Policy Library

Policy, research and good practice work forms a major part of Shelter's efforts to address and find solutions for homelessness and housing issues.

Research: The economic impact of building social housing

The Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr) has been commissioned by Shelter and the National Housing Federation (NHF) to assess the economic and social impacts of building 90,000 social homes.

Published: 27 February 2024

Research: The economic impact of building social housing

Social housing - a prescription for better health and wellbeing

In the first briefing of a general election focused series we explore the link between housing and health. How homelessness kills. How half of private renters are worried about paying the rent. And how poor housing conditions cost the NHS £1.4 billion a year.

Published: 14 February 2024

Social housing - a prescription for better health and wellbeing

Homelessness in England 2023

A research report documenting the scale of homelessness in England in 2023

Published: 14 December 2023

Homelessness in England 2023

Evidence submission: Shelter submission for the Autumn Statement 2023

Shelter calls on the Chancellor to end the damaging housing benefit freeze which is driving record homelessness.

Published: 1 November 2023

Evidence submission: Shelter submission for the Autumn Statement 2023

Briefing: Second Reading of the Renters (Reform) Bill

Shelter strongly welcomes second reading of this long-awaited bill, and is campaigning to ensure that it is passed swiftly and is robust enough to provide private renters with genuine security and safety in their homes, as well as proper protection against discrimination.

Published: 20 October 2023

Briefing: Second Reading of the Renters (Reform) Bill

1 in 4 voters are affected by the housing emergency

Shelter’s new research, conducted by Opinium, finds that 1 in 4 voters are affected by the housing emergency. This research is taken from 1,804 adults in England.

Published: 20 September 2023

1 in 4 voters are affected by the housing emergency

Report: The Citizens' Summit on the Housing Emergency

Shelter commissioned NatCen’s Centre for Deliberative Research (CDR) to deliver a citizens’ summit on the housing emergency to inform the development of its manifesto.

Published: 20 September 2023

Report: The Citizens' Summit on the Housing Emergency

Joint briefing: HMO licensing and asylum seeker accommodation regulations

The government’s plan to exempt asylum seeker accommodation from these vital safety requirements will put people seeking asylum at a higher risk of fires and poorer living conditions. It also creates a risk of more evictions from HMOs and supported exempt housing if landlords seek to switch existing rental properties to Home Office contracts, putting more pressure on council homelessness services.

Published: 30 June 2023

Joint briefing: HMO licensing and asylum seeker accommodation regulations

Briefing: Renters (Reform) Bill and Income Discrimination

Shelter strongly welcomes the introduction of the Renters (Reform) Bill. It sets out many crucial reforms and is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for genuine change in the private rented sector. But the current version of the bill fails to address the discrimination that many renters face when trying to find a property – be it explicit “No DSS” adverts or the more informal barriers posed by rent in advance or guarantor requirements.

Published: 14 June 2023

Briefing: Renters (Reform) Bill and Income Discrimination

Briefing: Illegal Migration Bill and asylum seeker accommodation regulations

Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) licensing is in place to ensure larger HMOs meet basic safety standards to prevent fires and other dangerous hazards. The government’s plan to exempt asylum seeker accommodation from these vital safety requirements will put people seeking asylum at a higher risk of fires and poorer living conditions.

Published: 5 June 2023

Briefing: Illegal Migration Bill and asylum seeker accommodation regulations