufficient evidence to demonstrate how the policy of scrapping mandatory local housing targets will directly lead to more housebuilding. While the Government is on track to deliver 1 million new homes over the course of this Parliament, it is not forecast to deliver 300,000 net new homes per year by the mid-2020s.

Route Map for New Home Delivery

The Housing Forum July 2023

The Route Map for New Home Delivery will be used as part of the induction learning process for people who are new to roles in the housing and construction sector, or who want to learn more about what happens in other parts of the construction process that they may not be involved with

Research on National Development Management Policies

RTPI Olivier Sykes, Sebastian Dembski, Kim Power, Jess Jones, Ian Ford July 2023

Development management policies influence the type and location of development by setting design standards, mitigating environmental impacts, promoting social and community development, and addressing infrastructure requirements.

Watt a Save: The energy efficiency of new build homes

Home Builders Federation July 2023

This report shows that energy and thermal efficient new housing stock is reducing the UK’s annual carbon emissions by 500,000 tonnes and helping consumers combat rising household costs

Supported housing for people with learning disabilities and autistic people in England

Housing LIN Lois Beech, Ian Copeman and Darius Ghadiali July 2023

This report provides the most up to date information on the size, scope, cost, support and importantly future needs of supported housing in England for individuals with a learning disability and autistic people.

Private Rented Sector Supply in London

London Councils July 2023

This report examines the supply of Private Rented Sector accommodation in London.

A Matrix for Measuring & Delivering Placemaking Quality

Policy Exchange Ike Ijeh June 2023

The intention of both the Matrix and the paper is to prompt an uplift in placemaking standards that will ultimately create better places. Also, in delivering greater public confidence in housing quality and thereby helping stem the tide of objections that is so often a disruptive feature of the planning process, the paper hopes to realise the kind of increase in housing supply necessary to address the housing crisis.

Real Homes, Real Change. Meeting the net zero challenge in the North

The Northern Housing Consortium June 2023

The UK can’t meet its net zero target without upgrading the North’s existing homes. But the good news is the North’s social housing sector is leading the way, delivering green home upgrades.

Shaping futures: changing the housing story (final report)

CaCHE Duncan Maclennan, Hal Pawson, Kenneth Gibb, Sharon Chisholm and David Hulchanski June 2023

This report emphasises the need for a new narrative on housing that recognises the importance of metropolitan markets, housing as economic infrastructure, and its role in addressing inequality and exclusion. It highlights common challenges, such as the diminishing focus on housing in policy and lack of evidence-based decision-making. The report calls for effective policies to counter and redirect housing processes and outcomes. The interim report was placed on the site in 2019.

Home is the Foundation: perspectives on prevention from people with experience of homelessness

Crisis June 2023

This summary report, draws on a range of evidence and data sources to present the case for placing provision of good quality, affordable, settled homes at the centre of solutions to homelessness.

Delivering for Tenants: The Foundations of an Effective Local Authority Landlord Service

London Housing Directors’ Group June 2023

This report sets out London Housing Directors’ views, developed in consultation with tenants and key stakeholders, on the principles that should underpin a good quality local authority landlord service, from strategic leadership to front line delivery.

Opportunities for Special Development Orders

Centre for Policy Studies Samuel Hughes June 2023

A short briefing note setting out how government can use special development orders (SDOs) to encourage potential housing projects in areas of importance to the nation. It illustrates the opportunities for SDOs by outlining two examples in which they could be used to deliver housebuilding projects of national importance, namely in Park Royal, London and in Cambridge.

Leasehold reform proposals in England and Wales: the unconsidered financial implications of reducing the premium in lease extensions

CaCHE James Cully and Mark Andrew June 2023

This report analyses the potential financial implications of leasehold reform from changing the extended lease length and eliminating the marriage value payment beyond the distribution of a premium reduction.

A Partnership of Equals

L&Q June 2023

Housing associations should look to the voluntary sector and exercises in participatory democracy to build better relationships with residents and improve services and culture

Licence to Let: How property licensing could better protect private renters

Centre for London Zarin Mahmud and Jon Tabbush June 2023

This report explores the potential of selective property licensing to improve conditions in London’s private rented sector.

Reviewing residential retrofitting literature

CaCHE Bilge Serin May 2023

In addition to long-standing issues like affordability and access to decent housing, the climate emergency has brought new challenges that demand immediate action to reduce carbon emissions in the built environment. This mapping study explores the international literature on residential retrofitting, addressing these pressing concerns.

Tackling the under-supply of housing in England

House of Commons Library Wendy Wilson, Cassie Barton May 2023

This research briefing covers trends in housing supply and barriers and potential solutions to delivering more homes in England.

Leasehold Plus: The next step for home ownership in Integrated Retirement Communities

Associated Retirement Community Operators (ARCO) May 2023

New proposals for the future of home ownership in the Integrated Retirement Community sector

Investigation into supported housing

NAO May 2023

This investigation sets out the facts on how the supported housing system in England works and government oversight of the sector. The Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities (DLUHC), and the Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) are both involved with supported housing. The Department of Health & Social Care (DHSC) is also involved. Local authorities are responsible for managing the system within their areas.

Economic benefits of housing support

CaCHE Ken Giff and Vikki McCall May 2023

This research has been motivated by the understanding that housing support is pivotal in supporting people but its benefits are not always well-understood

The Case for Place

Karbon Homes Rose Grayston, Toby Lloyd April 2023

This report, produced by Create Streets Foundation for Karbon Homes, will explore how and why England has such entrenched patterns of economic imbalance – despite considerable political will for change from successive governments – and what government should do to address spatial inequalities in investment in housing and placemaking.

Home is where the start is: The case for ending homelessness with homes

Crisis April 2023

This short briefing, published in partnership with Lloyds Banking Group, draws on a range of evidence and data sources to present the case for placing provision of good quality, affordable, settled homes at the centre of solutions to homelessness.

Investing in the Future: Reforming the UK’s Welfare System

Grand Union Housing Group April 2023

Despite reforms that promised simplicity and fairness, this research shows that the current system remains difficult to navigate, while also leaving many unable to live on the support they receive. This report sets out the experiences and challenges faced by Grand Union's customers, the impact on us as a landlord, and the possible changes – both long and short term – that could make a significant difference.

Overcrowding in England

NHF April 2023

This short briefing explores the impact overcrowding has on a family’s physical and mental health, wellbeing, daily lives and relationships.

The potential role of modern methods of construction in addressing systemic supply issues

CaCHE Bilge Serin and Sarah Payne April 2023

This research examines existing international evidence on modern methods of development (MMD), which shifts the focus away from construction to a broader institutional perspective. The review covers business models, regulatory practices, and consumer preferences as core aspects of understanding what drives the adoption of MMC. The findings reveal that state leadership is crucial in promoting and incentivising MMC as a mainstream form of housing provision. Furthermore, while MMC offers unique processes, they are often considered risky due to project complexity and a fragmented supply chain.

Trying times, How people living in poor quality housing have fared during the cost of living crisis

Resolution Foundation Lalitha Try April 2023

Plenty of research has shown the important role housing plays on our living standards, attitudes and wider health and wellbeing. But less attention has been paid to the effect of housing quality on living standards. This briefing summary uses data collected in March 2023 from an online YouGov survey (funded by The Health Foundation), analysing the experience of the cost of living crisis by tenure, the incidence of poor quality housing, and the impact of poor quality housing on health and wellbeing.

Home advantage: a new centre-right vision for housing

Bright Blue Mikhail Korneev, Ryan Shorthouse and Bartek Staniszewski April 2023

This collection of essays offers a glimmer of hope by presenting radical new ideas from leading decision makers and thought leaders in four key areas: security, community, stewardship and conservation. The hope is that this becomes a first step to a clear centre-right vision for providing Britain with the homes it needs.

UK Housing Review 2022, Executive Summary

CIH and University of Glasgow Mark Stephens, John Perry, Peter Williams, Gillian Young April 2023

This is the Executive Summary of the 30th edition of the UK Housing Review, an essential encyclopaedia of housing data . The full review sits behind the CIH paywall but this link takes you to the Summary and other publically available elements. https://www.ukhousingreview.org.uk/ukhr23/index.html

State of Play: challenges and opportunities facing SME home builders

House Builders Federation March 2023

This report looks at the delays and escalating costs associated with the planning system which are putting businesses at risk and preventing SMEs playing their part in building the homes the country needs.

State of the Community Land Trust Sector 2023

Community Land Trust Network March 2023

This report finds that industry partnerships could help communities to build at least 278,000 homes through replicable project types.

Moving on: could later living be the answer to the housing crisis?

Shakespeare Martineau March 2023

This research showed that people aged 65+ were most likely to be living in homes with more bedrooms than they need, yet the majority of over 50s have no plan to, or don’t know if they will, rightsize one day.

Homelessness in the Countryside: a hidden crisis

Rural homelessness task force, Universities of Kent and Southampton Carin Tunaker, Helen Carr and Laura Burke with Guillermo Reyes-Pascal March 2023

Housing costs in affluent rural areas are driving an unseen crisis, where the “shame and stigma” of homelessness keep countless vulnerable individuals out of official statistics. This study brings to light the true scale of the problem, which is far worse than anyone could have imagined.

Home is the Foundation: perspectives on prevention from people with experience of homelessness

Crisis Rhiannon Sims, Beth Reid, Neil Cowan and Michael Allard March 2023

This report is based on focus groups with people with experience of homelessness in six areas across Scotland. It explores their experiences of housing crisis and what was (or was not) done to prevent them from becoming homeless.

Home for Good: Housing First for domestic abuse survivors

CSJ March 2023

This report proposes to adapt the successful Housing First pilots to meet the needs of domestic abuse survivors

Research into the Right to Buy within the Housing Revenue Account

Local Government Association, Association of Retained Council Housing, National Federation of ALMOs March 2023

This report estimates that 100,000 homes are likely to be sold through the RTB scheme by 2030, with just 43,000 replaced as significant discounts leave councils without funding to replace the much-needed homes on a like-for-like basis.

Planning for Economic Failure

House Builders Federation March 2023

A short review that looks at the implications of the Government’s approach to house building, warning that supply could halve and fall to the lowest level since World War Two.

Homes In Community Hands Evaluation - final report

Sheffield Hallam University, CRESR, Power to Change Yael Arbell, Tom Archer, Tom Moore, David Mullins and Mia Rafalowicz-Campbell March 2023

This evaluation sought to understand the impact of Power to Change's funding which was imed at boosting the development of community led housing (CLH) in England. Focused on five urban areas, it provided funding to plan and develop affordable housing projects and to establish enabler organisations.

Homes for Growth

Policy Exchange James Vitali February 2023

This paper argues that the government urgently needs to restore trust in the planning system by giving businesses greater certainty about the availability of land for development, and by demonstrating to residents that housebuilding in their local area will be beautiful and of high quality.

The housebuilding crisis: The UK’s 4 million missing homes

Centre for Cities Samuel Watling and Anthony Breach February 2023

Compared to other European countries, Britain has a backlog of millions of homes that are missing from the housing market. Building these homes is key to solving the nation's housing crisis.

Public Rental Homes – fresh perspectives

Housing Finance Institute and Localis Peter Bill & Jackie Sadek February 2023

This report offers a solution to the challenge that just 6,000 of the 52,000 new homes listed as ‘affordable’ in 2020/21 by local councils were truly affordable by 1.2 million households on waiting lists.

Greater and greener homes: more homes, ready for net zero

Bright Blue James Cullimore February 2023

This report outlines and examines the key changes in government policy since 2010 to increase housing supply and reduce carbon emissions from new homes, before proposing new policies to achieve two core policy objectives. First, to speed up the delivery of new homes where development is most sustainable, such as near workplaces, shops and sustainable transport links. Second, to ensure new homes are compliant with reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Health inequalities: cold or damp homes

House of Commons Library Bukky Balogun, Felicia Rankl, Wendy Wilson, Cassie Barton, Paul Bolton, Rachael Harker February 2023

Cold or damp homes can exacerbate existing health inequalities. This briefing discusses the prevalence, cause, and health impacts of cold or damp homes in the UK, with a focus on England.

Current Green Belt planning policy

House of Commons Library Felicia Rankl Cassie Barton February 2023

This briefing examines Green Belt planning policy and some of the recent discussions around the Green Belt. It applies only to England.

State of older people's housing in Wales

Care & Repair Cymru February 2023

This report examines the state of older people’s housing in Wales, and what should be done to tackle the levels of disrepair experienced by our oldest generations.

The Case for Housebuilding

CPS Alex Morton, Elizabeth Dunkley January 2023

This report accepts that many of the criticisms of the housing sector are completely valid. But it takes aim at a series of myths that are helping to reduce support for much needed new homes.

Making retirement living affordable: the role of shared ownership housing for older people

All-Party Parliamentary Group on Housing and Care for Older People/The Smith Institute January 2023

This report is based on evidence sessions and written submissions to promote discussion and set the agenda for developing better, more joined up housing and care for older people, promising greater choices in later life.

Homelessness in England 2022, the numbers behind the story.

Shelter January 2023

Homelessness comes in many varied forms and is extremely difficult to accurately measure. This research estimates a snapshot of the number of people who are recorded as homeless on a given night in 2022.

Public perceptions of homelessness 2022

Centre for Homelessness Impact January 2023

Results from a survey conducted by IPSOS for the Centre for Homelessness Impact on public perceptions and attitudes towards issues relating to homelessness.

Experiences of homelessness during a cost of living crisis

Crisis Michael Allard January 2023

This research shows how the 2022 cost of living crisis is increasing homelessness. Unaffordable housing and other rising costs are forcing people to lose their homes and many people are trapped in homelessness as it becomes harder to cover the living costs of a new home.

The homelessness monitor: Great Britain 2022

Crisis Beth Watts, Glen Bramley, Suzanne Fitzpatrick, Lynne McMordie, Hal Pawson & Gillian Young. January 2023

The homelessness monitor is a longitudinal study providing an independent analysis of the homelessness impacts of recent economic and policy developments across Great Britain. Separate reports are produced for England, Scotland, and Wales.