Publications

Living Rent that Works: Unlocking Genuinely Affordable Homes for Thriving Lives

Published by Centre for Social Justice and Nationwide Foundation, 2024

In the midst of a housing crisis, this new report takes a closer look at alternatives to ‘affordable rent’ schemes. The report recommends that government embrace the concept of ‘living rent’ as an alternative, and looks at how some regional authorities are tackling the challenge of affordability by introducing their own ‘living rent’ schemes to make housing genuinely affordable for local people.

The Affordability of Community-Led Homes

Published by Dr Tom Archer, Ian Wilson and Nationwide Foundation, 2023

The lack of affordable homes in the UK causes significant harm, exacerbating poverty and putting greater strain on the welfare system. A growing movement of community-led housing is putting residents in control of development and ownership, and results from this new research show that 91 per cent of the community-led homes studied were genuinely affordable.

The Affordability of Community-Led Homes – case study

Published by Dr Tom Archer, Ian Wilson and Nationwide Foundation, 2023

Following the publication of the research above titled ‘The Affordability of Community-Led Housing’, this is a case study of the Stretham Model, developed by Stretham and Wilburton Community Land Trust.

How to talk about homes – a framing toolkit

Published by FrameWorks UK, Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Nationwide Foundation, 2023

How we talk about homes matters. This toolkit provides practical tips and tools to help shift the conversation about homes in ways that will lead to positive changes. Appropriate not only for communicators in the housing sector, the toolkit is for anyone who is talking and writing about homes.

Talking about homes – homes, homelessness, and poverty

Published by FrameWorks UK, Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Nationwide Foundation, 2023

This briefing is a guide to telling a compelling story about the interlinked issues of homes, homelessness and poverty. Pulling together evidence-based insights and recommendations from FrameWorks’ research into homelessness with Crisis, and poverty with JRF, this document builds on the accompanying framing toolkit on talking about homes.

Amplifying renters’ voices: Tenant Voice Programme toolkit

Published by Nationwide Foundation, 2023

How can we make renters’ voices heard? This factsheet contains sixteen recommendations for anyone working to give tenants a voice in debate and decision-making.

Talking about homes: the foundation of a decent life

Published by FrameWorks UK, Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Nationwide Foundation, 2022

How can the words that we use shape the future that we see? Based on robust evidence and testing, this report delves into the language that’s most likely to change minds and shape policy around homes and housing. An accompanying toolkit for communicators will follow in 2023.

How the Tenant Voice Programme has amplified private renters’ voices

Published by Nationwide Foundation, 2022

This report summarises the progress of the Tenant Voice Programme, a body of work funded by the Nationwide Foundation to strengthen tenants’ voices in debate.

Safe, Secure, Affordable: A Renters’ Blueprint for Reform

Published by Renters’ Reform Coalition, 2022

This blueprint sets out a vision for a private renting system that works better for tenants, along with a series of policy solutions for the forthcoming renting reforms.

Communicating About Housing the UK

Published by FrameWorks UK, 2021

This brief explores public attitudes about housing and offers some early ideas about how obstacles could be overcome and language could be used to build public support for truly affordable housing. 

Squeezed Out: The Impact of Build Costs and Planning Reform on Social Housing Supply in England

Published by New Economics Foundation, 2021

This paper explores the state of social housing supply in England, taking into account increasing costs of building new homes and the changing nature of England’s planning system.

Community-led Housing and the Speed of Development

Published by Dr Tom Archer & Dr Lindsey McCarthy, 2021

This briefing note considers the speed at which community-led housing is being developed and factors affecting it. 

Delivering the Community Led Housing Pipeline in England

Published by Tom Archer & Catherine Harrington, 2021

This report considers the pipeline of community-led homes in England and what level of funding will be needed to realise it. 

Moving from Concern to Concrete Change

Published by the Frameworks Institute, 2021

This note highlights, following extensive research with the public and stakeholders, ways that social housing can be discussed to build public support.

Property Supply to the Lower End of the English Private Rented Sector

Published by Centre for Housing Policy, University of York, 2021

This report considers the sustainability of the lower end of the English private rented sector following in depth interviews with 55 landlords.

One Renter Every Minute: How the Pandemic Exacerbated Existing Problems and What That Means for the Renters Reform Bill

Published by Citizens Advice, 2021

This report provides evidence of how Covid-19 has been experienced by renters. It forms part of the Tenants’ Voice work that the Nationwide Foundation funds Citizens Advice to carry out. More information here.

The Planning White Paper and Affordable Housing

Published by the Affordable Housing Commission, 2020

This publication compiles the views of social landlords in relation to the proposed Planning White Paper published in Summer 2020.

Rent Better Tenants Survey Analysis

Published Indigo House, 2020

This report was published as part of the Rent Better baseline findings. Rent Better is a research project considering changes made to the Scottish private rented sector in 2017. 

Rent Better Wave 1 Baseline Report

Published by Indigo House, 2020

This report was published as part of the Rent Better baseline findings, compiled by researchers at Indigo House. Rent Better considers changes made to the Scottish private rented sector in 2017. 

Rent Better Landlord and Letting Agent Survey

Published by Indigo House, 2020

This report was published as part of the Rent Better baseline findings. Rent Better is a research project into changes made to Scotland’s private rented sector in 2017.

Rent Better Baseline Findings: Executive Summary

Published by Indigo House, 2020

This report comprises the baseline findings of a research project into changes made to Scotland’s private rented sector in 2017. The three reports which make up Rent Better’s full baseline findings can be found here.

Lockdown. Rundown. Breakdown.

Published by the University of Huddersfield, 2020

This report compiles interviews carried out with people living in poor quality homes throughout the Covid-19 lockdown that started in March 2020.

Lockdown. Rundown. Breakdown.
A Policy Briefing

Published by the University of Huddersfield, 2020

This detailed policy briefing considers the results of the earlier report and makes recommendations for decision-makers to ensure that property conditions are improved.

No Place for Place-Making

Published by the Town and Country Planning Association, 2020

This report considers the impact of changes to permitted development rights in early 2020. It assesses these changes against the background of wider planning reforms proposed by the government.

A National Housing Conversion Fund

Published by the Affordable Housing Commission, 2020

This proposal from the Affordable Housing Commission calls for a £1.3bn fund to allow social housing providers and community-led housing groups to buy properties from landlords exiting the private rented market.

Housing By the Community, For the Community

Published by the National Community Land Trust Network, 2020

This report assess the value for money case for community-led housing. It finds, using the Treasury’s ‘Green Book’ rules, that for every £1 of investment, community-led housing achieves a return of £2.70 in public benefit.

Making Housing Affordable After Covid-19

Published by the Affordable Housing Commission, 2020

This report considers the ways that the government could support the economic recovery after Covid-19 whilst also working to solve the problems of unaffordable housing.

Taking the Temperature of the Industry: A Survey of UK Mortgage Lenders

Published by Community Led Homes, 2020

This report from Community Led Homes outlines the results and insights gained from an extensive survey of lenders from across the UK.

Renting Beyond Their Means? The Role of Living Rent in Addressing Housing Affordability

Published by the Institute for Public Policy Research, 2020

The report from the Institute for Public Policy Research looks at our housing system and proposes a Living Rent product, which would link rents to incomes so that affordability is always ensured.

Making Housing Affordable Again: Rebalancing the Nation’s Housing System

Published by the Affordable Housing Commission, 2020

The final report from the Affordable Housing Commission takes an in-depth look at England’s housing system and proposes a series of transformative changes to make housing affordable once again.

Still No Homes For Nurses

Published by the New Economics Foundation, 2019

This report addresses the sell-off of land owned by the NHS and other public bodies. It calls for the creation of a People’s Land Bank, where land can be used for truly affordable homes.

Building the social homes we need – solving the land and capacity challenges

Published by New Economics Foundation, 2019

This report considers how the price and availability of land have contributed to housing shortages and makes recommendations of how public land might be used to help alleviate the problem.

Is co-living a housing solution for vulnerable older people?

Published by Cambridge Centre for Housing & Planning Research, 2019

This report considers the role that co-living can play in meeting the housing needs of vulnerable older people.

Assessing the Potential Benefits of living in Co-operative or Community-Led Housing

Published by Wales Co-operative Centre, 2019

Evidencing the health, wellbeing and other wider benefits derived from living in community-led housing, so that it leads to greater demand for and delivery of this housing model.

Scaling up social lettings? Scope impact and barriers

Published by Sheffield Hallam University, 2019

Research exploring the current and future role of social lettings agencies to help improve the experiences of people in need in the private rented sector.

Defining and measuring housing affordability – an alternative approach

Published by the Affordable Housing Commission, 2019

This report proposes a new measure of housing affordability in England. Rather than focusing on market rents and house prices, it defines and measures housing affordability as being what people can afford, be it to rent or to buy.

Planning for affordable housing – a guide for councils

Published by Town and Country Planning Association, 2019

A guide for councils to help them build more affordable homes, covering policy changes and case studies to share innovation and lessons.

Co-living for Older People – stakeholder views

Published by Cambridge Centre for Housing and Planning Research, 2019

Exploring the various models of co-housing to understand its potential and barriers.

Is Co-living a Housing Solution for Vulnerable Older People? A literature review

Published by Cambridge Centre for Housing and Planning Research, 2019
Considering the institutional, legal and financial frameworks that impact upon older peoples’ co-living.

Planning for Affordable Housing

Published by Town and Country Planning Association, 2018
Deprived areas are being left behind by the current planning system because only high-value areas can meet developers’ profit expectations and still deliver affordable homes.

The Evolving Private Rented Sector: its Contribution and Potential

Published by Centre for Housing Policy, University of York, 2018
Comprehensive analysis of the changes to the private rented sector in England over the last 10 years, as well as recommendations for developing a strategic framework for the whole of the private rented sector to be better managed.

Vulnerability Amongst Low-Income Households in the Private Rented Sector in England

Published by Centre for Housing Policy, University of York, 2018
Examining the incidence of vulnerability in the private rented sector by focusing on households in the bottom one third of incomes whose circumstances make them at risk of overcrowding, bad conditions or poverty.

What Lies Beneath

How to fix the broken land system at the heart of the housing crisis

Published by New Economics Foundation, 2018
Research showing how excessive land prices are significantly contributing to the housing crisis, with recommendations of how to use public land for affordable housing.

Community-Led Housing Toolkit

A resource for local authority and housing professionals

Published by Housing Associations’ Charitable Trust (Hact), 2018
A free online toolkit bringing together all the specialist documentation required to develop a community-led housing scheme.

How Councils Secure the Delivery of More Affordable Homes?

New models, partnerships and innovations

Published by Town and Country Planning Association, 2017
Evidences appetite for innovation from councils right across the country to tackle affordability, but also concerns from many about their ability to deliver genuinely affordable homes available at social-rent levels.

How Councils Secure the Delivery of More Affordable Homes?

Resources available to councils

Published by Town and Country Planning Association, 2017
Supports local authorities to adopt new models to tackle the crisis in housing affordability across England. The main report (above) was complemented with a guidance document helping councils identify resources that can support the delivery of more affordable homes.

Delivering the Renaissance in Council-Built Homes: the Rise in Local Housing Companies

The Smith Institute, 2017
Evaluates the rapid development of local housing companies, examining their role and achievements.

The People’s Plan: Improvements and New Homes without Demolition

Published by West Kensington and Gibbs Green Community Homes, 2016
A plan for residents in west London who are trying to secure ownership of two housing estates, where homes are at risk of demolition and residents would undergo forced rehousing. If successful in securing ownership, the community group will build more affordable homes and improve existing affordable housing stock.

Living in Fear: Experiences of Older Private Renters in London

Published by Age UK London, 2017
Identifying the challenges faced by older private renters in London.Escalating rent costs, combined with short-term tenancy agreements, leave many older renters living with a constant fear of eviction.

Local housing, community living: prospects for scaling up and scaling out community-led housing

Published by the Smith Institute, 2016
Examines the prospects for scaling up and scaling out community-led housing for the creation of more decent affordable homes for people in need.

Save our Land: interactive map resource

Created by New Economics Foundation, 2017
This map shows where public land is for sale or has been sold. It shows where sites are up for sale, which government department is selling them, and which sites have already been lost.

Affordable Homes from Empty Commercial Spaces

Published by the Empty Homes Agency, 2016
Explores how creating affordable homes from empty commercial spaces can be both viable and attractive.

Community Builders

Published by Demos, 2015
Explores the theory that giving communities more power over local housing development can help to get more homes built. This work included investigating the barriers facing community-led housing models and how effectively these barriers are being overcome.

Custom and self-build toolkit

Created by Nacsba, 2015
A toolkit offering practical guidance and information to housing associations, community organisations, councils, builders and developers who want to facilitate custom and self-build housing projects.

One Foot on the Ladder

Published by the Resolution Foundation, 2013
Identifies ways for low and moderate-income families to access affordable home ownership.

Helping private tenants achieve financial inclusion: making a difference locally

Published by Sliced Bread Consulting Ltd and Personal Finance Research Centre at the University of Bristol, 2014
A framework for action for local stakeholders who want to address private tenants’ financial exclusion in their areas

Helping private tenants achieve financial inclusion

Published by Sliced Bread Consulting Ltd and Personal Finance Research Centre at the University of Bristol, 2013
Investigates the specific barriers that vulnerable private tenants face in accessing and using financial services.