The impact of housing on social, economic and cultural trends is one of today's biggest challenges

Our policy-relevant and groundbreaking content examines the effects of national and local policy change on housing as well as the impact of housing on wider social, economic and cultural trends. We have explored, for instance, how changes in policy affect social housing and how housing availability affects the local labour supply and economy. Similarly, we have studied the relationship of a stagnant housing market upon low levels of labour, and, social mobility and its impact on consumer expenditure associated with home moving.

Our research on recent challenges facing global cities, such as London, addresses the current housing crisis and its threat to urban social sustainability and economic stability. We consider a wide range of potential solutions and their implementation: increasing densities; modifying the planning system; policy reforms to homeownership and the private renting sector.

Who we work with

In order to provide an all-round perspective on the subject, our experts come from different LSE departments and centres, such as the Department of Social Policy, the Department of Economics, LSE London, the Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion (CASE), and the LSE Suntory and Toyota International Centre for Economics and Related Disciplines (STICERD).

Areas of expertise

What we do:

Examining housing policies to assess whether these perform up to policymakers' expectations. Besides assessing existing policies, we design target-oriented policies that aim to tackle social challenges, such as homelessness and the housing crisis.

Examples of our work:

Residents' Experience of High-density London Housing
Greater London Authority, 2018

Roundtable “Developing synergies: the evaluation community and the housing sector”
The Council of Europe Development Bank, 2018

Unlocking the Benefits and Potential of Build to Rent
Savills, 2017

Making the Most of Build to Rent
Future of London, 2017

Evaluation of Help to Buy Equity Loan
Department of Communities and Local Government & IPSOS MORI, 2017

New London Villages: Creating Community
Berkeley Homes, 2016

The Effect of Forthcoming Housing Policy Changes on Social-Tenant Employment and the London Economy
London Borough of Camden, 2016

Consultancy Advice - Housing Strategy
Peabody, 2015

Core experts:

> Ann Edge
> Dr Bert Provan
> Professor Christine Whitehead
> Fanny Blanc
> Kath Scanlon
> Professor Paul Cheshire

What we do:

Addressing social housing policy and regulation challenges relating to matters such as residential development, cohousing and other collaborative matters. In doing so, we make use of our long held history of involvement and working side by side with governments, NGOs, and other stakeholders.

Examples of our work:

Regional Caps on Help to Buy
Barratt Developments plc, 2019

The Cost and Provision of Homelessness Services in London
London Councils, 2019

The Bank of Mum and Dad: How it really works
Family Building Society, 2019

Goodmans Fields social sustainability assessment and supplementary social sustainability assessment City Quarter
Berkeley Homes (East Thames), 2017

State of the Nation 2016: Social Mobility in Great Britain
Social Mobility Commission, 2016

Achieving Publicness
Lendlease, 2016

50,000 Homes Campaign
London First, 2016

No Place Like an Accessible Home: Quality of life and opportunity for disabled people with accessible housing needs
Papworth Trust, 2016

Core experts:

> Ann Edge
> Professor Anne Power
> Dr Bert Provan
> Professor Christine Whitehead
> Fanny Blanc
> Kath Scanlon
> Professor Paul Cheshire

What we do:

Conducting comparative housing research studies within Great Britain and internationally to analyse the relationship between policy objectives and instruments.

Examples of our work:

Existing Needs for Affordable Housing in Europe
London Design Festival, 2019

Low Cost Home Ownership Schemes
Social Mobility Commission, 2017

Housing for Social Integration
Council of Europe Development Bank, 2016

State of the Nation 2016: Social Mobility in Great Britain
Social Mobility Commission, 2016

Core experts:

> Ann Edge
> Professor Christian Hilber
> Professor Christine Whitehead
> Fanny Blanc
> Kath Scanlon
> Professor Paul Cheshire

What we do:

Conducting studies around private housing renting and business models, and the policies and regulations around them to gain an understanding of the issues and challenges private owners face in the current market, and what motivates them to improve property conditions.

Examples of our work:

Housing Sprint: Land Report
The Berkeley Group plc, 2019

Assessing the evidence on Rent Control from an International Perspective
Residential Landlords Association, 2018

Is Stamp Duty Land Tax Suffocating the English Housing Market?
Family Building Society, 2017

The Role of Overseas Investors in the London New-build Residential Market
Greater London Authority, 2017

The Profile and Intentions of Buy to Let Investors a Decade on
Council of Mortgage Lenders, 2017

Future Size and Composition of the Private Rented Sector
Shelter, 2017

The Profile of UK Private Landlords
CML (Council of Mortgage Lenders), 2016

Taking stock: Understanding the effects of recent policy measures on the private rented sector and Buy-to-Let
Paragon Group, 2015

Core experts:

> Professor Anne Power
> Professor Christine Whitehead
> Fanny Blanc
> Professor Henry Overman
> Kath Scanlon
> Dr Lindsay Relihan
> Professor Paul Cheshire

» Get in touch to find out how we can collaborate