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.
Briefing: Backbench Business Debate on "A fairer private rented sector" White Paper
For too long, private renters have been living in a sector characterised by insecurity, poor conditions and high rents. The government’s A fairer private rented sector White Paper set out its proposals for the Renters’ Reform Bill. If enacted properly, these proposals will go a long way to transforming the private rented sector, finally levelling the playing field between tenants and landlords.
Published: 2 November 2022
Shelter Briefing: Social Housing (Regulation) Bill Report Stage
Grenfell United and Shelter strongly welcome the Social Housing (Regulation) Bill. Five years on from the Grenfell Tower fire, the Government has introduced the Social Housing (Regulation) Bill, which represents a real opportunity to provide fairness and accountability for people living in social housing.
Published: 17 October 2022
Stack Data Strategy briefing: Analysis of MRP results
Between September 9th and 20th 2022, Stack Data Strategy conducted a MRP poll on behalf of Shelter, polling a nationally representative group of 10,000 adults across Great Britain about their voting intentions and views on housing. The analysis found that private renting voters could be critical to determining the outcome of the next General Election, and that housing policies, like fixing private renting, will influence how they vote.
Published: 30 September 2022
Report: Cover the Cost - preventing homelessness for renters in the cost of living crisis
New Shelter report reveals how housing benefit is failing to protect renters from homelessness in the cost of living crisis. Housing benefit is frozen while rents spiral, meaning low income families are being squeezed out of the private rental market. The government needs to step up to stop homelessness now and make housing benefit adequate.
Published: 23 September 2022
Shelter Briefing: Cost of Living Crisis and the Housing Emergency
The housing emergency is inextricably linked with the cost-of-living crisis. Hundreds of thousands are struggling to afford to keep a roof over their heads, and we now face a perfect storm of spiralling rents and rising bills that threatens to push many towards the brink of homelessness.
Published: 6 September 2022
Shelter Briefing: Social Housing (Regulation) Bill Committee Stage
Five years on from the Grenfell Tower fire, the Government has introduced the Social Housing (Regulation) Bill, which represents a real opportunity to provide fairness and accountability for people living in social housing.
Published: 18 August 2022
Response: Work and Pensions committee inquiry into the cost of living
Shelter responds to the Work and Pensions committee's inquiry into the cost of living and the additional support measures announced by the Chancellor in May 2022.
Published: 13 July 2022
Briefing: A fairer private rented sector
The government’s A Fairer Private Rented Sector White Paper set out its proposals for the Renters’ Reform Bill. The proposals have the potential to transform the private rented sector, finally levelling the playing field between tenants and landlords.
Published: 16 June 2022
Alert Briefing: Universal Credit and Housing Benefit
Shelter analysis shows that a third of private renters (1.8 million) now claim housing benefit, up 32% on pre-pandemic levels. To prevent a wave of homelessness in the cost of living crisis, the government urgently needs to unfreeze and restore housing benefit to reflect the real cost of renting.
Published: 24 May 2022
Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill: Second Reading
The introduction of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill represents an opportunity to change the rules around land and planning to ensure that the needs of communities are truly met by new development – including ensuring the delivery of much needed social housing. The current system of development results in the needs of communities often being forgotten or ignored when they should be front and centre of any plan to level up the country. We need a planning system and a land market that has delivering the infrastructure and social homes communities need at its heart.
Published: 23 May 2022