News from Cambridge Centre for Housing and Planning Research

NEW OUTPUTS
Intended and unintended consequences? A case study survey of housing associations and welfare reform
With the Welfare Reform Act 2012 heralding the introduction of some of the most significant changes to the administration and distribution of benefits in recent times, the National Housing Federation has commissioned Ipsos MORI and Cambridge Centre for Housing and Planning Research to assess how these changes impact across the housing association sector in England. The baseline report was published in late 2012 and this case report builds on that with the results of 15 in depth case study housing associations. For further details and to download the report click here

Building Social Capital through Community Timebanking: an interim evaluation of the Cambridgeshire timebanking project
This research is evaluating the development of a timebanking project in Cambridgeshire for Cambridgeshire County Council and the CHS Group. Timebanking is a community scheme which enables local people to exchange skills and support in a structured way around the swapping of units of their time. It can help to build social capital in local communities, but may also have the potential to generate cost savings. The interim report suggests that the time banks are developing successfully, with increasing numbers of members and exchanges. There is evidence of a range of benefits to the members who are involved and evidence of positive soft outcomes. The challenge for the time bank coordinators is to grow the time banks and consider how they may become sustainable long term. Click here to download the interim report.

Analysis of the potential value for money to the public purse of the Lincolnshire Home Improvement Agency Housing Options Advice service
This report analyses the potential savings to the public purse of the Lincolnshire Home Improvement Agency (LHIA) housing options advice service. The methodology builds on research conducted for the large scale evaluation of the national FirstStop service conducted by the University of Cambridge.
The analysis shows that the service has the potential to not only improve the quality of life, health, wellbeing and social isolation of individuals who use the housing options service, but to also generate savings to the public purse by preventing homelessness, unwanted or early entry into residential care, falls in the home, health deterioration as a result of unsuitable housing and can reduce under-occupation and free up much needed family housing, whilst helping older people to remain healthy and independent in the most suitable housing for their needs. Click here to download the final report.

NEW PROJECTS
An economic and spatial analysis of the future development of Wisbech in Cambridgeshire
This work aims to assess the:

• current economic profile of Wisbech;
• likely future economic role of Wisbech under different scenarios;
• sectors most likely to have potential for future employment growth; and to
• Make broad recommendations for future economic and spatial strategies to 2020.

News from Cambridge Centre for Housing and Planning Research

NEW OUTPUTS
Equity Release amongst older home owners
There is increasing interest in the role the use of equity release products can play in coping with some of the pressures of an ageing population. This study analyses what we already know about the use of equity release products by older homeowners to identify what might it be valuable to research further.
The scoping study reviews our understanding and knowledge from research on the use (or not, in most cases) of equity release products by older homeowners. It pulls together findings from the existing literature, reviews different data sets and draws on stakeholder discussions to identify what is already known about equity release in later life; what is missing from the current evidence base and the key research questions that need tackling in relation to likely future policy directions.
For more details and downloads go to Equite Release amongst older home owners
 
International review of land supply and planning systems
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation has just published an international review of land supply and planning systems conducted by CCHPR, looking at what works and whether successful mechanisms from other countries could be transferred to the UK context. The review suggests that land supply is a key issue contributing to housing market volatility and problems of housing affordability in the UK.

The three main messages from the research are:

• There is no one single measure that will solve the problem – all countries struggle with balancing the need to constrain urban sprawl with the need to build sufficient homes to keep housing (more) affordable.
• But some countries, while having hot spots with high demand for housing and pressure on urban boundaries, do provide adequately outside these high pressure areas.
• Successful countries appear to be much more pro-active in the land market than the UK.

The role of the private rented sector in preventing homelessness: identifying good practice and the impact of policy change
The Oak Foundation has commissioned research that focuses on good practice that is demonstrated through Oak funded projects and looks more broadly at other successful practices and models

Support in the preparation of a housing strategy for the State of Jersey
The States of Jersey has commissioned CCHPR to provide support to its embryonic Strategic Housing unit in the preparation of an island wide, cross tenure Housing Strategy. The project comprises a series of papers for discussion with officers and the relevant Ministers between November 2012 and April 2013, leading to the production of a public Consulation Paper for circulation in May and a final Strategy Paper for debate in the States Assembly in June/July 2013.

Impact of welfare reform on housing associations – 2012 Baseline report
The National Housing Federation has commissioned Ipsos MORI and Cambridge Centre for Housing and Planning Research to assess how welfare reform impacts across the housing association sector in England.
The first component of the research programme is to establish baseline data and understand pre-emptive behaviour change before the reforms come into force. This will be a precursor to monitoring impact after April 2013, up to March 2014. To download the report go to Welfare Reform Impact Assessment

Evaluation of the FirstStop information and advice initiative for older people: findings 2011/2012
A comprehensive information and advice service enabling older people to better plan ahead for their future housing and care needs is a key requirement if Britain is to cope successfully with its ageing society. The evaluation of FirstStop shows how it is helping older people to make difficult decisions about their housing and care. To download the report go to FirstStop Evaluation

Changing the profile of social housing
New analysis by CCHPR models the likely impact of allocating a larger proportion of social housing to working households. The analysis draws on CORE data to look at the implications for different groups of housing applicants. It concludes that giving greater priority to people in work is likely to be at odds with allocating to those in greatest need. To download the report go to Changing the profile of social housing

NEW PROJECTS
Evaluation of the Housing and Other Benefit Measures in the Social Rented Sector (social sector size criteria and the benefit cap)
The DWP recently announced that CCHPR, together with Ipsos MORI, have been commissioned by the DWP to evaluate housing benefit changes in the social rented sector.
The size criteria for the social rented sector, introduced in April 2013, are part of a range of welfare reform measures, including the household benefit cap, to reduce expenditure and improve work incentives. Social tenants of working age who under-occupy will lose either 14% or 25% of their eligible housing benefit, depending on whether they have one or two or more spare rooms.
The evaluation seeks to understand the impact of the size criteria on claimants, landlords and other stakeholders and to explore how households respond to the reduction in their benefits.

Reselling Shared Ownership properties after improvements
This short research project has been commissioned by Thames Valley Housing Association in order to examine the practice of reselling shared ownership homes after the owner has undertaken (and paid for) improvements to their home. Further details available here.

Exploring perspectives on market based mechanisms for development
This project is a collaboration between CCHPR, the Department of Geography and the Office of External Affairs and Communications at the University of Cambridge. Further details available here.


    

NHF / Ipsos Mori / CCHPR report - Impact of welfare reform on housing associations - 2012 baseline report

The NHF has recently published a report with Ipsos Mori and CCHPR which highlights the challenges being faced by the social housing sector brought about by welfare reform. To download a copy of the roport go to Welfare Reform impact assessment

News from the Centre for Housing Research, University of St Andrews

ESRC Seminar Series Website Launched by the Centre for Housing Research
The Centre for Housing Research at the University of St Andrews has launched the website for its new seminar series: "The Big Society, Localism and Housing Policy".
Funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, the events will explore the impact of the coalition government’s localist ‘Big Society’ agenda on housing policy across the UK. Localism aims to shift decision-making downwards and empower local people to solve their own problems. However, in an era of restrained public spending, questions can be raised as to whether this may widen existing housing inequalities. Dr Kim McKee, Principal Investigator on the project said:
“‘The ‘Big Society’ and ‘Localism’ have become buzz words in policy and politics since the formation of the coalition government in 2010, and their influence can already be seen in housing policy and practice in the UK. This varies however depending on how devolved administrations and local authorities use their powers and budgets. Devolving power downwards may therefore lead to greater divergence in housing policy than we have seen under devolution so far. Understanding the varied geographical impact of these ideas is a key aim of the seminars.”
Drawing on expertise from the Universities of St Andrews, Sheffield, Cardiff, and Queens University Belfast, these two-day interdisciplinary workshops will bring together perspectives from academia, policy and practice and will include speakers from beyond the UK:

• Seminar 1: Localism and the Big Society: what do they mean for housing studies? (Sheffield, 7-8 March 2013)
• Seminar 2: Localism, Welfare Reform and Tenure Restructuring in the UK (Belfast, 24-25 October 2013)
• Seminar 3: The Big Society, Localism and the Future of Social Housing (St Andrews, 13-14 March 2014) 

Registration for Seminar 1 will open in autumn 2012. For more details, or to register your interest, please contact the project administrator Dr Tom Moore, or follow us on Twitter (@housingseminars). Updates will also be posted on our website: www.bigsocietylocalismhousing.co.uk

News from Cambridge Centre for Housing and Planning Research

New publication - 
Measuring the affordability of housing association rents in England: a dual approach
A new journal article has been published by Dr Connie Tang in the latest issue of the International Journal of Housing Markets and Analysis. The purpose of this article is to compare relative levels of rental affordability across the English housing association sector, using two methods, rent-to-income ratio and residual income standards (poverty-line and budget standard). The rent-to-income ratio analysis identified that housing association rents were generally affordable. However, the residual income analyses using two different minimum acceptable standards suggested some scepticism in this regard. In particular, both analyses confirmed the affordability problem in London where nearly half of existing housing association tenants had disposable household incomes that were well below the poverty-line as well as the largest rent-to-income ratio. Both analyses also confirmed that lone parents were more likely than average households to have an affordability problem.

The article is published in the International Journal of Housing Markets and Analysis, Vol. 5, Issue: 3, pp.218 - 234. You can access the article online by this link: Measuring the affordability of housing association rents in England: a duel approach

New projects

Welfare reform
CCHPR is working with Ipsos Mori on a major new study for the National Housing Foundation on the impact of welfare reform. The work, which will report in 2014 aims to focus particularly on the impact of welfare reform for the housing association sector and its tenants. It will monitor the impact of reforms as they come into operation next year, including the cuts to housing benefit for under-occupiers of working age, and the changes to the method of payment brought in under Universal Credit.

Maximising the performance of the new Section 106 and Community Infrastructure Levy Planning Framework with Local Authorities: Developing a Planning Gain Model
The Centre is currently developing a simple model to estimate the impact of charging different CIL and S106 rates on the economic viability of development. The model has huge potential to assist local authorities in modelling the impact of different CIL and S106 rates on the economic viability of development across their area. We propose a project to further develop the model for local authority use. We will work with a sample of local authorities to test and refine the model with a view to eventually making it publicly available for use by local authorities to assist in developing their new CIL and S106 charging frameworks. This will transfer our academic knowledge and expertise into a tool that can be used by local authorities in policy and practice.
Evaluation of lighting interventions
CCHPR is currently starting three separate small evaluations of lighting interventions in housing settings for the Thomas Pocklington Trust. The impact on health wellbeing and reduction in falls will be examined.

Analysis of the PRS in Richmond and surrounding areas
Richmond Council, together with Richmond Housing Partnership, are currently jointly commissioning research in order form the evidence base of their tenancy strategy. This work will help supplement this evidence base by improving understanding of the private rented sector in and nearby to Richmond with a particular focus on the availability of housing for low income groups.

Developing best practice in social care and support for adults with concurrent sight loss and dementia within different housing settings
This project, funded by the National Institute for Health Research seeks to develop best practice in social care and support for people with dementia and sight loss in a range of housing settings. The research is led by York University and CCHPR will lead the element of the study that looks at the costs of care in different settings.

Channel Islands housing markets
An overview of housing markets and their economic context in the Channel Islands, based upon secondary data, has been commissioned by One Savings Bank.

Conference papers
Dr Gemma Burgess, Sarah Monk and Christine Whitehead all presented papers at the European Network for Housing Researchers conference in June. Their presentations were:

The role of regulation in the private rented sector: a comparative study (by Christine Whitehead, Sarah Monk, Sanna Markkanen, Kathleen Scanlon and Connie Tang) conducted case studies of eleven European countries to clarify how regulation had changed over the last thirty years and what impact this has had on the scale of private rental provision.

The role of the planning system in delivering housing choice to older Londoners (Sarah Monk and Gemma Burgess) draws on recent research into the role of the planning system in delivering specialist older people’s housing to explore the barriers to increased delivery and make recommendations for change.

Housing an Ageing Population: Housing Options and the Value of Information and Advice to Older People in England (Gemma Burgess) drew on ongoing work evaluating advice services for older people in England.

MIND THE (HOUSING) WEALTH GAP

A new 3 year study into housing inequalities in society was launched in July.

The £0.7m project, led by Dr Beverley Searle of the Centre for Housing Research at the University of St Andrews will investigate the growing gaps in housing wealth and their consequences for the social and economic wellbeing of families in Britain.  Dr Searle, alongside colleagues from St Andrews, Birmingham and Durham Universities, will look at issues such as the changing patterns of family wealth, the ageing population and the difficulties younger people face in accessing housing.  They argue that present Government housing policies leave families exposed and vulnerable.   The project will look at the causes and consequences of housing wealth gaps across generations and the implications for long term policy change in Britain and beyond. 

The project, ‘Mind the (Housing) Wealth Gap:  Inter-generational Justice and Family Welfare’, is funded by the Leverhulme Trust. The three-year study will explore inequalities in society and look at issues such as the transfer of family wealth across generations, which is of growing political and social importance.  Dr Searle commented, “It is often assumed that people who own their own property have the financial means to support themselves and their families.  But as we have recently seen, and not for the first time, the housing market can fall rapidly.  This leaves families exposed and vulnerable at a time when they may be in most need of a financial safety net.  Many home owners struggle to get by, whilst those who rent and have no housing wealth are at a disadvantage.”

The project launch was backed by Kate Barker, author of the Barker review of UK housing supply.  She said, “Understanding the future patterns and uses of housing wealth in Britain will be at the core of shaping not only recovery in housing opportunities for the young but also the ways in which the nation copes with ageing.  The present government has so far failed to improve on the record of its predecessors in delivering effective housing market outcomes.  Present policy arrangements fail to grapple with market realities and their consequences for young and old; and may reinforce the significant housing wealth gaps.  These gaps result in unjust outcomes now and in the future”.

For more information visit the project website:  www.st-andrews.ac.uk/wealthgap

News from BSHF

New research from BSHF on Housing Benefit claimant numbers

Research from BSHF highlights the rapid growth of in-work Housing Benefit claimant numbers in Great Britain during 2010 and 2011.
Analysis of latest figures from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) indicates that:

• The number of Housing Benefit claimants has reached a new high of 4.95 million
• In-work households account for almost all (93 per cent) of the increase in the number of claimants in the last two years
• Almost one in four households who rent their accommodation and are in employment receive Housing Benefit

The research is free to download from the BSHF website http://www.bshf.org/published-information/publication.cfm?lang=00&thePubID=5E017604-15C5-F4C0-99F1DFE5F12DBC2A

Research briefing from BSHF on Regeneration

A new briefing from BSHF summarises the findings of research on the Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder, Bridging NewcastleGateshead, which ran from 2003 to 2011 in the North East of England.
Particular findings of the research include:

• The importance of a long-term commitment to funding regeneration at a national level, preferably with some level of cross-party support
• The need for the government to clarify what will happen if the priorities of local communities conflict with those of national policymakers
• The need for a clear definition of the community being supported by regeneration
• The importance of understanding and addressing the needs and aspirations of the communities affected by regeneration

The research was conducted by Andrea Armstrong during a PhD at Durham University, which was supported by BSHF. The briefing is free to download from the BSHF website http://www.bshf.org/published-information/publication.cfm?lang=00&thePubID=81B12E18-15C5-F4C0-9904048F10A3C1E2

NEWS FROM THE BUILDING AND SOCIAL HOUSING FOUNDATION

Self-help housing
BSHF has published a report examining the multiple benefits that self-help housing can provide to communities. Self-help housing involves local community groups bringing empty properties back into use, and the benefits can include the creation of work and training opportunities, building of local communities and support for neighbourhood regeneration.
The work was undertaken in partnership with Professor David Mullins of the Third Sector Research Centre.
The report is available to order or for free download from the BSHF website:
http://www.bshf.org/published-information/publication.cfm?thePubID=2F9EC046-15C5-F4C0-991896202739F469

Housing benefit modelling
BSHF has published analysis assessing how changes in the labour market could impact upon Housing Benefit claimant numbers in the UK. If the modelled relationship continues to hold, by the middle of next year there will be almost 250,000 more Housing Benefit recipients than current government estimates suggest. These differences would impact on the level of expenditure on Housing Benefit: expenditure would be £400 million higher than government forecasts in 2011/12, rising to £1.2 billion higher than forecast for 2012/13.
The report is available to order or for free download from the BSHF website: http://www.bshf.org/published-information/publication.cfm?thePubID=4E36E822-15C5-F4C0-9910CF24FAAC301E

News from the Building and Social Housing Federation (BSHF)

Energy efficiency study

BSHF is been supporting a longitudinal study by Metropolitan Housing Partnership on the impact of energy efficiency features in new and retrofitted homes. The first report from the three year study, called ‘Homes of Our Times’, has recently been published and is available for download from MHP: Homes of Our Times The report suggests that there is a worrying gap between designed performance and the actual performance that customers receive. Up to half of residents were unaware of the low and zero carbon technologies (LZCT) in their homes. This initial report assesses whether residents were achieving intended savings, emitting less carbon and using less energy as a result of their greener homes. Evidence presented in the report demonstrates the pressing need for better and clearer engagement and communication to raise awareness of how the homes and technologies work and what residents need to do in order to benefit from them both in terms of energy and financial savings.

Regeneration Inquiry

BSHF’s submission to the Communities and Local Government Select Committee’s inquiry on regeneration drew on academic research into the Housing Market Pathfinder programme. The work, carried out by former BSHF CASE student, Andrea Armstrong, highlighted the challenges that future regeneration efforts will face, particularly in areas that have experienced repeated attempts at regeneration policies and strategies over a period of decades. BSHF Evidence to Select Committee on Regeneration

Welfare Reform – Public Bill Committee

Continuing the work started by its Consultation at Windsor Castle on the subject of Support with Housing Costs, in June 2010, BSHF has submitted evidence to the Public Bill Committee for the Welfare Reform Bill. The evidence drew attention to the fact that the specification of the housing component of Universal Credit (clause 11) is very broadly drawn, potentially granting substantial powers to ministers to change how it is calculated without further parliamentary scrutiny. It also highlighted the need for the design of Universal Credit to be coordinated with wider housing policy (such as the introduction of Affordable Rent), to create a coherent approach. Public Bill Committee evidence

News from Building and Social Housing Foundation (BSHF)

Welfare Reform
BSHF has been paying particular attention to the government’s proposed welfare reforms:

• The findings of last year’s consultation at St George’s House, Windsor Castle were published as ‘Support with Housing Costs: Developing a simplified and sustainable system’. Further details are available from http://www.bshf.org/published-information/publication.cfm?lang=00&thePubID=AB588DD9-15C5-F4C0-993D5892C8E1DCC1
• Jim Vine appeared before the Work and Pensions select committee to discuss proposals for the Universal Credit.
• A short paper was published on the impact of claimant numbers on welfare expenditure. It suggests that relatively small changes in the underlying assumptions on unemployment and economic inactivity lead to large changes in both the number of claimants and overall Housing Benefit expenditure. Further details are available from http://www.bshf.org/published-information/?lang=00

Self-help housing
BSHF has been working with HACT, Self-Help-Housing.org and the Third Sector Research Centre on self-help housing. A report will be published in the spring on this community driven approach to tackling empty properties.